Maxus eDeliver 3 Review

Maxus assures us that’s no longer the case and if you want a small electric van that’s as inexpensive as they come then the quirkily styled eDeliver 3 is a seemingly credible rival to the likes of the Vauxhall Combo Electric and Renault Kangoo e-Tech, to name but a few of the many electric small vans on the market.

It differs from its rivals in that it was designed from the ground-up as an electric van - there is no diesel, petrol or plug-in hybrid version planned, it’s an EV-only, and that means Maxus has been able to package it well, with a low and flat load floor and battery beneath the chassis.

Maxus is targeting sole traders, SMEs and micro-fleets mostly, via a network of largely independent, local dealerships. If you’re thinking of switching to electric, the personal touch and dedicated local presence might swing things in the Maxus eDeliver 3’s favour.

It’s nippy enough with a 122PS electric motor, and it weighs a lot less than most of its rivals. 

Range, Battery and Charging

The eDeliver 3 has a choice of 35 or 50kWh battery packs, both of which sound quite small. But thanks to its lightweight construction, which features an extensive use of alloys and composites, it’s over 400kg lighter than the Vauxhall Combo Electric, Fiat e-Doblo, Citroen e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Partner. 

Maxus quotes a WLTP range of 99 miles for the smaller battery and 151 miles for the larger pack. That’s a lot less than the 205 miles offered by the Stellantis vans, but they have a larger battery. 

Charging it takes eight hours via conventional home charger, while an 85% charge is attainable with a rapid DC charger in 45 minutes, at a maximum of 50kW – on a par or a little behind most if its rivals and certainly no less usable.

Practicality, Payload and Dimensions

There’s only one body length and its shorter than most of its rivals – but only because there’s no requirement to accommodate an engine upfront. 

The load bay itself is pretty spacious with 4.8 cubic metres of space, a smidgeon behind the most popular small vans on the market, but for most small van users it’s not a major issue – it’ll still swallow a Euro pallet, though it would certainly benefit from a few more lashing points. The load bay has good access via barn-style rear doors or a single side-loading door, while the rear lip is nice and low making it easy to get bulkier cargo on-board.

It offers a payload of 900kg, better than most small electric vans and almost at the one-tonne level offered by medium van rivals, thanks to its lightweight construction. This will be of particular interest to companies operating multi-drop delivery rounds, as well as those in the construction industry working in urban environments.

Interior, Seating and Technology

Don’t expect much in the way of luxury with the Maxus e Deliver 3 – that’s not what this van is about. 

That said, it’s perfectly functional and while some of the plastics may appear cheap and the traditional ignition key may seem a bit alien to most EV users, it has all of the modern features you need – smartphone integration, climate control, cruise control and simple, ergonomically decent controls, along with a pretty intuitive (albeit quite small) touch screen. 

The plastics on the doors and dash are quite harsh and brittle, the rubber flooring feels (and smells) cheap and the shift knob is fiddly to use, but it does all seem pretty durable, if lacking a premium ambience. 

It's a two-seater only, and there are no secret cubbies or extra storage areas like those in many rivals, but as a working vehicle, it does the job. 

Motors, Performance and Handling

The Maxus eDeliver 3 has a punchy 122PS motor with three driving modes: 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Power', and three levels of regenerative braking, the most potent of which will slow the van to walking pace. 

Compared with pricier electric vans, it lacks refinement – once underway, you’re greeted by hums and whirrs from the electric motors that are amplified by the acoustics of the load bay. It’s quite fun to listen to in its own way but could get quite tiresome after a while. There’s also a lot of road noise and echo from the load bay – the lightweight construction principles mean there’s less sound deadening than other vans in the class.

It's a lively machine to drive – the low kerbweight means it fair flies along from a standing start, with the top speed capped at 75mph. As well as the standard mode there is also an Eco setting. This limits it to 58mph flat out to reduce electricity consumption – ideal for urban users.

The steering is light and precise with good forward visibility, but it shows its limits on the open road. There’s a lot of body roll and the unladen ride quality is poor compared with rivals, with the back end feeling bouncy and crashy on broken road surfaces and bumpy lanes.

Running costs, Pricing and Specs

There’s a clear and straightforward pricing strategy for the eDeliver 3 – one specification, and a number of dealer-fit options. It’s by far the most affordable small electric van on the market, around 25% cheaper than models from Stellantis and Renault, and markedly less expensive than the Mercedes-Benz e-Citan. The smaller battery model lops £3,000 off the price but isn't always on the price list.

All Maxus vehicles come with a five years’ warranty or 125,000 miles of cover and include five years’ of roadside assistance cover as standard. The battery gets its own eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Verdict

It doesn’t shine in any area but regardless of that the Maxus eDeliver 3 is quite a likeable van – the price will be enough for it to find its way onto many sole traders’ shopping lists.

It’s not without its faults – far from it - and other vans are more comfortable to drive and a lot more refined, but if you want an electric van that does what it says on the tin it’s a good value package. A practical, functional EV that doesn’t do anything spectacular, but nor does it really do anything massively wrong.