WHEN Maxus Philippines ushered in the G50 late last year, the compact MPV presented itself as a multi-purpose vehicle embodiment’s ‘do-it-all’ attitude. Available in four variants (1.3T Comfort, 1.5T Pro, 1.5T Elite, and 1.5T Premium), all carry the slogan and can do “Max more.” Moreover, it’s infused with the brand’s 124 years of British-bred heritage, global expertise, and experience in light commercial vehicles.
During the hosted drive event by Maxus Philippines, we tested the two middle variants, Pro and Elite, and drove them to Subic, Olongapo. The overall 350-kilometer drive to the famous destination and back to Magallanes, Makati, was extensive enough for the vehicle to reveal its assets including the technical simulations to demonstrate its safety reliability.
Modern-day MPV inside and out
The G50’s modern design, features, and value proposition target young entrepreneurs seeking an all-in-one vehicle. The MPV suits professionals in need of weekend leisure ride with the entire household.
Exterior-wise, the front boasts the brand’s signature design cues—prominent grille, brand logo, and keen-looking projector-type headlamps integrated with DRLs. Interestingly, the vehicle could pass for a small van if Maxus installed a sliding rear door along with the frame’s high roofline and a large tailgate. The only few differences between the Pro and Elite are the grille finish, roof rail, and rim size. At a glance, these variations are even negligible.
Inside, front occupants would relish the dashboard’s modern design approach. Keyless entry and ignition start are both available on the variants we tested. There are clustered controls in each place for easy access, and there are cup holders all over. The touch-operated infotainment system sits at the center (12-inch for Elite and eight-inch for the Pro) with Bluetooth connectivity and a 360-degree view camera. Both versions have an electronic park brake, while the auto-climate aircon is standard to the Elite. Nevertheless, we like the Pro’s light-colored fabric seats, sidings, and light-brown under dash finish giving that neat and refreshing ambiance. On the other hand, The Elite is on the sporty side with dark trims, sidings, and leather seats.
When it comes to cabin space, this is what the G50 impressed us the most. For a compact MPV, the vehicle boasts an eight-seating capacity. It is where the frame’s van-like elements factor in. Having a leveled flooring and high roofline overwhelms the headroom, particularly the last row. The absence of bulky side trims also provided lateral space to accommodate three passengers. Truth be told, headroom compensates for full-seating capacity and better air circulation inside. Moreover, Maxus even provided a separate rear aircon switch and controller for the rear passenger’s delight.
Blissful drive
First to test was the Pro variant, and immediately the light-themed interior provided an excellent head start despite the rush hour traffic ahead. The elevated seating configuration gave that comfy with a good vantage point. As soon as we reached the elevated highway up to the expressway, everything became blissful. The level of cabin noise suppression is superb for its size, even at high-speed limits. That is a definite plus factor, particularly for rear passengers. As for the ride, it leans toward the comfort side with fewer tire rebounds.
Having a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine generating 167 hp 250 N-m of maximum torque on paper at our disposal, we already knew what the vehicle was capable of, delivery-wise. However, the engine’s response depends on the paired seven-speed auto DCT’s settings. Since the eco mode is by default, constant upshifting was evident to achieve lower engine speed. Moving the shifter to sport mode became necessary to keep the rpm higher and within the optimum range whenever the situation necessitates a quick throttle response.
We further played around with the gears on the same shift lever position using the available sequential mode. This option became beneficial not only for accelerating but also for engine braking. Starting above the lower range is the sweet spot to feel that boosted torque. Occasional ascents became manageable, and we liked how responsive the steering was on constant bends. We reached the venue in Subic feeling relaxed.
Peace of mind, convenience, and technical demonstration
Safety-wise, the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), and Hill Hold Control (HHC) are all standard across the board, even with the entry-level variant 1.3T Comfort with a manual gearbox. There is also Tire Pressure Monitoring System for the 1.5T DCT variants. How about that?
While in Subic, we also went through technical driving exercises to demonstrate the G50’s ability to handle extreme driving situations utilizing ESP and EBA safety features. There were various stages to mimic specific extreme situations. In the first phase, we went through a path with watered linoleum on one side to mimic a sudden slippery road encounter. We slammed the brake pedal to simulate panic braking upon reaching the wet portion on full-throttle acceleration. The ESP and EBA managed the vehicle to maintain control and avoided veering and skidding outside the lane.
The next phase was about panic braking during a tight turn. Again, after going on full-throttle acceleration, we slammed on the brake pedal while turning. Impressively, the vehicle stopped momentarily and avoided veering towards the outer lane. Experiencing the demonstration convinced us how reliable was the G50’s ESP and EBA safety features. Then the next couple of stages went through chicanes that showcased the vehicle’s agility and steering response until the final exercise. We also tested the 360-degree view while backing up and only relying on the display screen.
Proven “Max more”
The G50 is an example of how to deviate from the traditional vehicle segment in terms of body configuration while adopting essential elements from another to fill in the gaps. While it sits below the largest MPV in the market in terms of overall dimensions, the clever van-like frame configuration makes it superior in terms of extra space, particularly in the third row. More so, reliable electronic safety features are available across the board. Let us not even talk about the attractive price points and after-sales package.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino