LDV joined SAIC Motor Corporation Limited in 2010, when the latter acquired the commercial vehicles division of the British Motor Corporation, which happened to include the LDV brand.
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (formerly Shanghai Automobile and Industrial Corporation) is the largest automotive manufacturer in China and sold more than seven million vehicles in 2019.
In addition to LDV, its own automotive brands include Maxus, MG and Roewe. SAIC has also formed joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors and vehicles produced by SAIC joint venture companies are sold under other marques including Buick, Chevrolet, IVECO, Skoda, and Volkswagen.
In Australia the LDV G10 van has experienced more than 160 per cent increase in sales up to the end of June 2021 compared with the same period in 2020, which has seen 1,517 new units of the mid-sized van sold locally, predominately in response to the online shopping sector increasing the demand for the door to door courier business.
The LDV brand is set to expand its growth further with the arrival in Australia of the new LDV G10+ van which brings additional refinements to the G10 light commercial van, and at an additional cost of around $1,500 the G10+ represents a value-packed addition to the brand’s vehicle offering.
The G10+ is powered by the 2.0 litre 118kW diesel also found in the LDV T60 Trailrider ute and torque is rated at 375 Nm. A 2.0 litre turbocharged petrol engine equipped with variable valve timing and developing 160kW and 330Nm is available as an option. When measured against the ADR 81/02 fuel consumption standard the diesel returns 8.2 litres/100km with the thirstier petrol showing 11.1 litres/100km.
The G10+’s fuel capacity for both petrol and diesel versions is 72 litres, slightly less than the standard G10’s 75 litres but still sufficient to provide a decent range due to the efficiency of the diesel in particular. The cargo area can accommodate items as long as 2,500mm and has a volume of 5.2 cubic metres.
Payload is just over a tonne at 1,010 kg for the diesel versions and 1,093kg for the petrol-powered models. Access to the cargo area is through sliding doors on each side and the rear lift tailgate. There is also the additional cost option of rear barn doors on diesel models.
The G10+ has six load tie-down points on the floor and one on each of the wheel arches, and there is tough floor covering throughout to protect both the vehicle and cargo as well as protection panels on the walls and rear doors. Four lights illuminate the cargo area. The low line styling of the G10+’s roof keeps the overall height dimension to 1,928mm which will allow access to most car parks and drive thru’s without banging the LDV’s head.
The ride and handling is similar to the G10 with MacPherson struts at the front and the five link coil rear suspension.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Roll Movement Intervention (RMI) from Bosch is standard equipment. Braking is provided by discs at all corners with the usual package of auxiliary control systems including ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).
The spare wheel is full size rather than a speed restricted space saver. There is also a tyre pressure monitoring system for the Hankook tyres which ride on 16-inch alloy rims.
An 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox on both the G10+ diesel and petrol models is a step up from the 6-speed ZF fitted to the standard G10.
The 8-speed is controlled by paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel so tradies and couriers can play at being Formula One drivers if they wish to over-ride the automatic transmission controls. The transmission functions such as drive, reverse and park are selected by a rotary dial located on the dash.
Drive is via the rear wheels and an optional six-speed manual is also available with the diesel engine. Inside, the dashboard and ergonomics have been updated from the G10 with new material finishes including quite salubrious seats with centre arm rests, and reduced noise levels provide for a more relaxed drive experience.
The media unit is centered on the 7-inch screen and features Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay functions to enable hands free calls and texting as well as accessing the maps function of the driver’s smartphone.
Cruise and audio controls are integrated into the sporty style steering wheel which has tilt adjustment. Air conditioning, power windows, central locking and remote keyless entry are also standard fare in the G10+. Dual airbags are standard as is a reversing camera and parking sensors.
The 11.8 metre turning circle isn’t the smallest or largest in the G10+’s category and should avoid the need for multi-point turns. The LDV G10+ comes with the peace of mind of a comprehensive factory backed 3 year/100,000km (whichever occurs first) new vehicle warranty, plus the reassurance of roadside assistance throughout the period of the warranty. The comfortable interior and the more powerful and efficient diesel engine combined with the world-class 8-speed ZF automatic transmission makes a tough day of pick-ups and drop-offs a whole lot easier when using the LDV G10+.
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