Maxus T60: First impression

Maxus, the Chinese automaker known for its commercial vehicles and the G10 minivan unveiled its first-ever T60 pickup truck in Malaysia last year in June. However, the first winds of its arrival have started coming in 2018 only as it was its original timeline year, but better late than never. 

At the time of introduction, Maxus showcased the two variants of the truck; a base manual and a high-spec auto. But now, the pickup is on sale in a sole variant. i.e., T60 4WD Automatic and the automaker has nowhere mentioned the manual trim, which might have been dropped. So, here we bring all the details of the new Maxus T60 for you through our first impression story. Let’s begin with the price.

Maxus T60 price

The Maxus T60 price in the Malaysian market starts at RM 99,888 (without insurance and road tax), the figure is much close to the indicative price stated for it last year and looks interesting in comparison to the prices of the existing players. The feature-loaded Ford Ranger XLT Plus AT retails for RM 129,888, the all-new Toyota Hilux AT is priced at RM 133,880, and the Mitsubishi Triton comes at RM 105,990. However, the Isuzu D-Max AT gives the T60 a real run for its money as it sells around RM 104,599.

Also read: 2021 Toyota Hilux: First impression

Maxus T60 exterior

Size-wise, the pickup measures 5,365 mm long, 2,145 mm wide, 1,844 mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 3,155 mm. In terms of design, the first things that grab the attention are the pickup’s stern look, good ground clearance, and a big chrome grille. The LED headlights come with automatic beam adjustments that work according to road conditions and steering inputs. It also features a follow-me-home function, automatic headlight sensing, and daytime running lights. Other than that, the pickup comes with a few key elements like front/rear fog lamps, aluminum roof rack rails, side steps, a stainless steel sports bar, power-folding side mirrors, and a bed liner for the rear deck. All these together evoke a subtle sense of style. Maxus T60 boasts a wading depth of 800 mm and its bed can carry up to 1,188 kg weight.

Maxus T60 color options include Obsidian Black, Agate Red, Lava Grey, Blanc White, Ocean Blue, and Aurora Silver.

Maxus T60 interior

The impressive things inside the vehicle start with beige/black interior teamed up with black leather upholstery and hard and soft plastic across the dashboard. The multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel comes with height adjustment as well as audio/cruise control switches. Other creature comforts include:

• 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
• Keyless entry with push-start ignition
• Automatic air-conditioning
• Auto cruise control
• Rain sensing wipers
• Rear window defroster
• Anti-UV green glass
• Fully-electric adjustable front seats with a six-way adjustment for the driver and a four-way for the front passenger

Maxus T60 engine specifications

Powering the Maxus T-60 is a 2.8-litre, 16-valve, DOHC VGT Turbocharged diesel mill tuned to produce 150 horsepower at 3400 rpm with a peak torque of 360 Nm between 1600 and 2800 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed PUNCH automatic transmission and also has a BorgWarner Electronically-Controlled Four-Wheel-Drive System allowing it to switch between 2H, 4H, and 4L without stopping.

Maxus T60 safety

On the safety front, the Maxus T60 has received a perfect 5-star ANCAP rating back in 2017. It comes with the following safety features:

• Four airbags (front and side)
• Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
• Tyre pressure monitoring system 
• ABS with EBD and BA
• Traction control system
• Hill start assist control
• Hill descent control 
• Roll movement intervention
• rear parking sensors
• Blind spot assist
• Reverse camera
• Two ISOFIX anchorage points

Although It is not the most padded safety shield out there, it is at par, considering its price point and the rivals that populate the space. 

Maxus T60 warranty and service interval

On purchase, the customers get a five-year or 130,000 km warranty, whichever comes first. A three-year or 65,000 km free service package is also available inclusive of parts, lubricants and labor, and 24/7 nationwide road assistance. Talking about the service interval, the T60 needs to get service after every 15,000 km. 

In a nutshell, we can say that the new Maxus T60 pickup looks like a great budget contender loaded with a good bunch of features.

Also read: Chinese automaker Maxus teased a new pick-up, likely to launch this year