MAXUS eTERRON 9 (2026 - ) review

The Maxus eTerron 9 is only offered with a double cab but its 5.5 metre length means it can accommodate a load bed that’s 1.56 metres long, 1.5 metres wide and 0.54 metres deep. Its 620kg carrying capacity falls short of competitors including the Toyota Hilux BEV and KGM Musso EV which can handle around 700kg and the Isuzu D-Max EV tops the segment at just over one tonne. On-board weighing means drivers can keep an eye on how much the vehicle is carrying to stay compliant with its weight limits. Unlike the T90 EV which was only two-wheel drive, the eTerron 9 has a dual-motor permanent four-wheel drive setup. Although its payload is less than rivals, towing capacity is competitive at 3.5 tonnes. We haven’t yet taken the eTerron 9 off-road but a 230mm ground clearance, 550mm wading depth, approach angle of 29 degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees suggests Maxus have designed it to be able to cope with off-road scenarios. The eTerron 9 also has a frunk to store charging cables, extra licence plates and any other bits and bobs that would normally end up on the back seats. 

Both Luxury and Premium trim levels come with a 12.3-inch screen and 12.3-inch driver’s display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and USB charging ports. Entry-level Luxury has black trim, PVC seat material and front and rear heated seats. Premium adds white trim, a panoramic sunroof, leather seats and an eight-way adjustable heated, ventilated and massaging driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support. The Premium trim colourway adds more visual interest to the interior but risks being less practical as the white headliner extends down to the white grab handles which would likely get visibly grubby with regular use. The floor throughout feels hardwearing and all the touchpoints seem solid. Instead of traditional door handles inside, the doors release with a button and there’s a manual release lever hidden in the door pocket in case of emergencies. 

A 102.2kWh battery delivers an official range of 267 miles which beats all other electric pickups currently on the market in the UK. When the vehicle is fully charged, it estimates a range of 280 miles and during our time with the eTerron 9, its range calculations proved to be very accurate. It recalculates range estimates based on other energy usage like towing and climate control. For everyday use, charging at home will be the most cost effective. At speeds up to 11kW, it can take the battery from 5 to 100% in 12 hours. Public charging will make total cost of ownership more expensive but a session of around 40 minutes at 115kW can top it up from 20 to 80%. It’s hard to ignore the upfront cost, starting from around £55k excluding VAT and monthly business contract hire agreements start in the region of £590 plus VAT. Just as we’ve seen with electric cars, vans and trucks, the idea is to achieve a lower total cost of ownership during the vehicle’s life by controlling charging costs. 

Matching the same warranty periods offered on the Isuzu D-Max EV, Maxus covers the whole vehicle for five years or 100,000 miles and the battery for eight years or 125,000 miles. As Maxus focuses exclusively on commercial vehicles, the company has an extensive dealer network throughout the UK thanks to partnerships with established truck and van dealers including the likes of Rygor, Acorn and AM Phillip. Dealers can also support with roadside assistance packages for added peace of mind. 

Depending on the circumstances, the eTerron 9’s performance characteristics can be tailored to suit. Drivers can toggle between different regen braking levels which help to control the vehicle's heft and temper its power off the mark. It also has various driving modes including eco, normal, sport, snow, mud and sand. Dual electric motors propel it to 62mph from a standstill in five seconds but the focus for its working life is on the 620kg payload and 3.5-tonne towing capacity. As noted above, we found its range calculations to be very accurate, even when driving with a heavy right foot. We’d need to spend some time off-road to properly evaluate its performance in this area as well. 

Front and rear independent air suspension can be set to different ride heights to suit the application. When you lower the tailgate, the rear suspension automatically drops to make it easier to access the load bed. On the road, the eTerron 9’s 2 metre width is quite noticeable, especially on country lanes. With lane keeping assistance off, it’s easy to maintain its position on the road but you have to bear in mind that it’s closer to the width of a Ford F150 Lightning rather than a UK-sized pickup. The eTerron 9 weighs just over 2.8 tonnes, so it feels fairly hefty but this means it settles nicely on its suspension, making for a comfortable ride.  

The Maxus eTerron 9 is equipped with just about every safety feature imaginable. Its driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, speed limit information and blind spot monitoring with rear corner camera views that pop up on the central screen every time you turn the indicators on. Front and rear parking sensors are supported by a 360-degree camera system. Unusually, the eTerron 9 features a digital rear view mirror which shows a camera feed from the tailgate. This means the rear view mirror doesn’t show what’s in the load bed which can be useful when it’s full and would be blocking your view but also means you have to keep an eye on the load area in the wing mirrors instead. In rainy conditions, spray flicks up onto the camera but as soon as you slow down it clears up quickly. Since the eTerron 9 is so wide, its lane keeping system is overly sensitive on country roads. Its driver monitoring system can also be a little overzealous and as the sensor stack is positioned just behind the steering wheel, if you cross your hands on the wheel it triggers as it can’t see you. Turning these systems off in the menu is fairly straightforward and a must on longer journeys. 

With just two trim levels to choose from, the eTerron 9 comes fairly well equipped as standard. The basic kit includes LED headlights, a full sized spare tyre, a choice of black, white, yellow or grey paintwork and large 12.3-inch infotainment and driver displays. Premium adds roof rails and both versions come with vehicle-to-load outlets in the frunk and rear cargo bed. A six-speaker sound system is upgraded to eight speakers in the top spec and there’s endless menus to view and adjust safety systems, vehicle information, charging details and weights.  

If you’re looking for the longest range electric pickup on the market in the UK today, the eTerron 9 is the one. It’s a huge leap on from the T90 EV and offers drivers an electric workhorse that they’d be pleased to also spend time in on the weekends. Payload isn’t class leading but it matches the towing capabilities of its competitors and has a whole host of useful tech to make life easier. There’s no getting away from the price but strategic charging and minimal maintenance requirements should help to see some savings early on. The eTerron 9 has one of the most modern interiors in the electric pickup segment and impresses with its quick operating system and physical button panel for quick access to climate controls.