Maxus eDeliver 3 vs Volkswagen E-Crafter Dropsides

With the introduction of congestion charges and clean air zones across major cities throughout the country, many people are deciding to make the switch from diesel vans to electric. Thankfully, many leading manufacturers are accommodating this, having their vans available not only in electric, but offering these in various body types to appease all their clientele.

One such is the dropside. If you require the use a dropside van for your job and are looking at going electric, then keep reading this review as we compare the Maxus eDeliver 3 Dropside with the Volkswagen E-Crafter Dropside, helping you to make an informed decision on which would best suit your needs and requirements.

Engines and Spec

Getting straight down to business, you’ll want to know how these two vans compare in driving performance – namely their battery capacity, range and charging times.

Starting with the eDeliver 3, the dropside version of this van operates a 52.3kWh battery that delivers a peak torque of 255 Nm and equates to a range of 151-213 miles. This makes it great not only for city driving, but also capable of managing (albeit admittedly) short motorway journeys, with its max speed of 90mph making it easy to drive in all three lanes rather than restricting you to the first.

Looking, then, at the Volkswagen E-Crafter, the battery is a fair bit smaller to what we’d expect from such an established brand and van whose combustion equivalent is well-regarded, having a capacity of only 31.7kWh. Being such a smaller battery naturally means the range of the e-Crafter is significantly reduced, with a WLTP maximum of 71-98 miles.

Not only that, but its speed is also limited to 56mph. This greatly impacts how well it would perform driving on the motorway, especially in comparison to the eDeliver 3, which is something to consider if this is an integral part of your daily journeys. However, it does have a higher torque of 290 Nm, which gives better acceleration that makes it feel incredibly smooth to handle, especially when driving in urban areas with lots of stop-start driving, helping you to integrate into flowing traffic.

As for charging times, both would have you up and running on 80% charge after just 45 minutes when using a DC fast charger, as offered at most public charging stations. If charging from home or work using an AC charger, however, then this is where the E-Crafter’s smaller battery has an advantage, reaching a full charge in just over 5 hours, whilst the eDeliver 3 takes 8 hours.

Interior

When looking at the actual dropside bodies of these vans, both perform just as you’d expect them to, with high quality, sleek metallic finishes and sufficient loading space to carry and transport materials and equipment around construction sites with easy access. In terms of payload, you can expect the E-Crafter Dropside to manage a payload of approximately 820kg, and a bit more from the eDeliver 3 with 950kg – both of which should be more than enough to manage a day’s work for those in the light construction industry.

Now, looking into the respective cabin areas of these vans, both have relatively modern and practical features, although we would say it is in the interior where the E-Crafter finally takes the edge.

The E-Crafter certainly looks and feels more spacious, offering two additional passenger seats and plenty of storage solutions throughout, including door bins, dash-top cubbies, four cup holders on the dash (one of which is near the steering wheel for easy access) and a narrow shelf that runs across the front of the dashboard.

In terms of entertainment, there is a large touchscreen infotainment system fitted as standard that is useful for navigation thanks to the clear display and convenient location in the centre of the dashboard. Pair this with heated seats, a multifunctional steering wheel and a large, clear, light-up instrument cluster, and you’re onto a winner for both practicality and comfort.

Though the eDeliver 3 still integrates similar features, we have to admit it just doesn’t give us that same wow factor. There is a 7” touchscreen infotainment system, though being the size it is it would do better if it was positioned slightly higher up on the dash.

The eDeliver also comes with heated seats, though there is only one passenger seat fitted into the rather snug cabin area. As for storage space, this is sufficient for basic needs, however we believe much more intuitive spaces could have been integrated – especially considering how useful this is for tradespeople.

The Verdict

So, now we’ve discussed all the relevant information, which electric dropside van is better? That answer isn’t so simple, as it depends on your specific needs.

If you ever need to take your dropside van on motorway journeys and/or transport particularly heavy loads to and from site, then we suggest the Maxus eDeliver 3 is likely to better suit your needs.

If you use your dropside van more exclusively on site or as part of a local construction business, then the Volkswagen E-Crafter will be perfectly capable of meeting your needs. Not to mention, it will offer you some much appreciated comfort when stuck in busy rush hour traffic!

If you’re still unsure about which van would be best for you, Van Sales UK is on hand to help. We can discuss your requirements and answer any queries you may have to help you find the ideal electric dropside van, offering you zero deposit, low rate finance on this.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today to find out more and speak with a member of our friendly team.