New Maxus Mifa 9 2023 review

Verdict

The Maxus Mifa 9 evokes the spirit of large Japanese luxury minivans, but adds the cutting-edge appeal of an electric powertrain. However, shelling out £76k for a model from a virtual unknown in the passenger car sector might be a step too far for some, especially when that price can bag you a luxury limousine from a premium brand. The Mifa 9 will most likely find appeal in lower grades as a plush private hire vehicle instead. Either way, it's certainly a car that's better experienced as a passenger than as a driver.

If you're in need of a multi-seat MPV, but want it to be electric, then the new Maxus Mifa 9 could be the answer. Electric MPVs are a rare breed at the moment, with the alternatives to this newcomer being either the five-seat Volkswagen ID. Buzz, the expensive Mercedes EQV or possibly the Tesla Model X, which is more of an SUV. Beyond that there’s a choice of two sizes of badge-engineered van-based electric MPVs from Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The Maxus Mifa 9 is a different proposition to most of those rivals, because it's a pure MPV with no van-derived roots, despite Maxus's origins in the panel van sector. In many ways, it's reminiscent of Japanese luxury MPVs such as the Nissan Elgrand and Toyota Alphard, which you sometimes see in the UK as grey imports. As a result it looks quite imposing, but it was designed as an electric MPV from the outset.

It measures a vast 5.3 metres long (that's as much as a long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class) and is two metres wide, while the bluff, grille-free front end is striking in a minimalist sort of way. Further back is a fairly traditional MPV shape that's broken up by a flash of Z-shaped chrome trim on the C-pillars, while the channels for the sliding side doors are well hidden within the bodywork.

While most of the exterior is pretty mundane, the boxy shape makes for a vast seven-seat interior. And the Mifa 9 is well built, too. There are plenty of solid-feeling plastics, plus real and fake leather trim, depending on which model you choose. The top-spec Premium model tested here features plush leather seats, and virtually everything is electrically adjustable, including power-assisted sliding doors and a powered tailgate.

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Up front, there's a 12.3-inch central touchscreen display which is used for all functions, including the climate controls, while the driver also has a compact VW-style seven-inch display ahead of them that is configurable. However, the infotainment system isn't the easiest to use, with lots of beeps every time you select a function, and plenty of sub-menus to negotiate to find the setting you want - both on the main screen and driver's display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted, but during our test, the Mifa 9 struggled to reconnect with our iOS device every time that we started the car.

It's in the back where the Mifa 9 really stands out. It comes with a 2-2-3 seating layout, and the Premium model features two plush captain's chairs that are electrically adjustable in every direction. They slide back and forth and move left to right for improved access to the rearmost row. Then there’s the smartphone-style touchscreen on the outer armrest to control the seat height, lumbar position, massage function, heating and cooling. It can even recline the chairs all the way back for a chaise longue effect. An aircraft-style tray table lifts and folds out of the opposite armrest, too, while there are multiple charging ports throughout the cabin.

Choose the top-spec Mifa 9 Premium, and the equipment list is full to bursting. As well as those multi-adjustable seats and power-opening doors, you get keyless entry, twin electric sunroofs, a heated leather steering wheel, heated, cooled and massaging front seats with electric adjustment, LED cabin lighting and a digital rear-view mirror. Safety kit is also top-drawer, with adaptive cruise featuring lane departure warning and lane change assist (which shows a camera view on the main screen when switching lanes), 360-degree parking cameras with bird's eye views, adaptive LED headlights and autonomous emergency braking.

In terms of powertrain, the Mifa 9 features a bespoke EV platform which offers a typical layout of floor-mounted battery and front-wheel-drive. The power pack is 90kWh in size, and this gives the MPV a maximum range of 273 miles in entry-level guise - the Premium model comes up a little shorter, but at a still-decent 267 miles. Maxus doesn't quote charging capacities for the Mifa 9, but a high-voltage source will be able to replenish the battery from 30 to 80 per cent capacity in half an hour. 

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The system drives a 245bhp electric motor that sends power to the front wheels, while there's an instant 350Nm of torque on tap as well. That's enough for the front tyres to break traction in slippery conditions, and the Mifa 9 feels rapid in a straight line, but thanks to the car's size and 2.5-tonne kerbweight, it's not a car that likes to be hustled along.

Vague steering and a soft suspension set-up mean that this MPV is geared towards comfort above all else, and the driver merely guides the car in the direction of travel, rather than engaging with it in any way. Silent cruising is the Mifa 9's forte - as long as you have deactivated the lane-assist system's oversensitive beep warnings - and only at higher speeds is the car disturbed by additional wind noise from around the wing mirrors.

The Mifa 9 makes much more sense in the back, where there's lots of room for passengers to stretch out, and plenty of toys to play with, too. However, a price tag north of £75k for this top-spec model is expensive, especially when you consider that this puts it in touching distance of luxury limousines such as the Audi A8 and Mercedes S-Class. The Mercedes EQV will be a more familiar (but even more expensive) alternative, too.

The Maxus Mifa 9 could make more sense in lower-spec trims. The mid-range Luxury model is around £7,000 less but has a similarly luxurious cabin, while the £12,000 cheaper Elite model might be the ideal choice for private hire firms that need to operate in low and zero-emissions city centres.

Now read our review of the Maxus T90 EV pick-up truck...