SAIC Motor’s Maxus brand, known here as LDV, has officially revealed its newest electric people mover.
The Maxus Dajia 7, debuted over the weekend at the Chengdu motor show, is a luxurious mid-sized electric people mover designed for families.
Its name translates to Everyone 7, though the company also refers to it as the MIFA 7.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet for Australia.
“LDV Australia looks at every new model that becomes available to our market. Each goes through an extensive internal business case to determine its feasibility for Australia, before a final decision is made on its viability,” said a company spokesperson.
“We look forward to sharing exciting new product information in the future.”
The MIFA 7 is powered by a single electric motor producing 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque. The company hasn’t confirmed which wheels are driven by this motor.
Under the optimistic CLTC testing cycle, Maxus claims the MIFA 7’s 77kWh battery is good for 527km of range and its 90kWh battery is good for 605km of range.
The MIFA 7 comes standard with six airbags, and side curtain airbags cover up to 97 per cent of the wheelbase.
Maxus also claims the MIFA 7 is constructed from more than 80 per cent high-strength steel.
Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning and a surround-view camera.
There’s a novel seating arrangement which promises to “redefine the concept of a six-seater car”.
The front passenger seat in the six-seater version can slide all the way back into the second row of the vehicle and can electronically rotate 180 degrees to face the rear passengers.
As such, the second row has one seat, with three seats in the third row.
A seven-seat model is available offering a more conventional 2+2+3 seating arrangement.
The MIFA 7 boasts three 12.3-inch screens, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 car chip and situated behind a single pane of glass.
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability is standard, with output of up to 6.6kW using an external outlet and 2.2kW using one inside the cabin.
Other features include a panoramic glass roof, power sliding doors, heat pump, and a refrigerated compartment, while a mobile remote parking feature is available in the flagship variant.
Measuring 4907mm long, 1885mm wide and 1756mm tall on a 2975mm wheelbase, the MIFA 7 slightly eclipses the Honda Odyssey in terms of size.
That makes the MIFA 7 336mm shorter than the LDV MIFA 9 already offered here, while the wheelbase is shorter by 225mm.
In Australia, the MIFA 9 is available in three specifications that range from $106,000 before on-road costs for the Mode variant to $131,000 for the Luxe model. The MIFA 9 offers a 90kWh battery and offers a WLTP range of 430-440 km.
Currently, the Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer and EQV are the only other electric people movers available locally. Prices for the eVito Tourer start at $116,117 before on-roads, while the EQV starts at $155,338.
LDV and Maxus are two halves of the same coin. While the Maxus brand is used in China and various other markets, the LDV brand is used for Australia.
The brand has previously confirmed it’s looking at a new mid-sized cargo van for our market with the option of electric power to slot in under the eDeliver 9.
In addition to the MIFA 9 people mover and eDeliver 9 van, LDV also offers the eT60 electric ute.
