The number of electric pick-up trucks on sale in the UK is about to double, from one to two, thanks to the arrival of the new Maxus eTerron 9. But, perhaps more importantly, it’s the first of its kind with all-wheel drive to be sold here.

That’s because the Chinese brand’s trailblazing T90EV – the first zero-emissions pick-up to land on our shores – is rear-wheel drive only. That truck is powered by a 201bhp e-motor and an 88.5kWh battery, which provides a 205-mile range.

In contrast, the Terron 9 has a 167bhp motor on the front axle, and a 268bhp unit at the rear. These provide a combined power output of 436bhp – more than a Ford Ranger Raptor produces – all-wheel drive traction and what’s described as “rapid acceleration” by its maker. 

The ‘All-Terrain’ system offers drivers a choice of six drive modes, including ones for Sand and Mud to assist off-road, while air suspension comes as standard and means the height of the truck can be adjusted. That includes lowering it by 60mm to make it easier to load or unload the bed.

Measuring 5.5 metres long, the eTerron 9 is 13cm longer than our favourite pick-up truck, the Ford Ranger. It also offers the ability to lower the truck bed’s bulkhead at the push of a button, which increases the maximum load length to 2.4 metres, compared to around 1.5 metres in a Double Cab Ranger.

The eTerron 9 is rated to tow up to 3,500kg, just like the Ranger, although its maximum payload capacity of 620kg is close to half the amount certain variants of the Ford can haul.

Just like a Ford F-150 Lighting or Rivian R1T, the eTerron 9 has a weatherproof ‘frunk’ under the bonnet which offers an extra 236 litres of storage. It also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities, meaning its massive battery can also be used to power electrical appliances. There are 2.2kW sockets in the frunk and truck bed, with the latter getting a 6.6kW connection as well.

Order books for the Maxus eTerron 9 will open in October, and the first examples are due to arrive in January 2025. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’ll probably cost quite a bit more than the Maxus T90EV, which starts from £49,950 (excluding VAT).