The Maxus T90EV is the UK's only all-electric pickup truck, but can it meet the tough demands of the utility sector?

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Maxus T90EV review

January 8, 2025 Phil Huff

The Maxus T90EV is the UK’s only all-electric pickup truck, but can it meet the tough demands of the utility sector?

The Maxus T90EV currently holds the distinction of being the only fully electric pickup truck available in the UK market. That’s going to change soon as Isuzu readies its electric D-Max, and Maxus itself is bringing in a bigger, more powerful electric pickup — the eTerron 9 — to the UK.

Maxus has experience with electric LCVs, with the eDeliver 3 and eDeliver 9 vans carving a niche for good value eLCVs and winning fans against mainstream rivals like the Ford E-Transit and Vauxhall Vivaro Electric.

It’s taken at least some of what it knows and transferred that to the pickup market, with mixed results.

Design, interior and technology

The Maxus T90EV looks rugged and ready for work, with a bold front grille flanked by slim headlights. There’s nothing groundbreaking about it, relying on imposing bulk rather than delicate design work, but it’s effective.

Hardwearing plastics and lack of soft-touch materials emphasise that Maxus is focussing on utility over comfort. There’s (artificial) leather upholstery and an impressive looking infotainment screen, but it falls short of offering the refinement expected from a vehicle priced from £50,000.

The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it’s hindered by slow response times and an unintuitive layout when you’re using the built-in systems rather than relying on your phone.

Physical buttons for heating and ventilation are a welcome inclusion, but, frustratingly, they’re touch-sensitive making adjustments with gloves difficult — an issue for anyone working outdoors in cold conditions. Optional heated front seats add comfort, though they don’t come as standard, which feels like a missed opportunity for an electric vehicle where energy conservation is key.

Battery, motor, and performance

At the heart of the Maxus T90EV lies an 88.5kWh battery pack that provides an estimated 205-mile range. However, real-world testing has shown that this figure can drop alarmingly, especially during motorway driving or in colder weather.

A drive across the middle of the country on a cold but dry day, with the pickup bed entirely empty, saw the truck return just 1.3 miles per kWh, or a range of 115 miles. Add some cargo to the back, and that will reduce the range further.

Performance is peppy enough, with a 201bhp motor mounted directly to the rear differential. With 229lb ft of torque, the T90EV lags behind diesel rivals like the Ford Ranger, but the electric pickup’s acceleration feels potent enough to keep most happy. The expected trio of driving modes — Eco, Normal, and Power — do their bit to add a little poke or frugality, but there’s not much to choose between them.

The ride quality is quite jarring, never settling down, and lags behind that of its rivals, especially those from Ford and Volkswagen. It doesn’t get any better off-road, not that it’ll go very far — to keep the weight (and cost) down, Maxus is making the T90EV only as a rear-wheel drive model. That limits traction when tackling anything beyond damp tarmac and, combined with the low-slung motor on the rear axle that robs the pickup of ground clearance, leaving just 187mm between the truck and the earth, means you won’t be venturing far beyond a slightly damp field.

Payload and practicality

Despite the compromises in other areas, the Maxus T90EV holds its ground in terms of practicality. The load box measures 1,485mm in length, making it competitive with other mainstream pickups like the Isuzu D-Max. It can also carry up to 1,000kg of payload, which makes it easy for businesses to reclaim VAT on the truck.

We’d like to see a damper on the tailgate, as it clunks down loudly when opening. It’s also very heavy, so having some assistance when closing it again would be welcomed.

The load box features a painted bed liner and external rope hooks for a bit of extra practicality, though, and a stainless steel sports bar adds a little extra aesthetic appeal.

Maxus T90EV price and specification

There’s only one T90EV model, so you won’t suffer from having to decide between countless specifications. Aside from some unexpected missing equipment — those heated seats, for example — the Maxus is pretty comprehensively equipped.

However, it’s priced at around £50,000 before taxes, making the Maxus T90EV look like a rather premium buy. On the upside, Maxus has been known to offer aggressive discounts and leasing deals, with some past offers dropping monthly payments to less than £100. That could tempt a few people…

Verdict

The Maxus T90EV might be the first fully electric pickup truck on the market, but there’s been more than a little compromise to get there.

While it impresses with its payload capacity, its limitations in range, off-road ability, and overall refinement make it difficult to recommend. There are some niche markets where it could do well, but they’re few and far between.

With Isuzu, KGM and even Maxus themselves bringing electric pickups to the UK soon, and Ford launching a plug-in hybrid Ranger, the T90EV starts to look like a tough sell. If it was significantly cheaper, then there might be a case for it — and there are plenty of deals to be had — but for now, it’s probably best to wait for more capable rivals.