The 2023 car market is undoubtedly the most competitive year, with new energy vehicles constantly being introduced. However, it is not difficult to see from this year’s new car releases that traditional joint venture brands are beginning to make efforts in the field of pure electric vehicles. Various brands have launched new models based on pure electric architecture. Today, let’s take a look at which joint venture pure electric SUVs are available in the 150,000-200,000 yuan (27990$) price range. Model: Kia EV5 Price: 14.98-17.48 million yuan Highlights: The EV5 is Kia’s first domestically produced pure electric vehicle to be sold in China after announcing an accelerated electrification process. The car is built on the E-GMP pure electric architecture. The new car is positioned as a compact SUV and adopts a completely new design language, especially in terms of its exterior design, which is highly recognizable compared to other vehicles in the same category. The new car has been officially launched at the Guangzhou Auto Show, with three standard range models being the first to be released, priced between 14.98-17.48 million yuan. The long-range model will be launched in March 2024, and the GT-Line model will be launched in July 2024.
In terms of exterior design, the Kia EV5 adopts the latest Opposites United design concept of the family, retaining a large number of design elements from concept cars, highlighting personality and technology. Especially, the style of the front face is very avant-garde, and the square and tough lines have a tough SUV style. Compared with the mainstream electric vehicles of the same level, the Kia EV5’s design will be more personalized and recognizable.
On the side, the Kia EV5 does not use the commonly used sloping roof design of the same level models, but adopts a straight roof line, with black-painted wheel arches, making the side profile look very tough and visually more atmospheric. At the same time, the straight roof line also ensures the head space for rear passengers. In terms of details, the large angle A-pillar and the distinct triangular window style of the rear C-pillar not only reduce wind resistance, but also bring a more recognizable design.
The taillight design echoes the front headlights, with a large light strip that gives it a distinctive look. The bottom of the bumper also features a silver trim to add depth to the rear of the car.
In terms of interior, the traditional joint venture car model’s styling is still visible, with some quick physical buttons retained in the central control area. The design is not radical, but rather a combination of technology and practicality. The distinct layers of the central control panel and the large multimedia screen still cater to the current trend of minimalist design. In addition, in terms of interior materials, the Kia EV5 uses 10 diverse healthy and environmentally friendly materials such as benzene-free coatings and plant-based materials. The areas frequently touched by the body are also wrapped in soft materials, maintaining the overall texture at the same level as joint venture brand electric cars of the same price range.
In terms of technology configuration, there are two 12.3-inch screens on the center console, as well as a 5-inch independent air conditioning control display screen in the middle, making it easier to adjust the air conditioning and creating a nice technological atmosphere.
In terms of intelligent interaction, the Kia EV5 is equipped with the latest generation of ccNC in-vehicle entertainment system, which is developed in deep cooperation with Baidu. The system adopts a new UI interface, optimized for user logic, and is easy to use. It features in-vehicle WeChat, iQiyi, and dozens of Tencent mini-apps, as well as support for Baidu Carlife and wireless Apple Carplay, meeting the needs of mainstream consumers. In terms of the three-electric system, the early-launch EV5 standard endurance version is equipped with a 64.2kWh battery pack, with a range of 530 kilometers. Additionally, the charging efficiency of the EV5 is remarkable, with the battery charging from 30% to 80% in just 27 minutes. It also comes with a standard 5-level adjustable intelligent kinetic energy recovery system, efficient heat pump system, and second-generation intelligent battery temperature control management system. In terms of passive safety, the EV5 series comes standard with 7 safety airbags, including front center airbags, which is very sincere in the same class. In terms of safety configuration, the Kia EV5 is equipped with L2-level driver assistance functions. The new car is equipped with driving assistance technologies including highway driving assistance, lane keeping assistance, forward collision prevention assistance, intelligent speed limit assistance, and navigation-based intelligent cruise control.
