Author: Duolijun
Before starting, I would like to ask you a question, when did you officially become familiar with the brand of SAIC Maxus?
As for me, it has to start from Luo Yonghao becoming the spokesperson of SAIC Maxus.
Friends who are familiar with Luo Yonghao know that he is a person with principles and also a very demanding person. Since then, I have developed enough interest in the brand of SAIC Maxus.
By chance, I recently received a test drive invitation from SAIC Maxus, and the experience was their new flagship model under the brand’s new series – SAIC Maxus MIFA 9. SAIC Maxus MIFA 9 currently has 7 models available for sale, with an official price range of 2.799-4.199 million yuan. And what we experienced today is the high mountain six-seater model, with a price of 3.999 million yuan.
To be honest, even though I like Luo Yonghao very much, the price of MIFA 9 has indeed entered the high-end MPV market segment. Therefore, our requirements and standards for evaluation will naturally be higher. Setting aside subjective factors, below I will conduct a comprehensive analysis of SAIC Maxus MIFA 9 to see if its product strength can be as impressive as “Luo Yonghao”.
Simple design, youthful style
For a long time in the past, the impressions that MPV car designs left on the public were business-oriented and stable. However, with the addition of household demand and the empowerment of new energy, we have also seen more youthful design adjustments on MPV models. The MIFA 9 we experienced today is a representative new era MPV model with an extremely stylish design.
The MIFA 9 doesn’t have too many fancy decorations on its front face. The continuous light strip running through the front gives it a futuristic look, and the enclosed grille at the bottom allows people to recognize it as a new energy vehicle at first glance. Interestingly, the headlights of the MIFA 9 are not designed on both sides of the front of the car, but are cleverly placed in the position of the traditional fuel car’s air intake, which not only satisfies the freshness but also achieves good personalized display.
When it comes to the side of the car body, the MIFA 9’s strong presence is revealed with a body length of nearly 5.3 meters and a wheelbase of 3.2 meters. The overall square shape of the body, together with the smoked A/B/C/D pillars and privacy glass, also creates a floating roof effect, which satisfies the advanced feel to a certain extent. The 19-inch wheel hub design is interesting, the enclosed design not only demonstrates the identity of the new energy but also effectively reduces wind resistance and improves endurance.
If we talk about the biggest highlight of the MIFA 9’s tail, it is undoubtedly the exaggerated taillight with the official name “War Dart Light Language” dreamy taillight. Specifically, the upper half uses the currently popular continuous light strip, and the lower half adopts a “dart-like” broken line design, which looks quite cool and full of style. This design also makes the originally square and thick rear of the car less bulky and mediocre.
The spacious three-row hard-matching interior has always been one of the most important factors that people consider when purchasing MPV models. The MIFA 9’s spaciousness is one of its major selling points. In terms of size parameters, the MIFA 9’s length, width, and height are 5270/2000/1840mm, respectively, with a wheelbase of 3200mm. Among the same level of models, such dimensions can be considered first-line level, and provide a solid foundation for the MIFA 9 to show off its space.
The second row needs no introduction, as the “golden zone” of MPV models, both the seating space and comfort configuration are at the maximum level. Taking the high mountain six-seat version model we experienced today as an example, it not only uses Nappa leather in the material, but also comes with a 15mm thick high-rebound foam layer. The control screen in the armrest area also has rich functions such as seat adjustment, heating, ventilation, massage, electric headrests, and electric leg support.
What surprised me the most were the third-row seats of the MIFA 9, which not only come with rare independent seats but also have the same material as the second row, which is very rare and valuable. What’s even more thoughtful is that the third-row seats are equipped with a child seat interface, making MIFA 9’s performance in terms of family transportation quite impressive.
As for storage space, you don’t need to worry at all. According to official data, when the MIFA 9 is fully loaded, the trunk can still hold 32+26+20 inch suitcases. If you need to further expand the space, you can use the “Luggage Space Mode” to move the second and third-row seats with a single button. It’s also worth mentioning that MIFA 9 has a 55L front trunk space to store small items.
Smooth acceleration, comfortable chassis
As more and more Chinese families choose MPV models as their family vehicles, it’s necessary to talk in detail about the driving experience. Looking at the data on paper, the MIFA 9 is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 180kW and a peak torque of 350N·m. The battery is matched with a 90-degree ternary lithium battery from CATL across the range, and under the CLTC working condition, its pure electric range can reach up to 560km, with a power consumption of only 17.1 kWh/100km.
Friends can easily find that the MIFA 9 not only has power data that is not inferior to other models in the same class, but also has an impressive pure electric endurance mileage. I believe that for an MPV model, sufficient but not aggressive power is practical and reassuring. Overly aggressive driving is neither necessary nor safe for passengers, and it can also adversely affect their riding experience and safety. Therefore, whether for commercial or family use, I recommend keeping the power at a reasonable level.
Of course, as a pure electric vehicle, the MIFA 9’s acceleration performance is still very commendable. During the test drive in the city, whether starting at a red light or changing lanes on the road, the MIFA 9’s performance can be described as smooth and fast. Thanks to its relatively precise and comfortable steering feel, it does not feel constrained or cumbersome despite its large body size but is agile and nimble throughout the entire journey, which is worthy of praise.
In addition, what surprised me was the MIFA 9’s quiet performance on the highway. Because of its large body size, the wind-facing area in contact with the vehicle is much larger than that of ordinary models, and the wind noise increases accordingly. But during the high-speed driving of the MIFA 9, I did not feel obvious wind noise, and the handling of high-speed tire noise is relatively clean. At least compared to the same level of fuel MPV, I think it’s equally good or even better.
Finally, let’s talk about the chassis. During the entire test drive experience, I could clearly feel that the MIFA 9’s overall chassis tuning leans towards comfort. It has sufficient performance for some bumpy or speed bump roads, and even passengers in the third row can enjoy a comfortable ride. However, given the overall size of the vehicle, it’s difficult to avoid significant bumps and head tossing in the car if you attempt to navigate bumpy roads at high speeds.
Doraemon’s Comment:
There is no denying that in the era of booming development of MPV models, the new energy MPV that follows the trend will undoubtedly have more market share and competitiveness. The appearance of SAIC MAXUS MIFA 9 not only seized this opportunity at the first time, but also demonstrated comprehensive qualities at a first-class level in this test-driving experience.
Believed to meet the demands of consumers for family cars with considerate configurations not found in its peers, avant-garde and stylish exterior design, and high-quality driving experience, SAIC MAXUS MIFA 9 is expected to gain a foothold in the new era’s commercial vehicle market. Let us wait and see.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.