NEXT-GEN TERRON

LDV HAS UNVEILED A NEW UTE THAT MARKS A MAJOR LEAP FORWARD FROM ITS AGEING T60 PLATFORM

- WORDS MATT RAUDONIKIS PHOTOS CRISTIAN BRUNELLI

LDV’s new Terron 9 ute shares little – if anything – with the brand’s ageing T60. It rides on a new chassis, wears new bodywork, and is powered by a new engine – all of which is good news. It retains a body-on-frame platform with a double-cab layout and ute tub, but uniquely, the body and tub are a single pressing piece.

The bodysides are made from a single stamping that runs from the firewall to the bedsides, meaning the cargo tub can’t simply be removed to fit a tray or service body. While that could be a deal-breaker for some buyers, LDV says the integrated design results in a more rigid structure, delivering SUV-like stiffness and improved dynamics.

The Terron’s body is wider than the T60 – and wider than most other utes in the midsize segment – reflecting a growing trend towards larger cabins that sit somewhere between traditional midsize utes and full-size American pickups. It’s a direction particularly evident among newer Chinese ute manufacturers.

The Terron 9 will eventually be offered in two grades, but for now there’s just the entry-level Terron 9 Origin, priced from $50,990 drive-away for ABN holders.

The higher-spec Terron 9 Evolve model is due later this year, starting from $55,990.

DRIVELINE

Both Terron 9 models are powered by a 2.5-litre single-turbo diesel engine, producing a claimed 163kW and 520Nm. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a part-time dual-range 4x4 system.

This is a completely different engine to the often laggy 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel used in the T60 - and it shows. There's no noticeable lag in the way it drives. While the 2.5's claimed outputs are among the best in class, it doesn't feel quite as sprightly as Ford's 500Nm 2.0-litre bi-turbo.