Even as a massive rain storm lashed across the upper North Island and the clouds of yet another Covid lockdown rolled toward the nation, there was something exciting in the driveway: LDV’s new T60 bi-turbo.

In late August, NZ4WD was handed the very first media drive of this new offering and it arrived with less than 150 km on its odometer. This truck is so fresh even LDV’s website refers to it as ‘coming soon’.

That meant the arrival of lockdAown was hardly on the radar, in fact level four enabled us to spend a little more time with the truck.

Endowed with a commanding exterior that takes a step forward from rival offerings, the T60 bi-turbo also has a unique claim: more power, class leading power, smile-inducing onramp-demolishing power.

The power claim is true. By a narrow margin, and assisted by its bi-turbo induction array, the T60 is indeed the most powerful four cylinder diesel double cab ute on the New Zealand market. The engine now produces 160kW, pipping the 2.8-litre Toyota Hilux (150 kW), the Mazda BT 50 and Isuzu D-Max (140 kW) and the previous power champion, Ford’s Ranger Raptor (157 kW).

For many buyers of diesel double cab utes the torque stats are equally as important, and the T60 is right there with the others in those stakes. But of course in a café or bar and at a backyard barbecue, it’s the power figure we all like to talk about.

The T60 bi-turbo takes a step beyond the specification of the rest of the range, which was shown to the public at Fieldays. 

The engine has been developed in-house by auto company SAIC and is Euro-6 emissions compliant. These days, that’s more important than ever, and the new Euro standard is likely to become the benchmark across the DDC ute sector.

This is no urban-only tarmac tractor either, lest such accusations be flung at the magazine by those who know best.

Clever electronically controlled four wheel drive has a slight rearward bias if left in the ‘auto’ position. It can be felt 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. That ‘feel’ is fed to the driver through the (heated) leather seat and subtly through the steering wheel.

The default transmission mode would always be ‘auto’ – it’s a smart setting without equal. Turn the rotary dial clockwise to select four-wheel drive dedicated modes if you must – but like most modern driver ‘assists’, that auto mode is all that is required in most situations.

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 required. 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.

It goes without saying that the exterior of a 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 is unlike other utes but has been described admiringly as ‘buff’ by overseas media, and well designed ‘eyebrow’ wheel-arch flares that will fend off undergrowth if owners head into narrow tracks.

The bi-turbo rolls on big gloss black 19” alloy wheels and 255/55x19 Continental tyres. Recognising the predominant use for such a vehicle, the tyres are strongly road-biased.

Breaking up the side styling is a striking strip of chrome in the lower section that 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. Some users may look to add a canopy to the tray for secure load carrying, while others including tradies will find the rear more useful as it stands.

The tray is an almost-square space, 1525 by 1510 mm, and the wheel arches sit well to the front of the load space, intruding on that space by about 400 mm. It has load anchors, as all good DDCs must, and there is a durable-looking sprayed-on hard protector skin fitted – good for weekend warrior expeditions, on-site toolbox storage and wear and tear resistance.

At first impression, this is a big and commanding presence on road and off. Driver and passengers ride high among the traffic or with a clear view of the terrain being tackled. There is some muted engine noise, which is never intrusive at open road speed or around town. Off road, it’s always nice to run with a window open if conditions allow – it lets the driver know what’s happening at the truck’s four contact points with the ground.

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 main display is LED – when the truck is switched off, only the needles are still visible. Very trick.y

The main graphic screen has an operating system that is reminiscent of an iPad’s page scroll. Very clever, very familiar to users. Apple Car Play or Android Auto is accessed through this screen, which then makes navigation available from the driver’s smartphone. It’s likely more manufacturers will follow this protocol, converging the use of onboard info systems and third party devices and easing the process of familiarisation even for the most digitally challenged among us. Imagine one day jumping into a car and finding your dashboard infotainment system is just like the one on your tablet.

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 lane departure warning is subtle – a chime and an infographic showing which side the truck has veered off-line towards. No steering wheel intervention, which some find unnerving. The new truck has a five-star ANCAP crash rating.

So the future looks bright in the DDC ute sector. Technology and luxury features once the preserve of the leading brands has been brought out to the wider market and is becoming available to all ute buyers. For those looking for a ute packed full of value at a reasonable price, future-proofed with a Euro 6 diesel engine, the line begins here.

Pricing for the LDV T60 bi-turbo starts with the Elite manual $42,538.50 and steps up to Elite with auto transmission at $45,988.50. The Luxe version tested retails at $50,558.50