Transpotec 2024: Maxus is fully charged - Premiere for eDeliver 5

The subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned SAIC corporation, Maxus, did not miss the opportunity to showcase its now considerable lineup of electric vans in Milan. For the first time, the Maxus eDeliver 5 was included, aimed specifically at urban users, positioned below the recently introduced eDeliver 7. The portfolio is rounded off by the multi-drive platforms of the pickup and the Deliver 9, both of which were showcased in their electric versions at the fair. However, the oldest electric vehicle in the lineup, the eDeliver 3, was missing. The range is so dense and confusing with significant overlaps that it is easy to lose track. It doesn’t appear very streamlined yet, but it is getting there.

The interior has significantly improved in quality

The first test sitting in the "larger midsize van" eDeliver 7 revealed that Maxus has significantly improved and learned in terms of material quality. Except for the slippery rubber floor, which is additionally marred by a strange tunnel for an e-van, the electric transporter impresses with a very tidy appearance and feel, leaving little to complain about, except that the steering wheel is only adjustable in height and not very much. The seats appear comfortable and mature at first glance, and the fabrics no longer exude the cheap charm of the past. The infotainment system also gets a sleek and sharp screen.

Space efficiency for a 5.40-meter car moderate

However, a subtle disappointment sets in when it comes to the cargo space, as the loading floor is knee-high and the space utilization for a van in the 5.36-meter class (2 meters in width and height!) is rather moderate: a formal 8.7 cubic meters is on record. It's a pity, because the cargo space would otherwise be square and practically cut, the rear doors open reliably and wide with the usual hinge fittings. The side sliding door, reinforced with solid handle brackets, would also open wide but stubbornly refuses to lock in place. However, the 1,200 kilos of payload and 1,500 kilos of towing capacity can be seen or loaded.

By the way: The 77 or 88 kWh batteries of the eDeliver 7 are charged on the driver's side at the B-pillar, which is not particularly shockproof if you rely on public chargers. The standard process from 10 to 80 percent in CCS is supposed to be completed in 43 minutes. Then there would be enough energy for an allegedly 485 kilometers in the batteries (WLTP), which the 150-kW motor on the front axle can then use. We’ll have to wait and see.
 

The Small One Outpaces the Big One

The smaller eDeliver 5 is said to achieve a range of 489 kilometers, with a battery capacity of just 64 kWh, which powers a 120 kW electric motor and can be recharged to 80 percent in 42 minutes using a fast charger. This suggests good efficiency, but still requires verification. The charging port is better positioned here, on the passenger side fender. The 5 series again presents a completely different look in the market, appearing more "cool" and urban, with its ultra-short stub nose and huge windshield. At 7.6 cubic meters, it is not much less spacious and just as payload-friendly with 1,200 kilos as the larger eDeliver 7, and also features a nicely low loading floor, easily accessible through the spectacularly "illuminated" rear section. However, the somewhat flimsy and nail-unfriendly door handles hint at where savings were made.