Weststar Maxus Mifa 9

China-based Weststar Maxus’ first fully-electric commercial MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle), the Mifa 9, launched in Malaysia.

A first for the local market, the all-new EV MPV is fully-imported (CBU) and comes with two variants (base-range - Luxury, top-range - Premium). 

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 269,888 and MYR 289,888, included is a five-year/100,000 KM warranty and an eight-year/200,000 KM battery warranty.

Six exterior colours. Mica Blue, Ice Emerald Green, Dynasty Red, Concrete Grey, Pearl Lustre White, and Black.

The all-new Mifa 9 gets a cascading, neat and tiered black theme dashboard, projecting premium craftsmanship.

Draped in hard-touch panels detailed with silver trims, commanding the layout is the top-centre-mounted screen setup.

Overall, the cockpit is well designed, with buttons and other accessibilities purposefully arranged, driver-centric and user-friendly.

Installed is a 7.0-Inch fully-digital with Multi-Information Display (MID) instrument cluster setup.

The interior sees a seven-seater setting (2-2-3 layout), upholstered in polyurethane-PVC leather (knitted fabric combo - Luxury) and leather-PVC leather (chamois full leather - Premium).

First row features electronically-powered seats (driver - eight-way with four-way lumbar, passenger - four-way with four-way lumbar), and armrests.

Second row incorporates the ‘Slip Single Seat’, featuring two single-seaters (captain chairs/barcalounger).

Features are electronic adjustments, six-way armrests, ottomans, and heating, massage and ventilation functions. The third row gets a bench (40:20:40 split-fold).

Variant Premium adds on memory (driver), heating, massage and ventilation (first row), fold-out tables (second row), and individual touch controls (armrest integrated). 

Heightening the layout is an electronically-powered front sunroof and twin rear panoramic glass roof, and a 64-colour ambient lighting system.

Due to its largely designed body, it offers plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front, middle and rear occupants get ample space.

Mounted is a two-spoke steering wheel, wrapped in microfibre leather with silver trimming.

Features are multi-switches (media, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), gear lever, and heating function.

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door, seat back and under seat pockets, compartmentalised and caverned centre console spaces, and a glove box.

Multiple cup and bottle holders are strategically placed around the cabin.

Various types of charging outlets provided. E.g., 12 V sockets, USB-C ports, and a wireless charger.

The boot provides ample loading space (1,010-Litres), especially with the third-row and second-row seatings folded. 

Included is a powered-tailgate (handsfree, key fob) with a soft-close and height adjust functions.

Weighing in at 2,410 KG (Luxury) and 2,535 KG (Premium), the all-new Mifa 9 stands at 5,270 MM long, 2,000 MM wide, 1,840 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,200 MM.

Smoothly angular, its large exterior exudes an elegantly athletic demeanour with clean surfaces and sharp creases.

The grille deleted front-end sees a contoured hood, muscular fenders, slit-like top trimming, a large lower centre intake, and vertically-slotted corner trims. 

Heightening the layout are chrome trimmings (front lip, rear lip, side windows, tail lamps), and the Maxus emblem.

Clean and symmetrical, its rear-end with cascading edges emphasises its whole sophisticated appeal, as well as its stocky scale.

Featured is an all-black roof, paired to a roof-edge spoiler and a very angularly contoured tailgate.

Amplifying the layout are chrome trimmings (front lip, rear lip, side windows, tail lamps, spoiler), and the Maxus emblem.

A unique split setup (top slit-like - DRLs, bottom rounded - headlamps), fitted are full LED units, featuring LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, welcome lights, and Intelligent Headlight Control (IHC).

Slit-like, the tail lamps are connected by a thin light bar, and installed are full LED units with sequential turn signals. Paired is a set of LED fog lamps.

Black-capped, the side mirrors are electronically configurable (auto-fold, adjust) with sequential turn signals, memory, heater and anti-glare functions, and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) indicators.

Fitted is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. The drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Variant Luxury cruises on a set of 19-Inch multi-strip-style-luxury-spoke alloy rims, wrapped in 235/55 R19 Continental EcoContact 6 standard tyres.

Variant Premium glides on a set of 19-Inch double-six-strip-style-spoke alloy rims, wrapped in 235/55 R19 Continental EcoContact 6 self-sealing tyres.

The all-new Mifa 9 features the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS - 5R1V system).

Grouped are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Fatigue Monitoring System, Emergency Lane Keeping Assist, Intelligent Headlight Control (IHC), Speed Assist System (SAS), Rear Autonomous Emergency Braking System (RAEB), and Rear Collision Warning System (RCW).

Others comprise of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Panoramic View Monitor (360-degree camera).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, sides, curtain), seat belts (reminders, pretensioners, anchors), ISOFIX, parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (front, rear), anti-glare rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), digital rear-view mirror (interior), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Vehicle Telematics System (VTS), an alarm system with immobiliser, and door step lights (front, sides).

Three selectable drive modes (SPORT, NORMAL, ECO).

Mounted is a 12.3-Inch floating touchscreen, supporting online navigation/music/weather, Bluetooth, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Equipped is an eight-speaker (Luxury) and a 12-speaker (Premium) setup of the JBL sound system.

Harbouring in the all-new Mifa 9 is an electric motor (front-mounted), generating 180 KW/241 HP and 350 NM of torque.

Mated to the mill is a single-speed automatic transmission.

All power is transmitted to the front, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 9.2 seconds. Top speed is 180 KM/H.

Juicing the e-motor is a 90 KWH Lithium-Ion battery, enabling a total driving range (WLTP) of 435 KM (Luxury) and 430 KM (Premium).

AC charging (11 KW, Type 2) takes eight and a half hours for a 5% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (120 KW, CCS2) takes 30 minutes (30% - 80% SoC).

Included are Mode Two (5-Metres) and Three (6-Metres) charging cables.

The all-new Mifa 9 comes with smart entry and start system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), twin electric-sliding doors (soft-close), automatic headlamps (On/Off, high beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), LED illumination system (ambient lighting, map lights, welcome lights, boot, door step lights), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, gear lever), electronic-adjustable seats (first-, second-rows - multi-way, heating, massage, ventilation, memory), second-row captain seats (electronic adjustments), armrests (front, rear), armrests (second-row - touch controls), ottomans (second-row), second-row tables (two - individual), automatic air-conditioning (front, rear), rear air-conditioning (dedicated controls), air-filtration system, electronically-powered front sunroof and twin rear panoramic glass roof, grey privacy glass, wireless charger, digital interior rear-view mirror, anti-glare rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), powered-tailgate (contactless), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, parking sensors (front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), and Blind Spot Monitor (BSM).

Rear air-conditioning vents are provided, located in the second- and third-row seats, complete with individual controls.

Installed is a Macpherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension setup, providing great drivability and stability.

Overall, the ride quality is firm, and the interior is luxuriously spacious and extremely comfortable. 

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is very refined and peaceful, alienated from most of the road noises.

The all-new Weststar Maxus Mifa 9 is a luxuriously sporty build overall. First, it offers great space in the cabin thanks to its very massive and stocky build.

Second, its solid shell envelopes a premium interior, which range from a myriad of advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Ultimately, its quality is luxurious, bargaining good looks and mechanics. The 2024 Mifa 9 is surely an EV MPV for Malaysians to consider.