In 2024, the trend of “tough SUVs” has entered the pure electric field. Chery just launched the iCAR 03 with a guide price of 10.98-16.98 million, equipped with a dual-motor four-wheel drive system in the high-end models. In less than two months, Baojun responded with the Baojun Yueyue Plus, priced at only 9.38-10.38 million, more than a thousand cheaper than the iCAR 03. Both have a boxy appearance. Can the Baojun Yueyue Plus capture the market with a lower price?
Let’s start with the exterior design. Both have a boxy shape, but there are significant differences in the details. iCAR 03 is more similar to the Mercedes G-Class, with a more rugged design and stronger visual impact. On the other hand, the Baojun Yue Plus is more like the Land Rover Defender, with a more refined appearance. iCAR 03 is positioned as a compact SUV, with dimensions of 4406x1910x1715mm and a wheelbase of 2715mm. The Baojun Yue Plus is positioned as a small SUV, with dimensions of 3996x1760x1726mm and a wheelbase of 2560mm. Therefore, iCAR 03 has a clear advantage in size, considering its starting price is over ten thousand more, it must make users feel it is worth it.
In terms of interior design, the two cars have a certain degree of similarity in style, with a symmetrical central control layout and contrasting colors to enhance the quality of the interior. The instrument panel and central screen of the Baojun Yue Plus both feature a floating design, while the iCAR 03’s instrument panel has an embedded design to some extent to avoid screen glare. The size of the central screen is larger, reaching 15.6 inches, compared to the Baojun Yue Plus’s 10.1 inches. However, the Baojun Yue Plus retains physical buttons for adjusting air conditioning temperature and airflow below the central screen, a feature that the iCAR 03 should learn from. Thanks to its wider body size, the iCAR 03 has a larger armrest box and more storage space compared to the Baojun Yue Plus, making it more convenient for daily use and outdoor off-road adventures.
In terms of space, the iCAR 03 has larger seating and storage space than the Baojun Yue Plus, with a standard five-seat layout and a flat rear platform for a comfortable ride for middle passengers. The Baojun Yue Plus has a four-seat layout, with acceptable legroom for average-sized passengers in the rear, but taller individuals over 1.8 meters may feel cramped. It is important to note that although the rear can barely accommodate three people, exceeding the four-person limit is considered overloading, so friends with a need for five seats must choose carefully.
In terms of power and endurance, the iCAR 03 two-wheel drive model has a rear-wheel drive layout, equipped with a 135kW motor. The four-wheel drive model adds a 70kW front motor on top of this, with an official 0-100 acceleration time of 6.5 seconds. All models use lithium iron phosphate batteries with a capacity of 50.63-69.77 kWh, and CLTC pure electric endurance ranges from 401-501 km. The battery supplier is Jiangsu Times. The Baojun Yue Plus has a front-wheel drive layout with a 75kW front motor, currently not offering a four-wheel drive version. These power parameters make it a city commuter model without strong off-road capabilities. It also uses lithium iron phosphate batteries with a capacity of 41.9 kWh, and a CLTC pure electric endurance of 401 km, with the battery supplier being Guoxuan High-tech.
Overall, although the Baojun Yue Plus and iCAR03 have similar “tough SUV” boxy designs, the Baojun Yue Plus is just superficial. Essentially, it is a visually distinctive pure electric SUV, while the iCAR03 has many advantages in practicality. The two do not directly compete. The Baojun Yue Plus competes with models like the BYD Seagull, Wuling Bingguo Plus, Nezha AYA, and BYD Yuan UP, but its starting price of 93,800 yuan (12960$) is not much of an advantage compared to these models.
In terms of sales, iCAR sold 3602 units in March, ranking second in the compact pure electric SUV field after BYD Yuan PLUS, Song PLUS EV, and AION Y. With such performance in the first month of its launch, the future looks promising. Do you think the sales of the Baojun Euphoria Plus in the first month of its launch can exceed this number of 3600? Share your thoughts in the comments. Image rights belong to the original author, contact for removal if infringement occurs, thank you! This article represents the author’s personal views, not those of TSN Auto.