LDV T60 UTE [Owner's Review] - Thoughts After 3 Years of Use (Excellent Value For 1st Gen!)

Here's my review of the LDV T60 Maxus Ute, after 3 years of use. Here's what I found:

Let's start with the features:

✅ 2.8 liter turbo diesel engine putting out 110 kW
✅ Both automatic and manual transmission available
✅ Cruise control
✅ Rear parking sensors and rear parking cameras
✅ Screens with Apple and Android car play
✅ 5-star safety rating
✅ 2 airbags at the passenger and also across the roof as a curtain
✅ Roll intervention
✅ Emergency brake intervention
✅ Base model or more expensive luxury (lux).
✅ Lux model has nicer seats, electronic push-start, softer suspension, chrome sports bar, electronic differential lock, etcetera.
✅ 5-year warranty. For me, that was the deciding factor! I've actually used that warranty a few times!
✅ Cruise control and volume control on the steering wheel
✅ Toe bar
✅ 6 anchor points
✅ Lights which bend with your steering
✅ Many standard options, such as roof racks, 4 wheel drive, side steps, and MORE!
✅ Base model has standard sports bar
✅ Lots of extra options that you can get, such as bigger wheels, chrome sport's bar on the base model, etcetera.

Now, this is what I like and dislike about this Ute:

✅ Like: the 5-year warranty, which I've HAD to use a few times! The battery only has a 1-year warranty.
✅ Like: aesthetically it looks very good!
✅ Like: blackout windows which give both privacy and sunlight protection.
✅ Like: amazing big tray where you hold/store SO much stuff
✅ Like: the Ute LOOKS really good from the outside!
✅ Like: infotainment system has a BIG screen
✅ Spectacular overall value for a $20K USD ute, especially with the 5-year warranty!

❌ Dislike: some issues, which are a HUGE thing for me, like the inability to start the Ute even early on when I got the product! This problem happened twice. Most of my issues are not mechanical though, and related to electronics.
❌ Dislike: the battery has had MANY problems for me, even with replacements!
❌ Dislike: the chrome sport's bar, but, that's my personal opinion about the aesthetics!
❌ Dislike: infotainment system can be slow and somewhat awkward and harder to navigate. The radio is of REALLY bad quality, which is why I use Apple car play all the time!
❌ Dislike: softer suspension of the luxury model is actually NOT always practical!
❌ Dislike: tray isn't sealed properly whereby you need lots of cleaning.
❌ Dislike: suspension is bouncy
❌ Dislike: deck liner
❌ Dislike: blind spot warning system doesn't work at all and is overly sensitive! Also, the warning spot has false negatives sometimes, which is dangerous!

Hope you enjoyed my review, comment below about your opinion and what you think!

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STUFF I USE EVERYDAY:

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PS. Find Me:

0:00 Start
0:55 Key features
2:14 Prices
2:57 My purchase reasoning
5:55 Why I chose not to purchase the luxury version
6:55 Exterior and interior
7:55 Negative Experience #1 - Battery
10:02 Negative Experience #2 - Tray
12:01 Towing, suspension and diff-lock
13:14 Tray edge and anchor points
13:54 Positives of the exterior
15:17 Interior infotainment system
17:24 Unreliable aircon
18:13 Steering wheel
18:43 Blindspot monitoring system
19:35 Airbags
19:58 Summary
21:34 Why I'm trading it in

[michaelhanson]

Thanks for your honest review mate. Just bought my 2020 model T60.. thanks for sharing your battery experience and the dirt trap at the back of the tray as I’ve found dirt in mine too and yeah I’ll probably need a good blaster. Cheers

[ValueCarsAU]

Great review mate. I'm looking into getting a D90, not a T60, but there are not that many owner reviews of LDV vehicles, and yours is one of those few... Thanks for honestly sharing your negative experiences, really appreciated (those key in proximity of the battery draining it issues are just flat out ridiculous man 🤷‍♂️ ??? the fact that you need to keep living with jumper cables in your ute is really not good... very helpful that you captured those, as dealers certainly won't tell us!)

[feeksta]

Nice to see a review come from NZ. I know hearing another kiwis opinion will be 100% honest.

