LDV eT60 Review

Electric vehicles are no doubt the future of motoring and LDV has made the bold move of being the first to introduce a battery-electric ute. So, is it the answer to zero-emissions motoring for the commercial sector or merely a promising sign of things to come? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Pros

• Australia’s first battery-electric ute

• Smooth and instant power delivery

• One-tonne payload figures

Cons

• Eye-watering price is double that of entry-level T60

• Reduced towing capacity (1000kg)

• 4x2 drivetrain only

• Significant power and torque drops from standard T60

OnlineAuto Rating 5/10

LDV eT60 Competition

• No battery-electric rivals; dual-cab ute rivals include:

Starting Price: $92,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The LDV eT60 4x2 is priced at $92,990 here in Australia, which does not include on-road costs.

How Much Can OnlineAuto Save You?

Using OnlineAuto, Australia’s leading car broker service, you could save by letting one of our car specialists to help you find the best value model for you.

LDV eT60 (ELECTRIC) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check LDV eT60 car page.

What Features Does the LDV eT60 Have?

The LDV eT60 comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloys, and receives a set of automatic halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights and tail lights, side steps, a stainless steel sports bar, a spray-in tub liner, leatherette upholstery, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay.

Range Features:

• 17-inch alloys

• Automatic halogen headlights

• LED daytime running lamps & tail lights

• Side steps

• Stainless steel sports bar

• Spray-in tub liner

• Rear-view camera

• Rear parking sensors

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay

Is the LDV eT60 Comfortable to Drive?

In the process of making the eT60 a battery-electric platform, LDV has actually created a more responsive package than the standard T60.

Power comes supplied by an electric motor producing 130kW of power and 310Nm of torque, which is a significant drop from the twin-turbo diesel powering the rest of the T60 range that offers a 30kW/190Nm premium.

In terms of acceleration off the line, though, there’s a marked improvement over the standard T60 thanks to the immediacy of the power delivery that makes it more lively while picking up speed.

“A sole 4x2 offering and significant drop in power and torque means the eT60 isn’t quite the battery-electric workhorse we were hoping for.”

On the road, the eT60 feels more sophisticated than its siblings, while the added weight from the battery pack actually helps to lower the centre of gravity, though the suspension struggles to keep up with rougher Australian B-roads.

Perhaps the biggest drawback is the fact that LDV offers the eT60 in a single 4x2 variant that means it can’t keep up with its 4x4 siblings when the sealed roads stop.

How Far Can the LDV eT60 Drive on a Single Charge?

The 88.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack powering the LDV eT60 offers a maximum WLTP-rated range figure of 330km per charge, with its energy efficiency rating of 27kWh per 100km.

Real world driving ranges, particularly when the eT60 is loaded with cargo will see these driving figures drop dramatically on a single charge.

In terms of charging, the pack can be DC fast-charged up to 80kW which brings the battery from 20-80% in just 45-minutes.

What are the Towing and Payload Figures of the LDV eT60?

The transition to an electric platform has seen the LDV eT60 reduce its braked towing capacity figures from 3000kg in the standard T60 to just 1000kg, while its payload figures have actually increased to 1000kg.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Inside, the eT60e’s cabin is much the same as the T60 Max, though it receives a few bespoke details like the rotary gear dial that emphasise its futuristic platform.

While it lacks the number of special touches you might be hoping for at this price, the cabin itself offers a tonne of space and headroom for tall drivers and makes for a fairly refined place to sit.

The front of the cabin offers a decent amount of storage options in the centre console and a large armrest to swallow up loose items, though the synthetic leather seats and the interior packaging as a whole leave a bit to be desired.

“The synthetic leather seats, interior materials and lack of any special touches will leave every buyer feeling short-changed.” 

Move to the rear and there’s a decent amount of space and headroom for tall passengers in the second row, while there’s also a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for child seats.

The eT60’s tray measures in at 1485mm long by 1129mm wide between the wheel arches and stands 520mm tall, which makes it a very usable workhorse for lugging around bulky cargo, though keep in mind that your range figures will drop significantly when loaded up.

Is it Safe?

The LDV eT60 has not been specifically tested by ANCAP, though the standard T60 has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

For the price, the absence of any active safety equipment is worrying, with a basic set of safety equipment like the rear-view camera, rear-mounted parking sensors and curtain airbags rounding out its safety equipment list.

Our Verdict: is the LDV eT60 Worth it?

While it might be the only battery-electric ute on sale, this pioneering ute comes with more than a handful of drawbacks that you should be aware of from the outset.

Namely, it’s prohibitive pricing, lack of a 4x4 drivetrain and its massively reduced towing figures over the standard T60 which is on offer for half the price, absence of any active safety equipment and the basic interior.

If you’re tossing up your best options within the dual-cab segment, be sure to reach out to our team of car-buying specialists who can help find your dream ute at the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/160,000km warranty

2. 330km WLTP driving range

3. 1000kg braked towing capacity

4. 1000kg payload

5. Two-year/30,000 service intervals