The LDV D90 SUV is set to make quite a splash when it arrives in a couple of months, with the Chinese manufacturer promising sharp pricing and shedloads of kit in its strongest attempt to woo Australian customers. This will be LDV’s most significant step into volume passenger vehicles on our shores (lest you really want to count the enormous G10 people mover), and on paper, it certainly appears to have what it takes to sway the market in its favour.
Three trim levels will be offered, along with two- and four-wheel drive options. All cars will come with seven seats as standard, while things like autonomous emergency braking, collision warning, intelligent cruise control and 12-inch infotainment display will be available (likely to be reserved for top-spec models).
“While there are three different trim and equipment levels, there is nothing that could be called a ‘basic’ version of the LDV D90. This means that the D90 not only has everything expected of an SUV, it also has a range of features that might not be expected, such as automatic road sign recognition and luxury features such as a drivers’ seat that is heated, cooled, and massaging. Each version is laden with equipment and features, which means that when it comes to the features offered by the D90, they range from the excellent to the exceptional, depending on equipment level.” — Dinesh Chinappa, General Manager, LDV Automotive Australia
Safety is a big thing for LDV, who have assured the media that the D90 will come with six-airbags, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition (although again, likely reserved for flagship cars). What we know for certain will only feature on the dearest D90 is a heated, ventilated, and massaging drivers’ seat, which is surprisingly useful if you drive for hours and hours on end.
At launch, the D90 will find motivation from a sole 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit, capable of a healthy 165kW and 350Nm, mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard. LDV’s version of terrain response, low-range gears, and a rear diff-lock will feature on all-wheel drive models. If you’re hankering after a diesel (which you would, naturally), one will be made available mid-2019.
Pricing and full specifications will only be revealed at the November 15th launch event, though we expect the LDV D90 to undercut the competition. Comments made by the company suggest that the D90 will undercut its mainstream rivals by up to 20%, which is no easy task given the (allegedly) extensive kit list.
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