In terms of body size, the Kia EV5 measures 4615/1875/1715mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 2750mm, positioning it as a compact SUV. Thanks to the E-GMP pure electric architecture and the square body shape, the interior space of the Kia EV5 greatly exceeds expectations, with generous head and legroom in both the front and rear seats. In addition, in terms of details, the front seats feature a romantic design that extends from the left side wing to the driver’s side, creating a sense of intimacy for the driver and front passenger. Furthermore, the rear of the front passenger seat is equipped with a foldable small table, and both the driver and front passenger seats are equipped with USB-C power outlets, which are still rare in this price range of joint venture brand pure electric SUV models.
The trunk is very practical, with a capacity of 513L in regular state and many storage compartments on both sides. When the rear seats are folded down, it forms a flat space with a depth of two meters. Additionally, there is a hidden storage compartment underneath the trunk cover, and the trunk cover components can quickly transform into a table with a power interface for using car electronics. In addition, the front trunk has a capacity of 67L, showing that the space utilization of the Kia EV5 is well thought out.
In terms of power, the Kia EV5 offers three power and endurance versions: standard endurance version, long endurance version, and long endurance four-wheel drive version. The initially launched standard endurance model is equipped with a 64.2kWh battery pack and 160kW motor, with a CLTC endurance range of 530 kilometers. The subsequent long endurance model is equipped with an 88.1kWh battery and 160kW motor, with a CLTC endurance range of around 700 kilometers. In addition, the EV5 series comes standard with an efficient heat pump system and a 5-level intelligent kinetic energy recovery system, further optimizing the vehicle’s energy performance. Model: Buick E5 Price: 169,900-278,900 yuan (39030$) Highlights: The Buick E5 is the first model created by Buick based on the Altair pure electric platform. The new car is positioned as a mid-to-large pure electric SUV, adopting a new generation of brand pure electric product design language, and equipped with the all-new VCS intelligent cockpit and the all-new Super Cruise super-assisted driving system. Moreover, the recently launched pioneer version directly lowered the price to 169,900 yuan (23780$). For a mid-to-large positioned pure electric SUV, it still has strong appeal.
In terms of appearance, the Buick E5 adopts the latest clean design language of the Buick family, with a fully enclosed front grille design, but retains the diamond-shaped grille texture, which is very technological. The recognition of the split-type headlamp group is also very high, with the double-wing LED daytime running lights composed of 40 LEDs, supporting the flow crystal dynamic light language system.
The Buick E5 has a stable and balanced design on the side, with proportionate lines and a comfortable look. The black luggage rack, hidden door handles, and multiple spoke wheels enhance the side’s delicacy.
The design of the rear of the car is more youthful and fashionable, especially the through-type flowing wing tail lights, which not only use laser engraving patterns to increase the sense of technology, but also make the entire rear of the car more layered. The new car also innovatively uses a crystal shield high-mounted brake light, echoing the Buick logo from a distance, giving a strong sense of luxury. In my personal opinion, the rear of the Buick E5 is the best-looking part of the exterior design.
In terms of interior, the Buick E5 features a new generation VCS intelligent cockpit design, and is equipped with the EYEMAX 30-inch curved 6K screen, full of futuristic technology. The center console adopts an asymmetric interior design, leaning more towards the driver’s side for both the screen and buttons, ensuring better control of the vehicle for the driver. In terms of material selection, the interior is wrapped in a large amount of soft and leather materials, and embellished with piano paint panels and chrome materials, creating a luxurious and excellent quality feel inside the car.
In terms of the car’s infotainment system, it is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive-grade chip, which supports 5G communication technology. In addition, the car’s infotainment system will also feature the latest iteration of the Buick eConnect smart connectivity system, supporting online entertainment and enabling OTA upgrades for multiple vehicle modules. The overall functionality is very rich, and the 6K integrated screen provides better visual impact. It can be said that this screen and the car’s infotainment system are definitely the biggest highlights of the Buick E5 interior.
In terms of body size, the Buick E5 is 4892x1905x1655mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 2954mm, positioning it as a large five-seat midsize SUV. Based on its positioning and body size, the Buick E5 has a clear advantage among similar models. Thanks to the pure electric architecture, the second-row space of the Buick E5 is very spacious, with a flat floor. The front seats only have electric adjustment, and also support seat heating, ventilation, and four-way lumbar support adjustment. The design of the rear seats is also generous, with no compromise on seat cushion length to increase space, and the seat cushion thickness is sufficient for comfortable seating. For family users, its space performance is nothing to worry about.
