We last reviewed the Maxus Mifa 7 earlier this year. Its practicality and sensible pricing were key attributes in its attractiveness, and now Maxus has introduced yet another cheaper variant. One that falls under Category A of the COE ladder.

But, is the reduction of power a dealbreaker for the practical family man navigating Singapore’s urban landscape?

Just Enough Power

This new variant keeps the spaciousness and plush features of its Cat B sibling but recalibrates its electric motor to 108kW. Crucially, torque figures (350Nm) remain the same, offering just enough power to keep up with traffic. You will feel its heft with a full load of passengers, but with a full posse in tow, you wouldn’t want to speed anyway.

The suspension is tuned for comfort, gliding smoothly over most surfaces. Third row  passengers will especially feel a difference, as the rear wheels are fitted with multi-link rods.

However, show it a road with more undulations or go over a sharp bump quickly, and you’ll feel a bit of bounce. That said, this is hardly a dealbreaker in an MPV designed for family comfort, not Nürburgring laps.

Still The Right Size

The MIFA 7 is pretty much the maximum size you would want an MPV to be before it starts getting annoying. It’s a better fit for our roads and parking structures compared to other rivals, being much easier to manoeuvre through tight HDB car parks and narrow streets.  

But don’t mistake “smaller” for “less commanding.” The MIFA 7’s design ensures it still holds its own on the road. Its 1.75m height also means it won’t be dwarfed by opposing SUVs either.

Spacious And Smart

Speaking of height, the MIFA 7 shows its true strength on the inside. There’s room for everyone; slide the second row forward a little, and you’ll find plenty of head and legroom for six adults. 

The third row is spacious enough to accommodate an adolescent or two in comfort, and the seats feels just right in terms of width and height. For those needing extra help, grab handles and a wide step make entering the second row easier. 

Even with all seats up, the rear boot offers 270 litres of usable space, enough for groceries, school bags, or a baby stroller.

For the elderly or young children, the MIFA 7’s low 152mm ground clearance also makes getting in and out a breeze. The large sliding doors are an instant advantage over compact MPVs in this segment.

The Practical Choice

The Maxus MIFA 7 finds its niche in offering a balanced, value-packed MPV experience. It’s neither too large nor too cramped, with just the right amount of practicality for Singapore’s roads.  

There really isn’t another vehicle like this on the market now (at the time of writing). Coupled with its attractive pricing, you wouldn’t need to shop elsewhere too. 

Technical Specifications

Maxus MIFA 7 (108kW)

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Powertrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 108kW (145bhp)
Torque: 350Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A) Reduction Gear
0-100km/h: Unknown
Top Speed: 170 km/h
Battery Capacity: 90 kWh
Drive Range: 480 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 4.88 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$208,999 (Luxury), S$213,999 (Premium), both with COE (accurate at the time of this article)

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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It’s been over a year since we had our first encounter with the Maxus MIFA 9, a towering presence in the MPV world.

Now, Maxus has introduced its younger sibling, the MIFA 7. This all-electric MPV promises to deliver a balanced blend of size, comfort, and value.

Perfect then, for the practical family man navigating Singapore’s urban landscape.

Its Size Is Just Right

The MIFA 7 strikes a harmonious balance in size, making it a better fit for our roads and parking structures compared to its larger predecessor.

It’s shorter than a BMW 5 Series, making it much easier to manoeuvre through tight HDB car parks and narrow streets.

But don’t mistake “smaller” for “less commanding.” The MIFA 7’s bold design ensures it still holds its own on the road. Its 1.75m height also means it won’t be dwarfed by SUVs either.  

Comfortably Spacious, Smartly Designed

Step inside, and the MIFA 7 shows its true strength – space. There’s room for everyone; slide the second row forward a little, and you’ll find plenty of knee and legroom for six adults. That said, the third row is best reserved for shorter journeys or smaller occupants.

The seating height feels just right. For those needing extra help, grab handles and a wide step make entering the second row easier. 

