2021 Maxus D60 enters the Philippines - will Malaysians fancy a basic CR-V rival?
Sanjay · Feb 11, 2021 09:00 AM
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To some of us Malaysians, Maxus is pretty much an obscure brand that's mostly known for their range of commercial vehicles and a pick-up truck. But they also make nice SUVs, such as this 2021 Maxus D60 that was recently launched in the Phillippines.
Before we go there, what's Maxus?
The Maxus name originates from this LDV Maxus model, once made by now-defunct British manufacturer, LDV Group.
Maxus is a Chinese company that purchased British van specialist LDV, whose core speciality were vans.
The Maxus T60.
Maxus now dabbles in commercial vehicles, SUVs, and MPVs. In Malaysia, their line-up comprises of an MPV (G10), a couple of vans (V80 range), and a pick-up truck (T60).
This is the Maxus D60, and it's the fifth model Maxus has launched over in the Phillippines in just under 3 years. It's also the brand's first-ever crossover!
Two variants are offered there - the five-seater 1.5T Pro, and the 1.5T Elite which seats seven.
Although classified as a 'compact crossover', it's actually a fair bit larger than most of its would-be competitors in the archipelago, namely the Honda CR-V and Nissan X-Trail. We'll get to that below.
So what does it have to offer? Let's start with the looks.
China-specs car shown.
For one, it follows the recent design tradition of having a thoroughly aggressive look - just look at the massive front grille that's complemented by a pair of sleek daytime running lights (DRLs).
Neat touches of silver trim on the front bumper, side sills, and rear bumper complement the look. Meanwhile, plastic cladding - mainstays of SUVs - lend the D60 a more rugged appeal.
The Elite's 18-inch alloy wheels.
Here's how the two variants differ. The Pro variant gets halogen headlights and rolls on 17-inch wheels, while the Elite gets bigger 18-inch alloys as well as LED headlights.
Dimensions - bigger than segment rivals
In terms of size, here's how the D60 measures compared to the CR-V and Santa Fe:
D60 vs CR-V vs Santa Fe
Model
Maxus D60
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Santa Fe
Length (mm)
4,720
4,623
4,770
Width (mm)
1,860
1,855
1,890
Height (mm)
1,736
1,679
1,680
Wheelbase (mm)
2,760
2,660
2,765
Interior - so-so amenities
Moving inside, the D60 features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed atop the very snazzy-looking air-conditioning controls. Standard amenities available across both variants include USB and Bluetooth connectivity, a six-speaker sound system, and a multi-function steering wheel.
The range-topping Elite adds on full-leather upholstery (Fabric in the Pro), keyless entry with push start, auto-folding side mirrors, and front parking sensors (only rear sensors in the Pro).
China-spec D60's interior. Photo is just indicative of overall design; the Philippines-spec car gets a smaller screen and a simpler instrument cluster.
Powertrain - no three-cylinder
If you thought this is another Chinese car with a three-cylinder mill, well, you thought wrong. Here's what powers the D60:
There isn't even automatic climate control, so it goes without mention the D60 gets zero advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Both variants of the D60 only come with:
Dual front and side airbags
Anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution (ABS with EBD)
Brake assist (BA)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Hill-start assist (HSA)
Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
Does it have enough?
In the Philippines, the D60 starts from PHP 1.15 mil (Pro) and PHP 1.26 mil (Elite). That is already much cheaper than the CR-V there (starting from PHP 1.68 mil) - but is it enough? Let us know what you think in the comments.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
