This is the MG Maxus 9, an all-electric MPV that will make its debut at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) and is currently available for pre-order for a fee of 20,000 baht (RM2,594) entitle customers to a 40,000 baht discount ( RM5.192) when the car is officially delivered.
Don’t let the name confuse you. While it has two car brands – MG and Maxus – in its name, this is very much a product of Maxus, a subsidiary of SAIC Motor that also happens to own MG. The ‘MG’ is there because the MPV is sold by MG Thailand, but it should be noted that the MPV is known simply as the Maxus Mifa 9 in its home market of China.
Closely related to the Maxus G90, the Maxus 9 is 5,270mm long, 2,000mm wide, 1,840mm high and has a wheelbase of 3,200mm. For comparison, the Toyota Alphard is slightly smaller than the Maxus 9 at 4,945mm long and 1,850mm wide, but it also has a shorter wheelbase of 3,000mm.
The Maxus 9 electric powertrain features a front motor with 245 hp (241 hp or 180 kW) and 350 Nm of torque. Coupled to this is a ternary lithium-ion battery with an energy content of 90 kWh, which is good for a range of 540 km according to the NEDC standard. The battery can be fully charged in 8.5 hours with a maximum 11kW AC input or from a 30-80% state of charge in approximately 36 minutes with a 120kW DC fast charger.
In Thailand, the Maxus 9 is offered in two tiers, starting with the X. This comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights with sequential turn signals, a front sunroof and a rear panorama -Glass roof, leatherette upholstery, 64-color ambient lighting, electric steering wheel adjustment, electric front seats and second-row captain’s chair with massage and heating functions.
The list also includes automatic climate control with air vents for the second and third rows, PM2.5 air filtration, a 7-inch digital instrument display, a wireless phone charger, keyless entry and start, power sliding doors and tailgate, rain guards, sensor wipers, eight Speakers and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
The next step is the V-Class, which adds run-flat tires, genuine leather upholstery, upgraded power front seats with massage, heating, ventilation, and driver-side memory functions, VIP-style second-row captain’s chairs, and a digital rear-view mirror , four more speakers (12 total), and nine USB ports (the base option gets seven).
Safety and driver assistance kit are identical for X and V and include the usual passive systems (stability control, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist), Auto Brake Hold (works with the electronic parking brake), tire pressure monitoring, driver monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assistant, lane departure warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, panoramic monitor and all-round parking sensors.
Customers who pre-book the Maxus 9 also get a free home charger worth 42,057 baht (RM5,457) and a free charger installation worth 18,692 baht (RM2,425). Additional benefits include an extended vehicle warranty of five years/160,000 km in addition to an eight-year 200,000 km battery warranty. The X-Class will be offered in two colors – Black Knight and Pearl White – with the V-Class getting a third option, which is a two-tone Granite Gray with a black roof.