The driver gets a 12.3-inch Infotainment Display that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Tunes are blasted from an 8-speaker JBL Sound System, delivering crisp beats for all occupants.

Smooth Operator

The MIFA 7’s 241bhp electric motor (the same one found in the MIFA 9) offers enough power to keep up with traffic. It’s not sporty by any means, but the instant torque makes driving an MPV more engaging.   

The suspension is tuned for comfort, gliding smoothly over most surfaces. However, show it a road with more undulations, and you’ll feel a bit of bounce. That said, this is hardly a dealbreaker in an MPV designed for family comfort, not Nürburgring laps. 

During my test, I managed to average 20.7kWh/100km, which is pretty much bang on what Maxus claims the MIFA 7 can achieve. On a full charge, you’ll be looking at 400-450km of range.

Decent Price To Boot

At $232,999 (at the time of writing), the MIFA 7 undercuts many of its larger MPV rivals. 

There are, however, some trade-offs. The Luxury trim of the MIFA 7 lacks certain premium features like electrically adjustable and ventilated second-row seats—features available in the Premium’ trim for just $5,000 more.

If second-row passengers are a priority, it might be worth considering the upgrade.  

A Practical Choice for Families

The Maxus MIFA 7 finds its niche in offering a balanced, value-packed MPV experience. It’s neither too large nor too cramped, with just the right amount of performance and practicality for Singapore’s roads.  

If you’re in the market for a family vehicle that doesn’t break the bank, provides the benefits of electric driving, and still turns heads at school drop-offs, the MIFA 7 deserves your attention.

Technical Specifications

Maxus MIFA 7

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Powertrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 180kW (241bhp)
Torque: 350Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A) Reduction Gear
0-100km/h: 9.0 seconds
Top Speed: 180 km/h
Battery Capacity: 90 kWh
Drive Range: 480 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 4.88 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$221,999 (Luxury), S$226,999 (Premium), both with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Maxus Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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The Opel range in Singapore is pretty complete for the most part. For smaller families, the Mokka-e is zippy around town, and the bigger van-like Zafira-e is catered to the business executive folk.

But, what if you were someone who wanted a practical family vehicle, but needed extra room for your day-to-day business dealings? That’s where the new Opel Combo-e Life steps in.

Based on the same shared Stellantis platform with vehicles like the Citroen e-Berlingo, the Combo-e Life is pretty much identical to what we got in the Combo-e, albeit now with room for activities in the rear.

So what’s it like zipping around town in this family-focused MPV EV? 

Simple and Honest

As far as vans go, the Opel Combo-e Life is pretty good to look at. The van-esque proportions are broken up by rear passenger windows that offer copious amounts of light into the cabin, giving it an airy ambience.

Rear sliding doors are also handy when loading humans or cargo in tight spaces.

16-inch rims give the Combo-e Life some added character, as opposed to traditional vans with steelies or rim covers.  

Another thoughtful design quirk is the rear hatch, which has a two-stage opening mechanism. This is extremely handy when parked up in tight spaces, allowing you to still access the rear cargo area.

Simple and functional. That’s what the Combo-e Life truly shines in.

Van-like Practicality

Some might gawk at the thought that the Opel Combo-e Life is based on a van platform, but these claims are quickly dismissed the moment they step foot into the cabin.

Despite the van-like feel created by the upright position and expansive windows, visibility in all directions is excellent.

The Combo-e Life mirrors its Opel Combo-e counterpart, featuring an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with built-in sat-nav for added convenience.

Mounted atop the dashboard, the screen ensures that your eyes need not wander far from the road. The digital display also presents electric car-specific energy readouts clearly and understandably. The gear selector and major controls are conveniently placed, and dashboard controls are straightforward to navigate.

The Combo-e Life doesn’t skimp on creature comforts either. It offers great air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, parking sensors with a reversing camera for tight spots, automatic headlights, and a multi-function steering wheel, creating an appealing package of features.

