Updated LDV T60 Ute Heading to Australia with Bigger Engine

The LDV T60 has been a quiet achiever in the WA ute market for years — solid towing capacity, a price tag well below the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and enough grunt for everything from Karratha work sites to weekend runs down to the South West. Now, an updated version is closing in on Australian shores, and it's worth paying attention to.

The refreshed model — sold in China as the Maxus T70 — debuted at the Beijing motor show earlier this year and has since appeared in Australian Government certification documents, suggesting a local launch is being actively worked through. If it clears the remaining hurdles, expect it on forecourts in late 2026 or early 2027.

More Power, Same Towing

The biggest mechanical change is under the bonnet. The updated T60 ditches the current 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel in favour of a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder — the same unit found in LDV's larger Terron 9. Output climbs to 163.5kW, with torque expected around 520Nm based on Chinese-market figures (up 20Nm on the outgoing engine).

An eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive remain standard across the range. The certification documents list two short-wheelbase variants and one long-wheelbase variant, with a choice of leaf-spring or multi-link rear suspension depending on the variant — useful if you're prioritising ride comfort on long hauls up the coast or through the Wheatbelt.

Braked towing stays at 3500kg, and payload sits between 1073kg and 1093kg. For most WA buyers using a ute for trailers, boats, or farm gear, those numbers do the job.

Sharper Looks, Better Interior

Styling-wise, the T70 gets a more squared-off front end with revised lighting, a taller grille, and a more sculpted bonnet. It's a tougher look than the current model without going over the top.

The interior is where the bigger changes land. The old 10.25-inch or dual 12.3-inch screen setup is replaced by a 12.8-inch free-standing touchscreen with physical buttons underneath — a practical call for anyone who's tried prodding at a touchscreen on a corrugated dirt road. There's also a smaller digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, and a cleaner centre console layout borrowed from the MG U9 platform.

You can spec the interior in black or go for orange upholstery on the seats and dash if you want something that stands out on the Pilbara red dirt.

What This Means for WA Buyers

The T60 is LDV's best-selling vehicle in Australia, with 4320 units sold in 2025. That's not a fluke — it competes on price in a segment where running costs matter, particularly with WA fuel prices staying stubbornly high.

LDV has been clear it wants to keep the T60 running alongside the newer, pricier Terron 9, giving buyers a genuine value option in a market dominated by utes pushing well past $60,000 drive-away. A PHEV version was also shown in Beijing, but it hasn't appeared in any Australian certification documents yet — so don't hold your breath on that one arriving any time soon.

If you're in the market for a workhorse ute and don't need a Japanese or American badge on the tailgate, the updated T60 is shaping up as one to watch before you commit to anything else.