10 hours ago
10
LDV has launched a factory-built campervan in Australia, with the Deliver 9 available for thousands of dollars less than Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ford and Fiat alternatives.
China's LDV is coming for Volkswagen's 'turn-key' Crafter Kampervan and aftermarket conversions for Mercedes-Benz, Ford and Fiat vans with its own factory-built, sub-$100,000 model.
Due at "selected LDV dealers" from next month, the 2025 LDV Deliver 9 Campervan will be priced from $89,990 drive-away, undercutting the larger Crafter Kampervan available in VW showrooms for $168,990 before on-road costs, or around $200,000 drive-away.
Based on the Deliver 9 long-wheelbase long-roof van, the four-seat Campervan adds a foldable double-sized bed, a kitchen sink, a fridge/freezer, a microwave, an induction cooktop, and a toilet.
It also offers two showers – one inside the vehicle and another that can be used outside – electronic retractable side steps, a sliding fly-screen door, window shades, a stowable dining table, and swivelling front seats when the vehicle is stationary.
While the Deliver 9 Campervan can run on a 240-volt power supply often found in caravan parks – including its roof-mounted air-conditioning unit – it includes a built-in 2.56kWh lithium-ion battery for 'emergency power', topped up with a 190-watt solar panel on the roof.
A 100-litre water tank is included for fresh water, along with a 100-litre grey water tank and a removable 16-litre tank for toilet waste.
The left side of the vehicle also features a built-in shade awning, while there are red and grey body decals unique to the Deliver 9 Campervan.
LDV Australia general manager Dinesh Chinnappa said the Deliver 9 Campervan is "ready to go, straight off the showroom floor".
"Campervans have grown in popularity over the past decade as an increasing number of Australians choose to explore the great outdoors on their own terms, their own timetable – and in their own vehicle," Chinnappa said.
The Deliver 9 Campervan competes with the extra-long-wheelbase Crafter Kampervan, which is built in collaboration with Australian recreational-vehicle (RV) company Jayco, though the VW includes the 4Motion all-wheel drive system as standard.
Pricing for the Crafter Kampervan ranges between $168,990 and $176,990 before on-road costs, while aftermarket solutions for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit start from around $150,000, including the cost of the base vehicle.
LDV will be the only carmaker to offer a full-size, factory-built campervan in Australia, as the Crafter Kampervan is second-stage modified in Melbourne, rather than offering the factory-built Crafter Grand California sold in Europe, which lacks a sliding left-side door.
Standard features in the Deliver 9 Campervan include Apple CarPlay, a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, halogen headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and rear barn doors.
However, it does not include the upgrades the Deliver 9 van, bus and cab-chassis received in 2024, such as a longer seven-year warranty (with a 200,000-kilometre cap), more power and torque, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto support.
Instead, the Campervan features a three-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, along with a 108kW/375Nm turbo-diesel – down from 128kW/420Nm – a six-speed automatic transmission instead of an eight-speed, and a smaller touchscreen without Android Auto.
A two-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies to the campervan bodywork, furniture and cabinetry, while a one-year warranty is included for the electrical appliances such as the microwave and refrigerator.
Measuring 5940mm long, 2466mm wide and 2925mm tall, with a 3760mm wheelbase, the Deliver 9 Campervan is shorter than the Crafter, which measures 6836mm long with a 4490mm wheelbase.
A 2800-kilogram braked towing capacity is listed by LDV, along with a 729kg payload.
The 2025 LDV Deliver 9 Campervan is due in Australian showrooms in October.
2025 LDV Deliver 9 Campervan price in Australia
Note: All prices above are drive-away.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
