“Wuling creates what the people need.” This statement gains more value over time. Since the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV sparked the boom of electric mini cars, Wuling recently launched a groundbreaking model: the Wuling Xingguang 730.
This MPV starts at a pre-sale price of 70,000 yuan (9840$). It offers seven seats and features dual sliding side doors, a 12.8-inch floating central screen, independent second-row seats, a 50W wireless charging panel, and a 540° panoramic view. Most impressively, it provides three power options: gasoline, hybrid, and electric. This “all-power” combination is rare in the industry and gives consumers more choices. Today, let’s discuss its hybrid version, which many consumers prefer.
First, let’s look at the appearance of the car. The Wuling Xingguang 730 features a dual design. The hybrid model we test today has a completely black grille. The grille uses a diagonal hole pattern, creating a strong overall feel. The fuel version retains this design to meet the needs for air intake and cooling.
The new car does not use a continuous light group design. It features traditional integrated headlights. Inside, it has dual lens lights for both high and low beams. This improves the lighting effect and enhances the overall tech feel. The side lights adopt a more recognizable dual strip shape. Although it lacks daytime running lights, it looks beautiful when lit at night.
The pure electric version has a more stylish front design than the fuel and hybrid models. It removes the traditional grille and adopts a closed front bumper. The headlight assembly features a glossy black decorative panel. This enhances depth and gives the car a younger appearance. Below the license plate, the design retains an air intake. This ensures proper cooling for the motor.
The new car measures 4910mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2910mm. It features a “2+2+3” seven-seat layout. All models will come with dual side sliding doors, the only ones in its class at this price point. For those seeking higher quality, optional electric sliding doors are available. This upgrade enhances luxury and sophistication.
The side lines of the vehicle are full and well-defined. Designers added different lines around the wheel arches and below the doors. The sliding door and rear window use privacy glass, a common feature in luxury MPVs. The designers placed the side mirrors on the door panels. This design frees up the small window in the A-pillar, helping drivers observe their surroundings.
When it comes to observation, this car features a 540° panoramic camera. Some may argue that a 540° panoramic camera is not a new feature. However, remember that this car costs around 100,000. Achieving such a high configuration at this price is impressive. It enhances our driving safety.
Many car models now use hidden door handles. However, the Wuling Xingguang 730 retains traditional door handles. I believe traditional door handles are practical and safe. This vehicle will feature 17-inch multi-spoke two-tone wheels. These wheels ensure good passability while providing better quietness and comfort.
The rear design complements the front. The taillights match the headlights in style. The double-line design stands out when lit. The car lacks a continuous light strip, likely due to cost. The trunk opens manually, but this does not affect its convenience or capacity.
The Wuling Xingguang 730 features a standout trunk space. The third-row seats fold in a 4/6 ratio. They also flip up, creating more seating combinations. Additionally, the trunk includes a recessed storage area. This design enhances loading capacity. It proves practical for both personal and commercial use.
The trunk is practical. The car adds stylish and youthful elements at the rear. For example, it features a center fog light on the rear bumper. This design is common in sports sedans. The rear also includes a small spoiler. This spoiler looks good and serves a practical purpose. It reduces turbulence at the rear, lowers drag, and improves range.
Next, we enter the car. The Wuling Xingguang 730 features a dual exterior design. However, the interior layout remains the same. It offers two color options for consumers. The most impressive aspect of the interior is the materials used. Most surfaces we touch are soft-touch materials. This includes the center console, central tunnel, and door panels. The luxury feel is well-executed.
The car adopts a popular minimalist style. It retains only a few physical buttons. The remaining functions integrate into the 12.8-inch screen in the center. The screen operates smoothly. The overall UI design excels, including the de-layering process. We place common functions at the bottom of the screen.
The Wuling Xingguang 730’s central control screen has simple functions. It includes common features like multi-platform phone connectivity, voice interaction, Bluetooth connection, driving mode selection, vehicle control, and energy center. This design is effective. It retains practicality, increases usage, and lowers costs.
