It’s a new benchmark: T60 bi-turbo double cab ute has arrived and the new engine raises the benchmark for power output and emission standards.
The power claim is true: the T60 is indeed the most powerful four-cylinder diesel double cab ute on the New Zealand market. At 160kW, the new 2.0-litre engine now pips the 2.8-litre Toyota Hilux (150kW), the Mitsubishi Triton (137kW), Mazda BT 50/Isuzu D-Max (140kW) and the previous power champion, Ford’s Ranger Raptor (157kW).
For many buyers of diesel double cab utes, the torque stats are equally as important, and the T60 is on par with the others in those stakes.
More significantly for many buyers, the new engine is fully compliant with the new Euro 6 emissions standard. For diesel utes. In the absence of a full electric alternative to these load-hauling multi-purpose vehicles, Euro 6 is likely to become a strong selling point over the next few years.
The T60 is no urban-only tarmac tractor either. Clever electronically-controlled four wheel drive has a slight rearward bias if the transmission dial is left in the ‘auto’ position. This can be felt briefly under acceleration in low grip conditions, the rear biting harder than the front until the engine’s torque overcomes available grip, when the transmission shifts effort seamlessly north to bring the front wheels into play and even things out. That ‘feel’ is fed to the driver through the (heated) leather seat and more subtly through the steering wheel.
With the top-spec, eight-speed ZF auto or the six-speed manual, low range is viable for gravel road or mud conditions, but hardly ever essential. It’s a blessing for low speed maneuvering though – getting the boat back into the yard or positioning a caravan in a favourite camping spot becomes a doddle.
On tarmac, the other settings will seldom be needed.
It goes without saying that the exterior of any new DDC ute must make a statement that differentiates it from existing rival utes. T60 does that with all-new sheet metal, a strong front-end treatment that follows current trends – small headlights, big grille – but manages to be unlike other utes on the market.
Breaking up the side styling is a striking strip of chrome in the lower section which runs along both doors. It’s especially eye-catching against the dark metallic grey of our test truck. The tray has very tall sides with a sport-style attachment running along each side and across the rear behind the back of the cab.
The cabin is wide and spacious, the auto’s full-electronic shifter handle falls easily to hand and the dash graphic feeds information to the user in a simple and clear format. Though it looks like two traditional dials, the driver display is LED – when the truck is switched off, only the needles are still visible. The main graphic screen has an operating system that is reminiscent of an iPad’s page scroll. Very clever, very familiar to users. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is accessed through this screen, which then makes navigation available from the driver’s smartphone.
SAIC Motor has also used a full suite of active safety features including Autonomous Emergency Braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and one of those software driven 360-degree camera setups that are becoming more widespread at the upper levels of the market. The new truck has a five-star ANCAP crash rating.
Pricing for the LDV T60 bi-turbo starts at $42,538.50. The version tested retails at $50,588.50.
