► Ultra-rugged electric 4×4 available in the UK
► Now launched in five-door form
► Costs vastly less than the alternatives
This chunky G-Wagen looking thing is the Spartan EV 2.0, an electric off-roader so capable its ancient Greek namesakes could have used it to simply drive round the Persians at Thermopylae. Possibly. Regardless, it’s newly available in the UK in five-door form, following on from the short-wheelbase three-door launched in 2024.
Sorry, I missed the SWB…
Understandable, as its arrival wasn’t loudly heralded. However, it was talked about in the farming, forestry and mining press, which tells you something about this thing’s target market. That’s not to say it isn’t usable on-road, but we’ll come back to that in a bit.
So what exactly is the Spartan EV 2.0?
The Spartan is built by Czech firm MW Motors, using the bodyshell and ladder-frame chassis of the Force Motors Gurkha – an ultra-rugged 4×4 built in India. Power comes from a 61.1kWh made in China.
The rest of the Spartan is MWM’s own work, including the interior, control systems and electric motor. It’s quite a compact vehicle, measuring 4390mm long and 1865mm wide – all the better for tackling tight and twisty trails. But it’s comparatively lofty at 2095mm tall, which could make it tricky to get under carpark height restrictions.
The five-door is available with two, four or six seats (the latter in three rows); the two-seat version has a load capacity of 2597 litres. It can carry a payload of 1025kg and tow 3000kg, as well. Standard kit includes aircon, digital dials, infotainment and tyre pressure monitoring.
How much power are we talking about?
There’s clearly some very clever stuff going on in the electric motor because, though it produces a modest 174bhp, there’s a monstrous 793lb/ft of torque. Combine that easy-access muscle with the lack of a conventional gearbox and ultra-heavy-duty off-roading should be an absolute doddle.
That torque doesn’t translate to outright performance, though. MWM doesn’t even quote a 0-62mph time for the Spartan but does note the top speed would be 109mph if it wasn’t limited to 90.
As for range, MWM claims the LWB Spartan will go 142 miles between charges – slightly less than the three-door version. Apparently, that’s plenty for a typical user’s weekly needs. It’ll recharge at 90kW, a 20-80% boost theoretically taking 36 minutes.
Just how capable is it off-road?
It should be extremely capable. It is, after all, intended for users who tackle the toughest terrain imaginable every day. The suspension layout is a tried-and-tested combination of independent front and solid rear axles, with coil springs and anti-roll bars at both ends. You can manually switch between two- and four-wheel drive; there’s low ratio for the latter, as well. There’s also hill descent control and, if you prefer to DIY, you can turn the ABS off for better control.
Add to that 240mm of ground clearance, a 700mm wading depth, approach and departures angles of 38 and 35 degrees, and a break-over angle of 35 degrees, and there are probably very few situations the Spartan can’t extricate itself from. And when you’re done playing in the mud/sand/rocks, you’ve got vehicle-to-load to power your tools or camp site.
When can I buy one?
Right now. The Spartan costs £53,505 plus VAT, which isn’t exactly cheap but is less than a third the price of an electric G-Class. That’s not really the point, though. The four- and six-seat versions may be perfectly decent road cars, but the two-seater is almost certain to sell in much greater numbers to forestry services, utility companies and assorted other QUANGOs that are looking for electric alternatives to their fleets of diesel pickups and ancient Land Rovers.