The new car will use a two-spoke steering wheel. The steering wheel feels beyond my expectations. It uses solid materials and has excellent thickness. It features traditional physical multifunction buttons, which minimize accidental operations. After some familiarity, users can operate it blindly. The car will use a column-mounted shifter, freeing up space in the center console.
The central corridor features a double-layer layout. The lower level has a large opening area. Even high heels or big backpacks can fit inside. The upper level includes a 50W wireless charging panel. This surprised me. I thought having a charging panel was impressive, but a 50W fast charge exceeded my expectations. It truly deserves praise.
In front of the charging panel, the car retains a few physical buttons. These buttons mainly control the air conditioning. They adjust airflow, temperature, the A/C switch, the window defroster, and the hazard lights. We use these functions frequently. This design avoids complicated operations and enhances driving safety.
As an MPV, comfort is key. The front seats of the Wuling Xingguang 730 offer thick padding. They provide good support for the waist and legs. Even after two hours of driving, I felt no fatigue. However, only the driver’s seat has electric adjustment. The passenger seat still requires manual adjustment.
The second row features two separate seats. They lack electric adjustments, but both armrests are complete. The materials, support, and firmness are all high quality. The front-to-back adjustment range is sufficient. Importantly, the floor is flat. The aisle in the second row is wide. Even larger adults can pass through easily.
The third-row seats use a 4/6 split design. You can adjust the backrest angle. It includes three headrests. The design also features storage bins on both sides, air vents for the third row, and armrests. Additionally, the third row has two sets of child safety seat anchors. This user-friendly design satisfies me.
Next, we will take this car on the road to experience its driving quality. Today, we test the hybrid model. It offers an electric range of 125 km and a total range of 1100 km. The official fuel consumption is 5.3 L/100 km. We also conducted a fuel consumption test on this vehicle. We will share the results with everyone later.
When I first drove it on the road, it felt like a pure electric car. The acceleration felt powerful. Whether starting or overtaking, it responded immediately. It showed no signs of sluggishness. The 125 km pure electric range is solid. If you avoid aggressive driving, you can achieve over 90% efficiency.
When the engine starts, we still hear some engine noise inside the car. However, the vibration control remains ideal. Even at high speeds, we don’t feel much vibration. Instead, we experience a very smooth ride.
When discussing stability, we must mention the chassis of this car. The Wuling Xingguang 730 uses a front MacPherson and multi-link independent suspension. This feature is remarkable for an MPV in the 100,000 yuan (14050$) price range. Most cars at this price use a torsion beam. However, the Wuling Xingguang 730 comes with independent suspension both front and rear. No wonder it offers a smooth ride and comfortable seating.
We drove on a route that included urban areas, highways, and national roads. The road conditions were complex, with some construction zones. However, the car’s suspension performed surprisingly well. It absorbed the impacts from the road effectively. The suspension also provided excellent support. We experienced minimal body roll during sharp turns. Even in the third row, the overall comfort remained satisfactory.
For a new energy vehicle, quietness is crucial. The Wuling Xingguang 730 controls wind noise, tire noise, and chassis noise effectively. In city and highway driving, it maintains a quiet cabin. However, at speeds above 100 km/h, wind noise increases noticeably. Still, it remains within an acceptable range.
Let’s discuss the fuel consumption of this car. We conducted a short test over 68 km. The route included highways, urban areas, and national roads. We set a time limit of 100 minutes. We did not push the limits. Instead, we drove in a relaxed and realistic manner. We returned to the starting point in 98 minutes. The displayed fuel consumption was 4.1 L/100 km. This is significantly lower than the official 5.3 L. I think this performance is excellent. In summary, we only tested the hybrid model, but its performance exceeded our expectations. Both driving quality and fuel efficiency are impressive. The Wuling Xingguang 730 will offer four versions: pure gasoline manual, pure gasoline automatic, hybrid, and pure electric. Which version do you prefer? Let’s discuss in the comments.