Maxus Deliver 9

To say the Deliver 9 is a huge improvement on the old LDV vans is a massive understatement says Andrew Walker; this is a van to be respected

All change at Maxus as the Deliver 9 sets a new standard

Alongside its all-new Deliver 3 electric van, Maxus has also launched a new large van in the shape of the Deliver 9. It replaces the LDV V80 and comes equipped with a new 2.0-litre diesel engine with 163hp and DPF regen capability, a first in the sector.

Chinese owners SAIC changed the name of its European van brand from LDV to Maxus in 2020, and the Deliver 9 is the new take on the large van concept.

Available in two specs, Standard and Luxury, it’s offered with three body lengths, three heights and three wheelbases, as well as a crew cab, chassis cab and minibus.

Load ranges from eight cubic metres to 13 cubic metres, with load lengths from 2,650mm to 3,413mm and with a loadspace height from 1,724mm to 2,114mm. Overall width is 1,800mm. The Deliver 9 measure’s 1,366mm between the wheel arches.

The three body lengths are Short, 5,180mm; Medium, 5,546mm; and Long; 5,940mm. The three roof heights are Medium, 2,365mm; High, 2,353mm; Extra-High, 2,735mm. Finally, you have three wheelbases to choose from: 3,000mm, 3,366mm and 3,760mm. All versions are 2,466mm wide, including mirrors.

There are a couple of longer chassis cab options for conversions and rear-wheel drive (RWD) is offered on the longest versions.

A side loading door is fitted as standard. This measures 1,075mm in width on the Short van, 1,269mm on the Medium and Long versions. The rear door opening is 1,570mm wide and these open to 236 degrees. The rear features an easy to clean cargo space, eight tie-down points and two lights. Options include LED lighting and an electric side step.

Deliver 9 also features standard safety technology such as lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, hill start assist and driver and passenger airbags.

UK models offer a 3,500kg gross vehicle weight (GVW), with payloads of 1,360kg for the FWD Short model up to 1,110kg for the largest RWD version.

Braked towing capacity is 2,500kg for the smallest versions, 2,800kg for the rest of the range and every model will tow 750kg un-braked.

In the flesh the Deliver 9 looks a lot like a Ford Transit, with its large front grille, high bonnet and LED headlights, also stealing from the last Volkswagen Crafter. Inside, Maxus has plainly thought long and hard about the cabin and in terms of quality and finish, it’s a million miles away from the old LDV V80.

There’s plenty of top notch black and chrome plastic on show and generous cabin storage, including a large glove box, deep storage space in the doors, hidden space under the bench seating, a foldable seat back with two cup holders and a built-in tablet holder. The dashboard also includes cup holder storage along with a selection of other storage options above the glove box and windscreen visor. You also get twin USB’s and mini jack port, a 12v power socket and on medium and high roof versions, overhead storage too.

Standard equipment includes LED daytime running lights, rear parking sensors, central locking, AirCon, electric windows, a multifunction steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth and an eight direction adjustable driver’s seat.

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Move up to the Luxury version and this adds a 10” touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera with guide assist and no key entry and start.

More good news is that the 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine, unlike the outgoing LDV V80, meets the latest Euro 6d emissions requirements, while also matching a number of European vans on power, with 163hp and 375Nm’s of torque on the more powerful version.

We spent a couple of hours in a Luxury Deliver 9 Short, with Medium roof height, courtesy of Chadderton Motor Company. As we mentioned, after the V80 the dashboard comes as a bit of a shock, but in a good way, looking and feeling high-end. Again, Maxus designers have cleverly utilised some of the design and layout from its competitors vans, after all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It not only looks good, it works well too, especially the 10” touchscreen and Apple CarPlay, which allowed us to sync our iPhone quickly and utilise Google Maps.

A quick walk around the outside of the van and a soft tap here and there, reveals a far more rigid panel van than offered with the LDV V80, which should offer the Deliver 9 a rental opportunity.

On the road, the Deliver 9 is easy to drive, offering nimble steering and a light clutch. The gear change is a little longer than we’ve found in some competitors, but this isn’t a major issue. On the motorway and once up to speed, we engaged cruise control and this allowed us to relax into the ride. Even in heavy rain we drove through the cab remained relatively quiet, with only some road noise causing us to turn the DAB radio up a touch. Driver visibility is good as well, with the side mirrors offering a good view of what’s behind when overtaking.

On urban roads the Deliver 9 continued to impress, negotiating stop-start traffic and some ubiquitous road works. We reverse parked the van in a supermarket car park and the parking sensors and rear view camera definitely made this task easier.

The two hours we spent mimicking a van driver’s journey, short motorway and urban roads, was enjoyable in the Deliver 9. The seats are comfortable and we could have easily spent a long day in the cabin.

At journey’s end we checked on our fuel economy and it hovered just above 28mpg. We had driven unladen and this and the CO2 emissions on the Deliver 9 which range from 222g/km – 306g/km dependant on van size, are distinctly average, even when compared to the current CC&V Large Van of the Year, the Fiat Professional Ducato, whose largest vans offer emissions of just 227g/km.

How does the Deliver 9 stack up on price? The FWD LH Standard costs from £29,600, the Luxury BV LH RWD from £32,500, and the MC Cab RWD from £26,700, all + VAT, which are all competitive.

• Thanks to Chadderton Motor Company for the loan of the Deliver 9.

CC&V VERDICT

The latest safety features and on-board tech make it relevant. It’s light years away from the old LDV V80 in terms of build quality and body-rigidity and should reassure any doubters that Maxus is a name worth your consideration.

CC&V RATING:

N N N N