The Ayala-backed brand Maxus recently brought small groups to Subic to experience firsthand what its Maxus G50 Compact MPV has to offer. Like the other brands that launched during the pandemic, Maxus PH had to wait until it was safe to venture out in groups before inviting the media to showcase their wares.
The event was a leisurely drive to Subic and was designed to allow the participants to experience the exceptional space, comfort, versatility, and convenience of all the variants in various road conditions. Specific points along the route were identified as car and driver change areas to ensure that everyone got to try the entire lineup. When we got to the event venue, a track was set up to highlight the G50’s safety features in a controlled environment.
Maxus instructor demonstrating the usefulness of the G50’s 360 View Camera | Photo by Mika Fernandez-David
Neat package
The Maxus G50 is wrapped in a no-nonsense but attractive package, with aggressive lines and sporty creases that appeal to a wide customer base. Across the board, it features a strong front grille, DRLs, and headlights that give it its modern look, rear spoilers, and a choice of seven colors that range from the safe black, white, and gray, to the more adventurous blue and purple shades. Maxus wasn’t shy in stamping its logo in big letters as they are prominently displayed in front and at the back.
As expected, the Premium, Elite, Pro, and Comfort grades had varying amounts of accouterments that made the ride more enjoyable. This included additional charging ports, air conditioning vents, a better infotainment unit, and more speakers, depending on the variant.
On the outside, the higher grades (Premium and Elite) share 17-inch tires, roof rails, and chrome trims on the grille, while the rest of the pack ride on 16s and have matte black with silver highlights. Truth be told, unless you know what you are looking for and they are lined up for comparison, it’s not easy to identify which variant is which from its exterior.
Inside, the difference between the variants is more obvious as the panoramic moonroof (of the Premium variant) and other features are hard to miss. The seat material is another giveaway as the Comfort and Pro variants get light-colored fabric seats, while the Elite and Premium variants get nicer leather-clad ones (and for the top trim,) with red stitching.
Collectively, the second-row seats of the G50 recline and slide (60:40) and have a center armrest and 3rd-row Easy Entry Function, while the third row folds flat, also in 60:40 fashion, for additional cargo space and versatility.
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Under the hood
The Maxus G50 has two engine displacement options: 1.3L and 1.5L. The smaller mill that powers the Comfort variant is a 3-cylinder, in-line, Turbocharged, and intercooled gasoline engine that produces 163Ps @ 5500rpm, and maximum torque of 230Nm @ 1,800-4,400rpm, and is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The rest of the lineup is equipped with a 4-cylinder, in-line, Turbocharged, and Intercooled Direct Injection Gasoline engine that makes 169Ps @ 5,500rpm and 250Nm @1,700-4,300rpm. These trims come with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All variants of the G50 are Euro 6 compliant and are fitted with front and rear brake discs as well as Macpherson independent / Torsion beam suspension.
The G50 is great for more than just picnics!
What you get and more
The top-of-the-line Premium trim has a pretty sweet package attached to its attractive price tag. Its Php 1.338,000 SRP comes with many nice-to-have options such as a panoramic sunroof, a power tailgate, electronic seats, LED headlamps and rear lamp, as well as additional side airbags.
For those on a tighter budget, the other side of the spectrum is the sub-1million Comfort variant that may be devoid of the other niceties but still offers great value because of its stable and comfortable ride.
The sweet spot truly lies in the mid-range Pro and Elite variants where the deciding factor would be if you have an extra 80k to spare.
User experience
Versatility is the key selling point of the compact MPV segment and it is why it is such a strong segment in our country. In this regard, the G50 fits the bill in every aspect.
The G50 is compact enough for easy maneuvering in the city and big enough to feel safe on longer drives. It has enough room in its cabin to transport small groups of people (or families) and carry a reasonable amount of cargo or even a few weeks’ worths of groceries.
Driver visibility is good, and simple enough to adjust to achieve proper seating position. Due to its unibody chassis, the G50 has a lower floor height which makes getting in and out of the vehicle easier for children and the elderly. The first and second rows of seats have ample head and legroom, even for those who are taller than average Pinoys. Similar to other vehicles with the same configuration, the third row is a bit cramped and best to be assigned for smaller passengers. This, however, is a non-issue if your family is similar to ours and prefers to leave the third row folded by default because of the convenience of the bigger cargo area.
While the nice-to-haves increase with the trim levels, the ride quality, which should be the most basic basis for any vehicle purchase, was consistent. Not perfect, but certainly good enough even for those who suffer from motion sickness, given its combination of amenities and competitive price point. Even on TPLEX crosswinds can be strong at times, the Comfort variant performed well and provided a solid ride. Not to discount, of course, that we also had a great driver behind the wheel at that time.
While the G50 won’t win races or be recognized as the most fuel-efficient vehicle out there, acceleration is responsive and its turbocharged gasoline engines can travel at highway speeds with no problem at all. Our verdict on the Maxus G50? For its ticket price and the amenities that go with it, it’s time to schedule a test drive and give it a try.
All G50 variants come with the exceptional 5 VehiCare Programs–5-year warranty or 100,000 kms, whichever comes first; 5-year free 24/7 emergency roadside assistance; reliable parts management system and parts stock for up to five months; onsite and virtual product support with home service and pick-up and delivery; and maintenance costs that are 40% lower compared to other brands for the first five years.
For more information about Maxus in the Philippines, visit www.maxus.com.ph or any of its nine strategically located dealerships in the country.