Maxus unveils its first crossover SUV

Following the insolvency of British carmaker LDV in 2009, Chinese SAIC Group bought it out and renamed to Maxus. At first, only vans rolled off the assembly lines bearing the Maxus badge, but the range has gradually expanded to include a minibus, a minivan, a pickup truck and even a full-sized SUV. Today, Maxus has unveiled its first-ever crossover, the D60.

The newcomer stands close to the Hyundai Santa Fe and Skoda Kodiaq in terms of dimensions, measuring 4,720 mm (15.5 ft.) long, 1,860 mm (6.1 ft.) wide and 1,736 mm (5.7 ft.) tall with 2,760 mm (9.06 ft.) between the axles.

From the technical perspective, the Maxus D60 is standardized in the same way as the Roewe RX5 and the MG GS (both brands owned by SAIC), but takes advantage of certain structural improvements and reinforcements. It will ship exclusively with a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine capable of 169 hp (126 kW) and 250 Nm (184 pound-feet) of torque, connected to a 7-speed DSG transmission. You will only be able to buy it with the front wheel drive first, but an AWD version will come later, too. The manufacturer also promises to release a PHEV in the long run.

Customers will be able to choose between two and three seat rows, the latter available in 2+3+2 and 2+2+2 seat formulae. Standard features include a 12.3” digital instrument cluster, power-adjustable front seats, 360-degree cameras, a sunroof, and a 14-inch touch panel for accessing multimedia, climate control, and certain secondary car functions. The trim can be “Leather” (note the quote marks) or “‘Leather’ plus Alcantara’.

Sales in China begin later this month, with prices starting close to U.S. $16,000. Other markets will follow later.