Car by car, launch after launch, the Philippine automotive industry is slowly climbing up from a deep rut it has been in during the stricter quarantine measures for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In fact, over 40 car launches, albeit virtual, have already transpired this year – the latest of which was from Maxus Philippines in the form of the G50 MPV.
And as it turns out, Maxus may have hit the right spot with the G50 – in terms of specs, features, and most importantly, pricing.
To give you an idea, the Maxus G50 is bigger than the popular subcompact MPVs like the Toyota Avanza, Mitsubishi Xpander, Honda Brio, and Suzuki Ertiga. It’s even bigger than the SUV-esque counterparts of these vehicles.
To put things in perspective, the 8-seater G50 is almost as wide as the Toyota Innova but not as tall since it doesn’t sit on a ladder-frame chassis. Most noteworthy, though, is the fact that it is longer than Toyota’s MPV, both in overall and wheelbase length. And of course, bigger is better in terms of interior space in the realm of people-haulers.
Design-wise, there’s a lot to be said about the G50; restrained isn’t one of them. This MPV is aggressively styled, with a massive grille initially calling out your attention. The shower of chrome could pose a problem for those who hate shiny things, but I’ll reserve my judgment until I see the actual unit.
The G50 isn’t sporty since it is, after all, a family vehicle. But it gives off a premium vibe in a unique way – the same way the Alphard appeals to many despite the hefty asking price. What’s more unique is the choice of colors, with Roland Purple and Water Blue becoming an instant personal favorite. I’m usually not into loud colors, but this one somehow escapes that conviction. Well, at least in photos.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again – I’m one for tech features in a car. I believe that these tech toys add value to a car regardless of the car’s origin, justifying the price tag. In this regard, the Maxus G50 just won a landslide victory against both subcompact and compact MPVs.
Endemic to the G50, especially on its top-spec trim, are power tailgate, automatic LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, wireless charging, cruise control, 360-degree camera view, and tire pressure monitoring system. These features are not found in other MPVs within this price range and most importantly, there are pricier MPVs out there that don’t even have this bevy of convenient tech toys.
And there goes the kicker. Maxus Philippines strategically priced the G50 to contend against subcompact MPVs despite being classified as a compact, as I’ve previously pointed out. At P1,288,000, it is only pricier than the Xpander Cross by P33,000 while providing better cabin space and feature set.
If you look inside its engine bay, the G50’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-banger makes almost the same power output as the Innova (167hp vs 171hp), but not as much as torque since it’s a gasoline-powered mill (250Nm vs 360Nm). But when you compare it with smaller MPVs, it sits atop no matter where you look at it.
Truth be told, we have our reservations with the G50 in terms of its actual road performance and the consistency of its tech features. I’ll give you a rundown of that once we got our hands on one. But on paper, the G50 is already a winner – let’s just hope that this initial judgment goes beyond the brochure and face value.
