MAXUS Deliver 9 Panel Van (2020 - ) review

The Maxus Deliver 9 is available in just one body length in panel van format - ‘Long’ - with a choice of a ‘High’ or ‘Extra High’ roof height. If you want a comparison, think about the L3 Ford Transit large van, it’s basically the same length as one of those. The diesel Deliver 9 has an Internal length of 3413mm and, combined with the width of up to 1800mm and height of either 1792mm (RWD) or 2014mm, this gives an excellent load volume of up to 11.55 or 12.91 cubic metres, depending on the roof height you choose. Payloads available are from 1110kg up to 1360kg. There are some different dimensions in the electric eDeliver 9. Although the longer ‘LH’ model is similar to the diesel van’s dimensions, the shorter ‘MH’ model has a load length of 3019mm. Load volumes are 9.7cu/m and 11.0cu/m respectively. Payloads in the all-electric eDeliver9 are also very competitive, ranging from 980kg to 1200kg, depending on the battery pack chosen. Nice job from Maxus making the electric Deliver 9 a genuine choice in the large electric van sector.

Maxus! I like my seats firm and comfortable, which you have delivered nicely. Anyway, there are two trim levels, each of which affects the interior - ‘Standard’ and ‘Luxury’. At ‘Standard’ level you get an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, aircon, electric windows and Bluetooth. At ‘Luxury’ level those options are augmented with a 10-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a reversing camera. I found the Deliver 9’s interior felt classy and well put together, not one element from the door storage to the dashboard material and the shiny Maxus logo on the steering wheel felt cheap or tacky. There are better cabins, but not many. Waxing lyrical won’t help anyone here, it’s a great interior and Maxus should be proud of it.

The Maxus Deliver 9 is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a manual gearbox only. Expect to achieve around 29mpg from your Deliver 9 van, although this will vary considerably with the weight carried and the type of driving. The all-electric eDeliver 9 has an official combined cycle range between charges of 112 miles with the smaller 51.5kWh battery, or 146 miles using the larger 72kWh pack. Plenty to like here, even with the smaller range on the larger electric version, and finding one on a good finance or lease deal will make the van even more friendly to your wallet.

Scoring the exact same number in this section of the review as the number of years on the warranty, a diesel Maxus Deliver 9 is covered for 5 years or 125,000 miles - whichever comes first. The electric, meanwhile, is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles and the battery packs for 8 years or 100,000 miles. A strong warranty is always a great indication of how much faith a manufacturer has in its product, and you can tell that Maxus truly believes in the Deliver 9 platform - which might be enough to sway many to its doors.

The Maxus Deliver 9 is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a manual gearbox only. The all-electric eDeliver 9 is fitted with a 150kW electric motor (equivalent to a punchy 201HP engine) that will accelerate the van from zero to its maximum speed of 62mph in just 11 seconds.

As you’d expect, being a large van and all that comes with it, the diesel Deliver 9 suffers from roll when unloaded and stiffens up when under load. It’s responsive enough to make driving it a pleasant experience, the soft furnishing and ride height being notable contributors to the experience. In the electric versions you’ll find the battery pack weight keeps it rooted to the road even when unloaded. There's no real difference in performance to the diesel when under load, except that it feels slightly heavier in tighter corners. I can’t quibble over details, at this stage in large van development any van would have to do something spectacular to score higher here. That it scores three points in this section is testament more to the fact that it drove like any large van should - there’s comfort to be had in that, I reckon.

As standard, all Deliver 9 large vans come with emergency braking, cruise control, electric windows, dual airbags, lane departure warning, parking sensors, Bluetooth and auto stop/start. Nothing here is likely to make you gasp in awe at a safety package, but what’s there is a good amount for the price. Which leads me nicely to the next section..

There are just two trim levels to choose from - ‘Standard’ and ‘Luxury’ - with many users pointing out that even at the lowest trim level you get a lot of equipment for your money. At ‘Standard’ level you get an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, aircon, emergency braking, cruise control, electric windows, dual airbags, lane departure warning, parking sensors, Bluetooth and auto stop/start. At ‘Luxury’ level those options are augmented with 16-inch alloy wheels, a 10-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blind-spot monitoring, LED headlights, front parking sensors, reversing camera and keyless entry/start. There’s a lot here at the basic level, with some nice additions at the higher spec.

The latest Maxus Deliver 9 large van may not be very well known, but it has a lot to offer at highly-competitive lease prices. While there is not much choice in the range - Maxus likes to keep things simple - the van comes as standard with lots of safety equipment, excellent payload carrying ability and a comfortable drive. It is available as the diesel-powered Deliver 9 or electric-powered eDeliver 9, and Chassis Cab versions can be leased too. First launched in 2020, the Deliver 9 is growing in popularity thanks to a no-nonsense approach to being a large van - carry weight, carry lots and do it without breaking the bank. The jewel in the crown for some will be the warranty: 5 years or 125,000 miles - whichever comes first. That’s great peace of mind. However, being a large van means competing with a variety of vehicles, including some big names - primarily the Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Stellantis Brand large vans (Citroen Relay, Peugeot Boxer, Fiat Doblo and Vauxhall Movano). There are some large vans that compete on a level playing field, and others which pass those ones by. Overall, you’d be hard pushed to find a large van that ticks all the boxes you’d expect a large van to tick with so few quibbles - the Maxus Deliver 9 does that well. Would you get one over a Ford Transit? Perhaps not, but the price of a Deliver 9 might sway it, especially if you find a good lease or finance deal.