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Maxus eTerron 9 – Europe’s first electric four-wheel drive pickup truck

  • Maxus eTerron 9 pickup truck due to head to UK by the end of 2024
  • Offers a 267-mile range from 102kWh battery
  • Payload only 620kg but work being done to boost that

Written by Tom Webster Published: 17 September 2024

The Maxus eTerron 9 is the brand’s second all-electric pickup truck and the first to come with four-wheel drive. Revealed at the 2024 IAA van show in Hannover, the eTerron 9 is due to go on sale in the UK before end of 2024. It comes fitted with motors on the front and rear axles and a large 102kWh battery that provides an official range of 267 miles.

This is a huge improvement from the Maxus T90EV that offers a much smaller electric range and is rear-wheel drive only.

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The eTerron 9 promises pace but not payload, for now.
The eTerron 9 promises pace but not payload, for now.

The front axles are driven by a 168hp (125kW) motor, while the rear are powered by a 268hp (200kW) motor, providing a total power output of 436hp. This enables a 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds and a maximum towing weight of 3.5 tonnes.

Payload challenges

However, it comes at a bit of a cost to start off with, as the eTerron 9 is only able to provide a maximum payload of 620kg, which is well short of the 1,000kg that is needed to qualify for all the beneficial commercial vehicle tax rates that makes a double-cab pickup so appealing.

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Work is being done to boost the payload beyond 1,000kg.
Work is being done to boost the payload beyond 1,000kg.

However, a Maxus spokesman said that there are plans to try and up this payload figure. This would require the suspension to be adapted. This suspension is currently a multi-link setup rather than a leaf-spring arrangement, so tweaking it may negatively impact the ride.

The spokesman also said that it would be advantageous for the government to engage with the weight-limits and requirements on pickups as more head towards electrification.

Lifestyle orientated

The Maxus eTerron 9 is geared towards the lifestyle market for the time being, with the multi-link suspension offering an adjustable ride height. It can be dropped down to provide easier loading or raised up to enable improved off-road ability. There is also an all-terrain system and as many as 400 different driving mode combinations for on and off-road scenarios.

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The Maxus eTerron 9's frunk is huge and can take lots of weight.
The Maxus eTerron 9's frunk is huge and can take lots of weight.

There are some clever innovations in and out of the cabin, too. The front passenger seat can be reclined totally flat, providing a bed-style area measuring 1.7m by 0.5m. There are as many as 20 storage compartments throughout the cabin.

The eTerron 9 also offers an electronically powered tail gate and the ability to open the bulkhead between the loading bay and the cabin. And you can drop the rear seats to provide a longer loading area for items such as surfboards or poles.

Up front, there is a 236-litre front storage area, which can be used to hold more than 75kg of luggage or can seat two people – presumably smaller ones for al fresco picnics or lifestyle moments by the beach.

The eTerron 9 is set to cost a similar amount to the T90EV, rather than undercutting it or being significantly more. The T90EV is currently priced from £49,995 before VAT.

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