[razvandobos]

One of the good Chinese vehicles. Actually called the Maxus T60. LDV was originally a British commercial vehicle company that ended 2009 and they had a van called the Maxus. In 2011 the Chinese company SAIC acquired the name Maxus

[andrewwinkley]

Cheers mate. More of a revision for me. I picked up my 2021 basic T60 two weeks ago. All good so far. There are a few differences on the new model compared to the older version. The suspension is now tuned by Walkinshaw and seems to handle pretty well although still bouncy when empty. A bit underpowered but I won’t be towing a caravan although living in Tasmania I notice it does struggle on some of the hills. Luckily the power and eco switches seem to fix that. And yes, the blind spot warning lights still activate occasionally especially when it is raining hard. Apart from that I am satisfied (so far). Anyway, thanks for the review.

[ruebenbrown]

I really enjoyed your review. I haven't had my 2018 Maxus very long. I totally agree with everything you have said. For the money I paid for it compared to other utes. I consider it a good buy. Just the suspension I've found to be bouncy and the diesel engine has a pronounced knock in it. I know diesel engines have that diesel knock. For piece of mind I'll take it in and get the tappets checked. The appearance is an EYE CATCHER. Color Black. I've got the chrome frame on the tray which amplifies its looks even more. The battery could be another issue down the line. When I lock up. The headlights do a shut down performance. Maybe there's something in the Manual about that.

[neilmullen]

I've been driving an isuzu bighorn since 2006, it's been a great wagon, never broken down on me. But it's showing its age and time has come, with the bank willing to lend me cheap cash, to update. I've done some serious reviews and am finding it hard to beat these for value. Hoping to test drive 1 tomorrow and fingers xd I might be the owner of 1 within the next month. Unless I see an offer I can't refuse. All the reviews ive seen or read speak highly of the t60 and only really knock the power. But its a big upgrade from the bighorn so it'll be more than enough for. Thanks for the great review.

[johnanderson]

Liked your honest review, just waiting on my new T60 to be delivered, thanks

[MM-npmd]

Really interesting and honest review👍🏾

[stevegray]

OK so I think its an ok review from your point of view, but here's mine. I live in a small town where I was the first to get a T60 luxury model. That was 2018. My steering locked up one day as I was driving, turned out the steering pump packed up. I've got rust in the door sills, battery packing up, wipers are not working consistently, Radio couldn't get a station in my area cause I was out of range until after my 3rd windscreen they ended up putting this one in and whammo, I got a station cause that's where the aerial is, but here's the biggest. I think they are a death trap. When you hit a pot hole in the road, they bounce across the road, to a point where thank god I didn't hit anyone, and I was only going 98km, I ended up in the opposition's lane. So I put the best tyre's on and still no change. There's more but I needed to share that last one. Yes the warranty covered my steering problem, but I was in a remote area when it happened, with no cell phone coverage so you can imagine. 4 others in my town have got rid of theirs because of problems. The dealers say this and that, but I say piece of shit every time I look at my ute.
I thought about putting the 20 inch wheels on but my mate said he did and and no difference. I carry the jumper leads and starter pack now too. WTF

[paraplegicbradleyschubert]

Great review mate. When you get your new ute get some rubber and glue/pop rivit to the tub liner to cover that spot between the tail gate and the tub where your having trouble with it filling up with shit.

[nessc]

Thanks for your review. I definitely would like to see a review on your new LDV ute

[andrewmuscat]

LOVE YOU REVIEW ON THIS BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHER ONES
CAN YOU PLEASE DO A REVIEW ON THE NEW GEN YOU GET

[alphaattraction]

Comparing this with a ranger at the moment so cheers bro, quick question, what mic do you use and where can you buy them in NZ? It’s clarity is amazing

[MegaBandit]

Good review more honest than most journalists.

[bevharrod]

Thanks for the review.. I’m looking at a new Maxus as well

[scottandchels]

Good review. Have you considered the gwm cannon. I'm considering getting one. Rated above the ldv. Ldv do look good and the maxus looks good. I drive a pajero which can run permanent 4x4 on tarmac (great safety in rain and when greasy). The gwm has the 8sp zf gearbox and a rear diff lock and the safety features are almost as good as the new dmax.

[legitlegit]

I got my 2019 ldv in May last year just two days ago the battery fuked out, got a new one so hopefully its sweet... Lol

[Sgten]

Great review mate, also considering LDV ute or possibly van as I'm a builder in Auckland.

Have you picked up your Maxus yet? Could you do a review on it please :D?

[pawneveryknight]

I put some bilstein shocks and an idrive in mine and it’s a different Ute 👌🏼