Following its CV Show debut, we drive a pre-production Maxus eDeliver 5 in Ireland. Will it stir up its rivals? By John Kendall.

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The Maxus eDeliver 7 had barely arrived when the brand unveiled the eDeliver 5 at this year’s CV Show and, as you might expect, it was designed to slot in between the eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 7. Even so, there is a degree of overlap with both models.

It is slightly larger than the eDeliver 3, with around 200kg more payload, but actually carries slightly more payload than the eDeliver 7 that we drove earlier this year.

On the other hand, the starting price is around £10,000 (excl. VAT) cheaper than the eDeliver 7, looks just as modern as that model and considerably more modern than the eDeliver 3, which has been around for a few years now.

With pricing from £34,000 (excl. VAT), it looks as though the eDeliver 5 will be competitively priced. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, a 7-inch LCD instrument cluster, with 12.3-inch touchscreen with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlamps and a full-size spare wheel. There is the mostly obligatory array of driver assistance systems too, from adaptive cruise control to forward collision warning, lane keeping assist and intelligent high beams, among others. The vehicle comes with a five-year/100,000km (62,000-mile) new vehicle warranty with eight-year/200,000km (124,000-mile) cover for the battery pack.

That said, our impression in the cab was that although it’s a thoroughly modern and clean design inside, it is a bit lacking in some areas. The first thing that struck us was the relative lack of storage space. There are door pockets each side and there’s a shelf over the windscreen but very little other storage space. We are not great fans of overhead storage shelves. If you have to hit the brakes hard, the whole lot could fly around your head and I would prefer to see more space lower down.

Nevertheless, it is a modern and eye-catching design that will turn heads, particularly in the two-tone white and pale blue colour scheme of our test van. Out on the road, it drives well, demonstrating brisk performance from our unladen example with light controls and good visibility. Like other electric vans, the lack of engine noise makes progress peaceful and therefore attractive to drivers. Regenerative braking is part of the package and the driver can choose between three different levels of regeneration.

Round the back, there’s a regular-shaped load area with sliding doors both sides, while 180- degree opening rear double doors are also standard, giving good access to the load floor.

Expect sales to begin a bit later this year through the Maxus network of dealers. The eDeliver 5 is a welcome addition to the sector, adding more electric choice for van operators. Let’s hope that the new government’s announcements about onshore renewable energy and its knock-on effects on the grid do something to boost the flagging sales of electric vans in the UK.

VERDICT

Maxus eDeliver 5 is a stylish addition to the electric van sector, which looks set to offer competitive pricing. It offers another up-to-date addition to the Chinese manufacturer’s range.

IN BRIEF

WHAT IS IT? Maxus’ new Ford E-Transit Custom competitor

MODEL DRIVEN? Maxus eDeliver 5 SWB panel van pre-production model

HOW MUCH? From £34,000 (ex VAT)

RANGE? Up to 208 miles (WLTP combined)

LOAD VOLUME? 6.6m3 – 7.6m3

GROSS PAYLOAD? 1,200kg

DRIVE? 120kW/240Nm drive motor, with 64kWh under-floor battery pack

CHARGING? on-board DC rapid charger with AC standard charger

Key fleet model: Maxus eDeliver 5 L1H1

Pros: Competitive price against electric rivals, good to drive

Cons: In-cab storage space seems restricted

Seven-word summary: Another smart new electric model from Maxus