In terms of power, the Buick E5 will be equipped with ternary lithium batteries. The single-motor version will be equipped with two power options: 150kW and 180kW. The CLTC working condition maximum range is 545km and 620km. In addition, the Avia four-wheel drive version will adopt a front permanent magnet synchronous + rear induction asynchronous motor layout, with a maximum system power of 211kW and a maximum torque of 465N·m. The CLTC working condition range is 603km. Model: SAIC Volkswagen ID.4X Price: 19.59-28.34 million yuan Highlights: The ID.4 is a joint venture brand that entered the pure electric vehicle market early. The exterior adopts a new electrified style and has a very avant-garde design. The ID.4X is produced and sold by SAIC Volkswagen and is based on the MEB pure electric platform. Compared to competing models that were converted from gasoline to electric at the same time, it has a good performance in driving quality. Since the car has been on the market for some time, there are currently good discounts in the terminal market, and the cost performance is still very good.
In terms of appearance, SAIC Volkswagen ID.4 X is the first to adopt the family design of the Volkswagen ID series, with a simple and pure overall shape, and a significant difference from the fuel-powered models of the same brand, which is also one of the reasons for its success. The IQ.Light headlights feature a horizontal design, with the outer LED light strip connected to the central light strip in the grille, forming a continuous shape. The adaptive high beam function of the headlight group is directly controlled by the current to turn individual pixels on and off, providing more precise control over the illumination range.
When looking at the side of the car, the shape is very compact. The sloping roof and raised waistline create a good sense of sportiness. With the large wheels, the overall sporty atmosphere is excellent.
The rear of the car is compact and solid, with rounded and full lines creating a sense of heaviness. In addition, the car also features a continuous taillight design, which provides strong recognition when illuminated.
In terms of interior design, the ID.4 X can be said to have undergone a design revolution. The overall interior is more simple, with a geometric style composed of straight lines and angles, which is a big change compared to Volkswagen’s traditional fuel vehicles. The minimalistic design style better highlights the technological attributes of this electric car. In addition, the light-colored interior color scheme is also very attractive to young consumers.
In terms of intelligent configuration, the latest MOS system from Volkswagen is equipped within the 12-inch multimedia screen, which operates similarly to an iPad. Basic navigation, music app, and voice control functions are included, but as an early product, its intelligent performance cannot compare to this year’s new cars.
In terms of body size, the dimensions of the SAIC Volkswagen ID.4X are 4612/1852/1640mm, with a wheelbase of 2765mm, positioning it as a compact SUV. Thanks to the MEB pure electric architecture, the four-wheel square design maximizes space, so even though the length of the car is just over 4.6m, the interior space performance is still satisfactory. In terms of safety features, the new car adopts a new IT electronic architecture and supports higher-level driving assistance systems. This includes the FrontAssist front safety assistance system, FCW front collision warning system, AEB automatic emergency braking system, TravelAssist2.0basic travel assistance system, SWA lane change assistance, RCTA rear traffic crossing reminder, traffic sign recognition, MKE fatigue monitoring, and other configurations.
In terms of power, SAIC Volkswagen ID.4 X offers two power forms: single-motor two-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive. The single-motor version provides 125kW and 150kW of power, with a maximum torque of 310 N·m; the dual-motor four-wheel drive version has a maximum power of 225kW and a maximum torque of 460N·m. For the battery, under CLTC conditions, there are three options for range: 425km, 561km, and 607km. In terms of charging, the new car supports both AC charging and DC fast charging, with the fast charging mode allowing for a charge from 30% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes. In summary, the three recommended models are all electric vehicles based on a pure electric platform launched by traditional joint venture brands. Both in design and configuration, they adopt the latest electrification design concept, showing a significant overall improvement in product power. If you have a budget of 150,000-200,000 and want to buy a pure electric SUV while also valuing the brand value of traditional brands, they are all good choices.