Maxus T90 EV in Blick test: This is what the electric pick-up from China can do

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Chinese brand Maxus is still new to many Swiss. Because: So far, Maxus commercial vehicles have only guided tradesmen and delivery drivers across the country. But since last May 2023, there is also the Maxus T90 EV, the first fully electric pick-up in Switzerland. Blick took a closer look at the 5.37 meter long loadmaster.

before trip

From the outside, the pickup doesn’t look much like an electric car: The front rises steeply and there are vents in the grille, as if a fat V8 gasoline engine behind it needs to be ventilated. Only the two letters “EV” on the back remind you: This pickup is electric. The interior looks really solid thanks to the faux leather and hard plastic; Ideal for daily Büezer use. Surprising: Analog devices with a small screen instead of a large screen like some electric rivals show range or power consumption. The modern 10.25-inch touchscreen in the middle takes care of the infotainment system.

on the street

Walk in, press the button and go; Not with the T90. It works in the classic way: insert the key into the ignition and turn it. There’s no starting sound, but at full throttle the Maxus sounds like an airplane just starting its engines, thanks to wind and electric motor noise. The 2.3-tonne pickup is easy to steer and gets off the ground quickly from the start. Beyond interstate speeds, it runs out of steam; The electric pickup has only 177 hp (133 kW) and a maximum torque of 310 Newton meters with rear-wheel drive. The maximum speed is 120 km/h, which is of course completely sufficient for Switzerland. Inconvenient for long highway journeys: The Maxus doesn’t have cruise control.

that was good

Despite the high seating position due to the battery in the lower body, there is sufficient leg and head room both in the front and in the back. The loading area is average in size, measuring 1.49 x 1.51 x 0.53 meters (L x W x H); load capacity is 925 kilograms. For comparison: the VW Amarok, which is two centimeters shorter, can only reach 900 kilometers per hour. With a battery capacity of 89 kilowatt hours (kWH), the test car managed a range of approximately 270 kilometers on higher sections of the highway. In the city, it needs to go significantly further in stop-start situations thanks to recovery; Maxus promises up to 471 kilometers. If gardeners or craftsmen use it in their area, this range will be more than sufficient.

he was bad

Most pickups have a rigid rear axle with leaf springs: in the T90 EV, this also shakes the passengers. Weight in the loading area may help; Also in terms of traction: it will prevent skidding when exiting a corner while accelerating. You’ll also miss the navigation system to find the next charging station on long highway journeys. This is only possible via the app with a smartphone paired with Apple CarPlay or QD-Link for Android. Unfortunately, the refueling break takes longer than the lunch break because the charging power is only a maximum of 80 kilowatts and only under optimal conditions. It’s better to charge for lunch if you plan well. Although the T90 EV scores for payload, it can only tow a maximum braked trailer load of one tonne. For comparison: VW’s Amarok achieves 3.5 times more success.

what remains

Maxus is on the right track, but there is still room for improvement. The lack of 4x4s is likely to be particularly annoying in Switzerland. An all-wheel drive system was once planned but unfortunately has now been canceled at Maxus’ request. The all-wheel-drive Maxus pick-up GST could come to Switzerland next year. Electric or not, pickups remain a niche product in Switzerland for small groups of customers and mainly for Büezer cars. Would a gardener pay around 60,000 francs for a T90 EV? Probably if he wants to boost his green image.

Source: Blick