The best electric ute yet? New 325kW 2025 Maxus eTerron 9 is a big electric ute with little compromise for buyers switching from a Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger
Until now, most battery-electric utes were a poor substitute for a diesel-powered Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux, but that could change early next year following the arrival of the 2025 Maxus eTerron 9, the most convincing EV ute yet.
The headline news is its incredible 325kW dual-motor powertrain, and its makers have confirmed that will be able to tug up to 3500kg, matching the best-towing Ranger or HiLux.
Better still, thanks to its epic power, the all-wheel-drive electric ute delivers Ranger Raptor-humbling performance, with 0-100km/h taking just 5.8sec – 0.7sec quicker than the fastest Ford.
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It has not yet been confirmed by parent SAIC how the Maxus eTerron will be sold Down Under but it has been tipped as a replacement for the current LDV eT60.
Available with a large 102kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, the new Chinese ute will be able to cover a WLTP-verified 430km between charges – 100km more than the current eT60.
Charging, meanwhile, is up to 115kW using a fast DC charger, with Maxus claiming a 20-80 per cent charge taking around 40 minutes.
Usefully, for those who’ll use the Maxus for work the new ute gets multiple 2.2kW and 6.6kW outlets to power tools in remote locations.
Early information also suggests the e-Terron is 5500mm long, 2050mm wide and 1860mm tall, meaning it’s a considerable 175mm longer than a Toyota HiLux, allowing it to carry larger loads than its combustion rivals.
One handy feature for XXL loads is that the tray can be extended into the cabin allowing it to haul items up to 2400mm long, while under the front bonnet there’s a further 236-litre luggage space.
Ensuring it will offer a drive on par with the very best utes around, the Maxus eTerron 9 adopts an unusual semi-monocoque architecture which is thought to blend a ladder-frame chassis with a car-based monocoque, much like the Holden One Tonner.
Boosting its capability both on- and off the road the eTerron 9 gets height-adjustable air suspension that can raise the body over rough terrain, or lower the rear tray to ease loading and unloading.
There’s also Normal, Sand, Mud and Custom driving modes to help the driver pre-arm its all-wheel drive for whatever lies beneath its all-terrain tyres.
Because of its car-like underpinnings there’s one area the eTerron 9 can’t compete with the Ranger or HiLux and that’s when it comes to how much it can carry, with the big Maxus’ payload limited to just 620kg – a long way off the Ford Ranger’s 1000+kg payload.
Within, the eTerron 9 offers car-like features like twin 12.3-inch freestanding displays, a floating centre console, two-tone leather, a two-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and metallic finishes hinting at a far more premium feel than the current eT60.
As well as feeling more expensive there’s up to 20 storage compartments, while the driver and passenger are treated to eight-way ventilated massage seats that can be folded flat into a 1700mm-long sleeping surface to presumably help you catch some Zs while charging.
It’s thought LDV Australia will make an official announcement on the Maxus eTerron 9 timings and future pricing in the coming months but for the new electric ute to come with a towering price tag of more than $100,000 – a big step up of around $10-20k over the current LDV eT60, although some have suggested the latest electric ute might even be rebadged ‘MG’ and get sportier styling for our market.
As well as the electric version in China the Maxus eTerron 9 is also available with a 165kW 2.5-litre turbo-diesel that can carry around 940kg when it comes to payload but can only tow 3000kg – 500kg less than the electric version. That truck could also be on the menu for our market, if there’s demand.
It looks very similar to the BYD Shark. Does it share the same underpinnings?