LDV Maxus Territory: Chinese rival Ford Everest gets mild hybrid diesel

China’s LDV, branded Maxus outside Australia, has unveiled a potential cut-price rival to the Ford Everest, Toyota Prado and Isuzu MU-X – using a domestic nameplate associated with Australia.

The Maxus Territory body (Lingdi) is sold domestically alongside the older Maxus D90 – itself sold locally as the LDV D90 – but offers more advanced features and an electrified diesel powertrain.

Image Credit: Autohome.com.cn

Said Maxus Territory looks similar to the D90 on the outside, but has a new front end with slimmer headlights and a larger grille, while on the sides there are bulging plastic fender covers to give it an off-road look.

Under the bonnet is a revised 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine producing 160kW and 500Nm, using a new 48V battery and 44Nm electric drive motor to help reduce fuel consumption to a claimed 9L/100km.

Works with a 4×4 system with automatic setting for permanent 4WD, as well as rear-wheel drive (2H) and part-wheel drive 4×4 (4H), off-road cruise control crawl mode, locking front and rear differentials and various terrain settings .

Dimensionally, the LDV/Maxus Territory is 5046mm long, 2016mm wide, 1876mm tall and has a 2950mm wheelbase – that’s 41mm longer and 84mm wider than the LDV D90, on the same wheelbase.

The interior is very different from the older D90, with a full digital cluster, a large tablet-style display, a lighter air vent design, grab handles in the center tunnel and a set of 4×4 dials and buttons.

It also comes with a Ford Everest-style off-road camera that helps when climbing.

The seven-seat LDV D90 diesel sold in Australia uses a twin-turbo 2.0-litre with 160kW and 480Nm with a towing capacity of 3.1 tonnes and, as reported here, is enjoying rapid sales growth among buyers in line with costs, along with the SsangYong Rexton.

The D90 was also among the first Chinese cars to achieve a five-star ANCAP crash rating, achieving the feat in 2017.

It’s unclear if the LDV Territory is on the radar for the company’s Australian importer, although it seems like it would be a suitable update to the $50,990 LDV D90 Executive diesel.

It’s a busy time for LDV, with the company recently confirming plans to launch Australia’s first electric vehicle, the eT60, before the end of 2022 – alongside the eDeliver 9 electric van and the MIFA 9 electric people carrier.