Maxus Mifa 9 review

A couple of years ago we ditched the MPV category from the What Car? Awards because there weren't enough models to justify it. Today, though, cars like the Maxus Mifa 9 we're reviewing here are leading a comeback.

Why the sudden resurgence? Simple: while MPVs have been superseded by SUVs in the UK, in other markets they’re still very much a symbol of clout. If you’re a CEO in Kuala Lumpur and want the ultimate rolling statement, forget the Mercedes S-Class and get yourself a Lexus LM.

So what exactly is a Maxus Mifa 9? Well, let's start with the name. The Maxus brand was an old British van maker but is now the commercial vehicle arm of SAIC Motor, a Chinese automaker (the biggest, in fact). As for Mifa – we're told it stands for Maximum Intelligent Friendly Artistic. Yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch, but stay with us.

The Mifa 9 itself is an electric seven-seater that rides on the same platform as the petrol-powered Maxus G90. While it competes with the Citroën e-Spacetourer and Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric, it’s really targeting fancier models: the Lexus LM, the Mercedes EQV, the long-wheelbase VW ID Buzz and even the BMW i7.

So should the Maxus Mifa 9 be on your shortlist or are you better off with an electric SUV with seven seats, such as the Kia EV9? Read on to find out...

The single front-mounted motor in the Maxus Mifa 9 churns out 241bhp and 191lb ft of torque. On paper, that sounds decent enough, but remember, this thing’s hauling up to six executives – so don’t expect it to leap off the line like a BMW i7.

That said, the Mifa 9 gets up to speed respectably when the lights turn green, and once you’re moving it doesn’t feel overtly sluggish. Credit goes to the electric motor’s grunt.

However, if you flick it into Sport mode things get a bit... jittery. The accelerator response is a tad too sharp, making it tricky to manage your inputs smoothly – not great for those lounging in the back. Go for a gap in traffic with too much enthusiasm and you’ll be met with an alarming screech of tyre squeal.

Let’s just say that threading the Mifa 9 down a winding B-road requires a fair bit of concentration. If you head into a corner with any real speed it lists like a tall ship in a storm. The soft suspension does it no favours, bouncing over crests and dips with all the finesse of a rubber dinghy in choppy waters.

Town driving doesn’t bring much relief either. Sure, the Mifa 9 isn’t built on van underpinnings but don’t expect it to ride like a luxury saloon. It thuds over potholes and clatters across manhole covers, which is hardly ideal if your passengers are trying to get work done in the back.

The regenerative braking could use some work too. In its high setting, the transition from coasting to regen feels a bit abrupt, so we’d suggest leaving it in the low regen setting and managing the brakes yourself if you want a smoother drive.

And then there’s the wind noise. Once you get past 50mph, it’s surprisingly loud, even for an MPV. Sure, big boxes on wheels aren’t exactly aerodynamically sleek, but the Lexus LM – which is a hybrid car with a petrol engine – is significantly quieter by comparison.

As for the Mifa 9's official 267-mile electric range – let’s just say it’s optimistic. On longer runs, we were seeing more like 150 miles on a full charge, with efficiency plummeting once we hit motorway speeds. It’s worth noting that cheaper seven-seat electric cars can travel a lot further – the Kia EV9 has an official range of up to 349 miles.

“Driving the Mifa 9 swiftly down a country road made me feel a little queasy, so goodness knows how passengers in the back seats would feel.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

You sit perched quite high in the driver's seat of the Maxus Mifa 9, which is ideal for surveying the road ahead. The big side windows and chunky door mirrors give you a clear view of what’s lurking in your blind-spots, though glancing behind is a bit more of a challenge. The third row of seats blocks your view through the rear window, which can be a tad annoying.

Thankfully, even the entry-level Elite model throws in a rear parking sensor and rear-view camera as standard. Move up to the Luxury and Premium trims, and you’re treated to front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera, making it a doddle to manoeuvre this behemoth in tight spaces.

The driver’s seat is comfy enough, although it won’t win any awards for lateral support when cornering. In Elite spec it’s manually adjustable, with Luxury trim you get eight-way electric adjustment and the top-spec Premium trim spoils you with memory functions, ventilation and a massage feature. Plus, with a good range of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel, it’s easy to find a position that suits.

