DELIVERING A VALUE PROPOSITION (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Chinese brand Maxus is aiming to shake up the commercial vehicle market with this large-segment Deliver 9 model. Jonathan Crouch checks out what's on offer.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 62

No, of course the Maxus Deliver 9 doesn't have quite the sophistication of the volume players in the large van segment. It wouldn't do because it costs a lot less than its competitors. Yet it will probably serve the needs of your business just as well. In short, if you need profit more than polish, this contender could be worth a try.

Backgroundword count: 136

You probably haven't heard of Maxus. It's a modern name for LDV, a once-British van brand which was bought by Chinese manufacturing giant SAIC in 2009. To begin with, SAIC kept the LDV name and dusted off the old Maxus model that LDV was selling before it went into receivership. Now though, at last, the Chinese conglomerate has come up with a completely new van design, so think the time is right for a change of brand name - to Maxus. This Deliver 9, the Maxus marque's first design, isn't quite as spectacularly affordable as the old LDV V80 model it replaced but it's a far more modern product, like the V80 aimed at the large van segment. It comes in full-electric eDeliver 9 form, or in the diesel-powered Deliver 9 guise we focus on here.

Driving Experienceword count: 293

Power for the Deliver 9 comes from a 2.0-litre turbo diesel unit that's only available in 163PS form matched with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It's usually offered in front-wheel drive, but the biggest body shapes get a rear wheel drive option too. Electric power steering features across the range. From start-off, the noise of the engine betrays its age, but once you get going, refinement is reasonably acceptable and there's quite enough torque (375Nm) to pull the heavy loads that likely buyers will need to shift, reducing the need for frantic gear swapping when a steep incline is encountered. The top speed is 100mph and there's a 2,500kg braked towing capacity. So yes, the performance on offer is likely to be quite sufficient for your needs. If you'd prefer the full-electric eDeliver 9 model, there's a choice of three battery sizes - 51.5kWh (with 112 miles of combined EV range), 72kWh (146 miles) and 88.55kWh (185 miles). Either way, you get a punchy 201hp motor which gives you an instant burst of speed. Three driving modes are provided, 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Power' - and even 'Eco' feels relatively eager. Like almost all vans, particularly large ones, the cornering demeanour of the Deliver 9 in all its forms improves quite a bit when there's a bit of a load in the back. When you're running empty, it's rather prone to being unsettled over bumps. And whatever your Deliver 9's load configuration, you'll certainly feel the larger potholes and tarmac tears you'll come across in typical urban motoring. When the time comes to slow down, you'll be thankful for the reassuring feel of the standard all-round disc brakes. Brake assist complements the usual ABS system for emergency stops and ESP stability control is standard too.

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