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2021 Maxus T60 Pro 4×2 A/T: Are You Tough Enough?

We’ve been doing a lot of cleaning and organizing during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the metropolis was under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), we did a general clean-up of our residence and home office while under quarantine. When the restrictions were eased, we had some repairs done to our house. These past few months, we’ve been reorganizing our other businesses to pivot with the demands of the tough pandemic economy.

After settling our affairs in our old motorcycle maintenance and repair business, we had to haul some stuff from our closed workshop, including a couple of tool chests and a classic Vespa scooter. To transport these heavy and bulky items, we needed a pickup truck with a large bed and a powerful engine. Luckily, our friends at Maxus Philippines lent us a hand and gave us a weekend with their 2021 Maxus T60 Pro 4×2 pickup truck.

Turbo Diesel and Automatic

The T60 Pro is equipped with what we generally consider as the “ideal powertrain combination” for the crawling Metro Manila traffic. Under the hood is a 2.8-liter inline-4 diesel engine with common rail injection system (CRDI) coupled with a turbocharger that has mechanically adjustable vanes that automatically varies angles to provide the right amount of boost needed. The pressurized air passes through an air-to-air intercooler before entering the combustion chambers.

The Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) helps the Euro 4-compliant diesel engine produce 360 Newton-meters of torque between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm, which is more than enough to handle any load on the bed and five adult passengers inside the crew cab. The electronic 6-speed automatic transmission with economy (Eco) and high-performance (Power) modes makes driving the fully-laden truck a lot smoother and a whole lot easier in stop-and-go traffic, which helps keep the contents in the pickup bed from moving around and disrupting the weight distribution.

Tough yet Comfortable

With an independent front double wishbone suspension, which keeps the front wheels always perpendicular to the ground, and a rear live axle located by leaf springs, we were pleasantly surprised with the comfortable ride and smooth handling of the T60 Pro. There were the occasional bounce and expected choppiness when the bed is empty, but the suspension was tuned more towards comfort than most pickup trucks that we’ve tested.

The power-assisted rack and pinion steering works well with the front suspension and wide track to provide communicative response and ease when maneuvering this 5.4-meter long and 2.1-meter wide pickup along the crowded busy streets of the city. On the highways, the long 3.2-meter wheelbase provides a generous transition between the front and rear wheels, resulting in a smoother ride, especially when we unleash 148 horses when we rev the engine up to 3,400 rpm. Front ventilated discs and rear solid disc brakes effectively and reliably rein in these horses.

Taking Care of Business

Inside, the T60 Pro is all business. Two amply-bolstered and ergonomic bucket seats locate the front occupants while a lounge-like bench seat with a spacious legroom can comfortably accommodate three adults at the back. Body-color anchoring points, which are visible between the seat and the backrest, in conjunction with the 3-point ELR seatbelts, can hold child seats or seat bolsters, especially when you’re travelling with an infant or young children. Maxus’ double layer welding technology helps provide an extra layer of protection for all the occupants.

The driver faces a three-spoke steering wheel with multi-function controls for the infotainment system and cruise control. The 7-inch touchscreen can toggle between music (AM/FM radio, USB and Bluetooth), reverse camera monitor, and vehicle information. The system monitors the vehicle’s performance and even reminds the driver if the vehicle is due for periodic maintenance service. This tough cookie is also a thoughtful cookie.

Take a Look at Me Now

It is often said that the test of an attractive automotive design is if it makes you look over your shoulder twice as you walk away from the vehicle. With our Agate Red T60 Pro media unit, we did not look twice. We looked back several times while we were walking away from it. We can’t help but admire its tough-looking face with that massive grille, which looks integrated with the headlights, and that chrome, big Maxus emblem in the middle, which kids mistaken point to as the symbol of the Marvel Avengers.

Viewed from the side, we love the overall stance and the general proportions of this truck, especially the balanced proportion of the crew cab and the pickup bed. It looks massive and macho without making the 6-spoke alloy wheels shod in 245/65R17 Dunlop AT20 Grand Trek tires look small. If we own one, we’d drive it as it is – no need to add monster-sized wheels and tires to make it look even tougher. Straight out of the showroom, this Maxus pickup truck already looks tough enough.

We were so enamored with the T60 Pro over the weekend that we figured that we will need a tough yet attractive pickup truck with a spacious bed that already comes with a protective coating. We need a truck with the proper tie-downs to safely haul our stuff around town, especially when we decide to resume our other businesses. When we learned that our 2021 Maxus T60 Pro 4×2 AT is priced at P1,078,000 and that Maxus Philippines gave a P50,000 discount to help businesses recover during this pandemic economy, we were pleasantly surprised with its low P1,028,000 price tag. Now, that’s a great bargain and a tough offer to refuse!

Specifications

Price: P1,028,000.00 (Discounted)

Classification: 4-door crew cab pickup truck

Engine type: Liquid-cooled inline-4 turbocharged diesel with VGT

Displacement: 2766 cc

Maximum power: 148hp @ 3400 rpm

Maximum torque: 360 Nm @ 1600-2800 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Steering: Power-assisted rack and pinion

Front suspension: Independent, double wishbone

Rear suspension: Live axle, leaf spring

Front brakes: Ventilated discs

Rear brakes: Solid discs

Wheels; 17-inch alloys

Tires: 245/65R17 all-terrain tires

Length: 5365 mm

Width: 2145 mm

Height: 1809 mm

Wheelbase: 3155 mm

Curb weight: 1950 kg

Gross weight: 2950 kg

Ground clearance: 215 mm

Fuel tank capacity: 75 liters

Contact Details

 Maxus Philippines

938 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City,

Taguig City, 1502 Metro Manila

Phone: (+632) 8459 4555

2 comments

  1. I like t60 4×2 at