Now, on to interior quality. The Mifa 9’s cabin feels a bit like a (considerably cheap) MG car model. That’s not entirely a bad thing – the plastics are not brittle, the faux leather is perfectly serviceable and the design is inoffensive. But it’s missing a certain polish.

Chrome trim? Sprayed plastic. The passenger seat in our Press car? Developed a rattle. The wood on the rear desks? Clearly just a sticker over black plastic. A Lexus LM or Mercedes EQV will cost more but when you sit inside one you’ll see where the extra cash has gone.

Unlike in those posher rivals, nearly all the Mifa 9’s interior controls – including the climate controls – are buried in the 12.3in infotainment touchscreen. And it’s not the most intuitive system. You’ll find yourself diving through sub-menu after sub-menu to tweak basic settings, whether on the main screen or the driver’s display.

On the plus side, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come as standard, so you can dodge Mifa’s clunky software and stick to what you know.

“The Mifa 9 generates quite a bit of wind noise at higher speeds so I was grateful to be in the range-topping Premium model with its relatively punchy 12-speaker sound system.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Behind the driver in the Maxus Mifa 9, the two captain’s chairs are where the real luxury lies. They're not just cushy – they’re also endlessly adjustable thanks to a little touchscreen mounted on the outer armrest. You can slide them back and forth, side to side, recline them fully and – in Luxury or Premium trim – enjoy a massage while you’re at it.

The captain's chairs also control the car’s "interior scenarios". For example, Rest Moment setting will close the blinds over the two fully opening sunroofs, adjust the rear air conditioning and change the colour of the ambient lighting. It’ll take a while to learn what each scenario does, but it’s a neat bit of theatre.

Behind the captain’s chairs you’ll find a three-seat third row, which is impressively accommodating. Adults up to about 5ft 9in can sit here without too much complaint, with enough headroom to avoid the dreaded hunched shuffle.

As for the Mifa 9's boot space, you get 466 litres with all seven seats in place, which isn’t ideal for an airport run. For comparison, the Mercedes EQV offers a hefty 1,030 litres, and even that’s beaten by the 1,100 litres you get in the VW ID Buzz.

The third-row seats split in two (60/40) and fold down, giving you a four-seater with a cavernous, van-like space that’ll swallow whatever you throw at it.

“You don’t buy a Mifa 9 to drive it. You buy it to be driven in and it must be said that the chairs in the rear are wonderfully comfortable.” – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Even in top-spec Premium trim, the Maxus Mifa 9 undercuts a base-level Lexus LM or Mercedes EQV. So if you’re a business looking to bulk-buy seven-seaters, we can see why the Mifa 9 might catch your eye.

For private buyers, or if you’re eyeing one as a company car, it’s still a relatively pricey affair, especially when you compare it to, say, a Kia EV9 or VW ID Buzz LWB. And that’s before you factor in the higher running costs – the Milfa 9's battery efficiency isn’t exactly stellar, so expect to pay more to keep it charged.

Speaking of charging, the 84kW battery has a maximum charge rate of 114kW – that’s a touch quicker than the 110kW of the Mercedes EQV but slower than the 200kW-capable VW ID Buzz LWB Pro and the 209kW-capable Kia EV9. Hooked up to a fast charger it will take the Mifa 9 around 36 minutes to charge from 10 to 80%.

Base Elite trim makes the most sense price-wise, but in that trim you don't get much in the way of luxury. Think plastic steering wheel, PVC leather, manual driver’s seat, manual side doors, and a manual tailgate.

We’d suggest at least stepping up to the Luxury trim. For the extra outlay, you get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, power rear seats and those all-important electric doors.

Premium trim, meanwhile, gets you a heated steering wheel, ventilated driver’s seat, motorised leg rests for the electric rear seats and a 12-speaker sound system – it’s the full works.

On the safety front, the Mifa 9 scored a solid five stars in its Euro NCAP tests, with a decent array of kit to keep you out of trouble, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist and a driver fatigue monitoring system.

"Given its relatively high list price compared to many seven-seaters, the Mifa 9 isn't the most practical choice as a family car. However, for a private business looking to invest in a fleet of electric MPVs it does have its appeal." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

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