Maxus V80

On the inside, the Maxus V80 is not as bland as how it is on the outside. Sure, it doesn’t have that built to the last appeal of its Japanese counterparts, but then, the dashboard layout looks unique and gives the Maxus V80 its own identity.

The four-spoke multi-functional steering wheel looks beefy, thanks to its huge center boss. What looks even beefier and broad is the center console. At the top of the dashboard in the middle sits the wide instrument console shaped in a trapezoidal housing and getting a conventional layout for the dials.

The main center console on the dashboard looks big with a single DIN audio system and vertical AC vents on its sides, all of which are encased in a big housing finished in a piano black theme. The lower center console placed just below the above-mentioned panel has transmission lever and three round dials for the air conditioner placed side by side.

The most impressive bit of the interior cabin of the Maxus V80 is the flexible and multiple seating configurations it offers for all the rows of seats it has on the inside. It can also be used as a luggage hauler at times when you need to carry a large amount of load and people at the same time.

The Maxus V80 has been designed keeping a people mover vehicle in mind, which makes it look big and have a good road presence with its large dimensions. However, when it comes to sheer looks and design, it looks a bit oddball with a slanted fascia at the front and a boxy layout for the rest of the vehicle.

The frontal stance of the Maxus V80 looks rakish with the slanted front windscreen and a sloping bonnet in the same angle. The front grille is placed at the end of the bonnet in the same fashion, with the trapezoidal unit having tapered edges towards the bottom. The three horizontal chrome slats in the grille do try to instil some premium appeal to the front view of the Maxus V80, but then the simple-looking angular headlamps with rounded diagonal ends do look dated. 

It is only the front profile which has some angular flair in its design, as when you move towards the side, it looks very boxy with vertical looking rear pillars and almost flat door panels and windows. The slightly flared wheel arches and the broad crease flowing just below the window panels are the only design traits which can be mentioned.

At the back, the Maxus V80 looks like a traditional van, with its flat and rectangular design for the rear windscreen with rounded edges and a split design for the back door with offset positioning for the license plate housing. The vertically laid slim tail lamps on the outer edges of the rear doors lack flair as well.

The Maxus V80 rides on 16-inch wheels shod with decent tires, and has been bestowed with a suspension combination comprising of Macpherson struts at the front and independent parallel leaf springs at the rear. The MPV has comfortable seats on the inside, but the stiff setup for the rear leaf springs do not impart that much of comfort in its overall ride quality, especially at higher speeds, where it does feel a bit bouncy.

The Maxus V80 has been fitted with a not so enthusiastic 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, which here is paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The engine is good enough to produce adequate amounts of performance outputs – 136 PS of maximum power and 330 Nm of maximum torque rating.

Armed with a minimal set of safety features including dual front airbags, ABS with EBD and rear parking sensors, the Maxus V80 feels basic when it comes to the aspect of safety features.

The Maxus V80 is one basic people carrier, which might not feel plush and comfortable as the flagship luxury MPVs from its competitor car makers. But at the price point on which it is being offered, it is offering itself as a practical multi-seat vehicle with all the bare essentials at a place.