Maxus G50

The dashboard may be made of hard plastic but its matte finishing, layered design, and silver give it a sporty flair. Over to the driver’s side is a digital and analog gauge cluster, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted button switches for infotainment and cruise control.

Maxus G50 Elite and Premium are equipped with an 8-inch infotainment system, while the range-topping G50 Pro gets a larger 12.3-inch display. Both come with Bluetooth and USB support.

You either get fabric or leather seats arranged in 2-3-3 configuration. Adjustable front seats provide extra support. The second row offers both space and flexibility as seats can be reclined, moved forward, and back. While the third row has one more seat than most MPV’s, it has less wiggle room when the entire bench is occupied.

All three rows have access to A/C vents with fan speed controls, but only front passengers can adjust their temperatures. People who sit in the second row will have food trays and a center-folding armrest. Third-row passengers have access to bottle holders and USB ports for charging handheld devices.

Maxus didn’t release any details on the actual cargo space. However, it appears to be significantly more than the 300L offered in the Toyota Innova. With the third-row seats being completely foldable, it can be increased further.

Higher trims naturally offer additional amenities such as automatic air conditioning, a panoramic sunroof, mobile wireless charging, and extra speakers.

The Maxus G50 is often mistaken for a minivan due to its flat sides, box-shaped tailgate, and large dimensions. It also rides low like one, which makes it easy for passengers to get in. The only difference is that it has swinging doors.

It features a long and wide bonnet, a massive split-type grill, faux vents, and a bulging fender. Pro trims get LED headlights while lower trims get standard halogen. From either side, you can see deep character lines running across as well as blacked-out D-pillars for a floating roof effect. Only the Maxus G50 Pro is missing roof rails.

Chrome accents decorate its body, including the front and rear where the M-A-X-U-S logo is visibly spelled out. While there’s nothing special outback, it has nifty features like a power tailgate, roof-mounted spoiler, a center-mounted reflector, rear wiper, and a rear window defogger.

All in all, the G50 has a sporty, aggressive, and sophisticated styling which makes it look more expensive than its price point.

Its 150mm ground clearance may not be ideal for an MPV. But the low ride, combined with MacPherson suspensions, enables the Maxus G50 to absorb bumps really well. Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) insulation are excellent. You can barely hear engine and road noise from inside the vehicle.

Sadly, handling isn’t that good. There’s some noticeable body roll, especially when making sharp turns at high speeds.

All three trims run on a 1.5L gasoline engine with 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It delivers about 166 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque via front-wheel drive.

Acceleration is smooth on the Maxus G50. Even when the turbocharger kicks in, there is no sudden forward thrust. It doesn’t shift gears as quickly, however. Though it’s good enough for practical daily use.

Fuel economy ranges from 7 to 15 kmpl depending on traffic, which is decent considering its size. Given the 50-liter tank capacity, the MPV has an estimated mileage of 350 to 750 km.

Safety features that are standard across the range include driver and front passenger airbags, 3-point seatbelts with ISOFIX, rear parking sensors, reverse cameras, electronic parking brakes, and immobilizers. Only higher trims have front-side airbags.

Drivers can count on some safety tech as well. Namely, these are electronic stabilization, cruise control, and electronic brake assistance. 

Of the three new vehicles from SAIC Motor, Maxus G50 is the most practical and budget-friendly option. Perhaps what’s surprising is that it doesn’t look or feel cheap in spite of its competitive price point.