While the exterior may resemble a van, the interior leans more towards a family car. The cabin emanates durability, with materials that are hard-wearing rather than overtly luxurious, fitting for its roles of cargo transport and enduring family life.

There’s an abundance of headroom both front and back. Rear legroom is generous, and both outer rear seats come with Isofix mounting points for child seats. The additional third-row seats can be folded down or removed entirely, ensuring no complaints about space, regardless of seating row.

The car’s sliding rear doors are a practical touch, particularly in confined parking spaces. They’re manually operated, similar to a van’s side door.

Stowage space is plentiful, especially in the front, and the cupholder atop the dashboard is a convenient addition that doesn’t obstruct the view of the road.

As for boot space, there’s plenty of it, with a square shape and a wide aperture that matches the width of the boot floor, along with no lip at the entrance.

The only drawback is the large tailgate, which requires ample clearance behind the car to open and can be awkward to close manually. Nevertheless, the aforementioned split hatch allows for opening the glass instead of the entire tailgate when loading smaller items.

Silent Efficiency

The Opel Combo-e Life surges ahead with 134bhp and 260Nm of torque, ready at the slightest tap of the accelerator. When unladen, this van can dash from 0 to 100km/h in a brisk 10.4 seconds.

Sharing its electric motor and battery pack with the Citroën e-C4, the Combo-e Life may not match the Citroën’s speed due to its shape and weight. However, it feels faster than its conventional powered counterparts thanks to the instantaneous power delivery.

Despite its size and shape, wind and road noise are impressively contained at higher speeds. At speeds over 100km/h, you may notice a slight electric motor whine, and at lower speeds, some suspension thudding can be heard.

Not many expect an MPV to be exhilarating to drive, and in this regard, the Combo-e Life stays true to form. Designed more for practicality than excitement, with its van-like dimensions and a range of efficiency-focused engines, it’s not meant to thrill.

There’s noticeable body lean through quick corners due to its height, despite the heavy batteries keeping the weight low. The steering, while accurate enough, has minimal feedback which feels light and disconnected. This doesn’t incite confidence when pushed to the limit.

Still, steering feels light in town, a blessing when navigating tight streets.

Drive the Combo-e Life within its comfort zone, and it rewards you with a smooth and relaxed ride, especially noticeable on long journeys and expressways. It also handles potholes and speed bumps in town with composure, coping well with sharper intrusions at higher speeds.

The brakes feel strong, and the Opel Combo-e Life offers two levels of regenerative braking; in the strongest setting, you’ll slow down more quickly after lifting off the accelerator, allowing for one-pedal driving most of the time.

For businesses, practicality often hinges on minimal downtime, making charge times crucial. The Combo-e Life’s ability to take a 100kW charge from a rapid charging station is great for real-world usability. A suitable DC charging station can provide up to 80% battery capacity in just 30 minutes, compared to a 7.4kW AC wall box charger, which takes 7.5 hours for a full charge.

Range is also decent, with official figures suggesting the Combo-e can travel up to 293km between charges. In practice, I managed around 240km, respectable given our climate, where the AC and battery cooling systems work hard to maintain optimal conditions.

Go-Anywhere, Do-everything

The Opel Combo-e Life in essence is a practical minivan that offers capacious amounts of cabin space and comfortable seating for a party of seven.

Being able to seat seven in an EV isn’t that common in the market today. If you are a prospective customer who can look past the van-based styling, then you’ll really appreciate just how well-suited the Combo-e Life is as an affordable family-friendly, do-everything MPV.

As they say, the simple designs are indeed the best.

Technical Specifications

Opel Combo-e Life Electric

Engine: Single Electric Motor
Power: 100kW (134bhp)
Torque: 260Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 10.4 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 130km/h
Battery Capacity: 50 kWh
Drive Range: 293 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 5.2 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$168,500 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Opel Singapore 

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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