Entry-level G50 has turbo engine and stability program
Yes, you can now get an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) for just under P1 million, and it even comes with some of the latest safety features available in the market.
I won’t beat around the bush because this has been an open secret for the last three months. Maxus Philippines quietly expanded its MPV lineup late last year with the addition of a Comfort variant to the highly popular G50. It goes for P948,000.
You’re probably thinking that since it is close to half a million pesos cheaper than the top-of-the-line option, it must be a barebones unit. Well, it is not. We drove it out to Subic for a day along with the other G50s, and you will be as surprised as I was learning about what comes standard in this entry-level MPV.
The new 2021 Maxus G50 1.3T Comfort gets a matte black grille with silver highlights but fewer chrome trims around the daylight openings (compared to the Premium and the Elite). It also doesn’t have a sunroof or roof rails like the Pro, and only uses halogen headlamps. But it does come with a rear spoiler, rear window defogger, and even daytime running lamps.
Body dimensions are the same across all G50s, so whatever you’re getting, it will come with a 2,800 mm wheelbase. That’s more than what the Avanza, Innova, and the Xpander offer.
Exterior colors are limited. It only comes in Warm White, Warm Argent, and Metal Black, but that is common among base models, whatever the brand.
It is a little ironic that this is called the Comfort variant, and yet it comes with the least amount of creature comforts. For starters, you’ll have to click the key fob to unlock and then insert the key to crank the ignition to the 1.3-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine. Then, you’ll notice the old-fashioned two-DIN infotainment system and the manual climate control system. But it is not a complete throwback in the cabin. At least it comes with two USB ports and even Bluetooth connectivity.
The manually adjustable seats are fabric, while the flat-bottom steering wheel is polyurethane and doesn’t come with controls. The instrument panel design is the same. It just takes a little getting used to that the speedo is on the left and the tach is on the right.
Interior appointments are black and beige plastic with silver accents around the cockpit, center tunnel, and door panels. It is the only G50 without rear aircon vents, but it still gets the versatile 60:40 split-fold second-row seats (with a center armrest) and 60:40 fold-flat third-row seats, and surprisingly, it gets a soft-touch dashboard.
I expected the smaller 1.3-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine to struggle to pull the 1.5-ton body weight. But even with just 163-PS and 230-Nm of torque, it felt light and takes off briskly from a standstill. While cruising, it takes the turbo a couple of winks to spool up, so the pull comes in at around 2,500 rpm. It uses a six-speed manual transmission.
Its length and width make it very stable along the highway. It is a great cruiser, and families will surely appreciate its demeanor on long out-of-town drives. Agility is one of its strengths as it doesn’t feel sluggish even at city speeds. Despite the size, it is very easy to steer.
Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels are very low for a first-generation model, and the 16-inch wheels also help dampen and keep the cabin quiet.
But the best feature of the Comfort variant is what it shares with the rest of its siblings, the Electronic Stabilization Program. We put it to the test on an improvised track, and it passed with flying colors. During two hard-braking scenarios (slippery track and curve negotiation), it provided traction, control, and poise with hardly any body roll. The only thing that will be missed is the reverse camera, but it does have parking sensors.
Very simply put, this is an MPV built around the tenets of safety, practicality, flexibility, and affordability. It is roomy, comfortable, stylish, and doesn’t appear like a base model in looks and performance. If you’re ok driving a manual and don’t mind the lack of a touchscreen system, there are very few models better than the 2021 Maxus G50 1.3T Comfort.