Aiways U5 Road Test: Discover China's new SUV

Aiways U5

Test Drive Aiways U5 The Chinese 100% electric SUV: How will it be received in Europe?

🇨🇳 For some time now, China invests in electric car market. Recently, the very first Chinese electric car, the Aiways U5 makes its appearance. In the European car market, this new SUV has not failed to make a good impression.

🏢The major Chinese manufacturer exhibited the Aiways U5, 100% electric for the first time at the Geneva International Motor Show.

With its elegant, sober and somewhat sophisticated appearance, the Aiways U5 was seen as a real innovation in Europe, and in France. We'll see why later.

🚗Aiways is now the leading Chinese carmaker to have successfully established itself in Europe. Admittedly, Europe still dominates the electric car market compared to them, but it's important to note that in 2019However, China still accounted for a share of 0.6% of the European car market.

What makes the Aiways U5 so special in the electric car market?

What's this new SUV really worth? 〽️

Here's what the new 100% electric SUV from China has to offer!

Table of contents

Find your future electric vehicle or charging point

BMW iX2 eDrive20

List price

46 990 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

453 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 478 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 8.6 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 30 minutes

Cupra Tavascan VZ

List price

46 990 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

602 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 517 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 5.6 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 28 min

VinFast VF 8 Plus Extended Range

List price

51 490 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

473 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 447 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 5.5 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 32 min

Mini Countryman E

List price

41 330 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

564 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 462 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 8.6 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 29 min

fiat e ducato profil

Fiat E-Ducato 79 kWh

List price

63 240 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

988 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 283 km

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 78 min

fiat e scudo profil

Fiat E-Scudo 50 kWh

List price

0 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

645 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 220 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 12.1 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 26 min

mercedes esprinter fourgon gris

Mercedes eSprinter Van 35 kWh

List price

75 972 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

655 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 153 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 11 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 26 min

citroen e berlingo van 3/4

Citroën ë-Berlingo Van 50 kWh

List price

40 440 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

599 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 275 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 9.7 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 26 min

Hyundai Inster Standard Range

List price

25 000 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

298 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 300 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 11.7 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 29 min

Opel Frontera 44 kWh

List price

29 000 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

491 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 305 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 12.1 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 32 min

Alpine A290 Electric 180 hp

List price

38 700 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

630 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 380 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 7.4 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 33 min

Fiat Grande Panda 44 kWh

List price

24 900 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

430 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 320 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 12 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 32 min

BMW i5 Touring eDrive40

List price

0 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

890 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 560 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 6.1 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 26 min

Tesla Model 3 Long Range Powertrain

List price

44 990 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

587 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 702 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 5.3 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 20 min

Mercedes EQE 300

List price

69 900 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

0 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 647 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 7.3 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 33 min

BMW i4 eDrive35

List price

57 550 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

607 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 483 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 6 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 32 min

Renault 4 E-Tech 40kWh 120hp

List price

29 990 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

448 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 322 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 9.2 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 32 min

Citroën ë-C4 54 kWh

List price

35 800 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

0 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 415 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 10 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 29 min

Volvo EX30 Single Motor ER

List price

43 300 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

436 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 480 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 5.3 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 28 min

Volkswagen iD.3 Pro S

List price

42 990 €

(excluding bonuses)

Lease from

0 €

Per month, with no deposit for professionals

Range (WLTP) : 549 km

Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 7.9 sec

Fast charge (from 20 to 80%) : 30 minutes

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Aiways U5: Between elegance and sobriety

Our first impression of the U5

From the outside, the new SUV is quite imposing and bulky. However, its size doesn't make it rude, as its particularly refined design makes it visually very appealing to most Europeans.

At 4.68 metres long and 1.86 metres wide, it runs parallel to the Audi Q5 format.

Its technical platform is made of aluminium and high-strength steel. This has earned it the 3 stars at Euro NCAP3 safety tests. Why is this test important? It ensures that during use the vehicle ensures safety required to its passengers in the case of any hazard.

To promote aerodynamics, the U5 is also equipped with automatically retractable handles that will also smooth the surface of the vehicle. Not to mention the presence of full LEd optics.

The vehicle charger is located at the front of the car, under the left-hand headlight.

The Chinese electric car is available on the market in standard format as well as in premium format 

Dimensions and weight

Longueur Largeur Hauteur Empattement Poids à vide
4680 mm
1865 mm
1700 mm
2800 mm
1720 kg

A spacious, comfortable interior

Comfort

  • Large boot with dual storage: a 432-litre volume and additional storage for charging cables.
  • Spacious vehicleWith its high level of headroom and legroom, it : offers unrivalled comfort in this class of vehicle.
  • Seats comfortable: material leather + fixing units for I-Size child seat
  • Large panoramic sunroof: let the light in. You'll feel even bigger inside.

Equipment

  • " Tri-fold display " Suspended touchscreen: three-part screen tilted towards the driver, giving it an unobstructed view of the dashboard: displays the battery's state of charge battery and regenerative braking status 
  • Dual-zone air conditioning, controllable via the central screen, so you can enjoy the temperature you want. Fan. Works even when the engine is off.

Driving the U5

 

It's time to get started and get behind the wheel of China's new electric car.

The vehicle has neither a Neiman nor a Start button. To start the electric motor, simply turn the central control to "D".

Our test of the Aiways U5 also revealed that the pedal is very sensitive, so you'll need to learn how to handle it properly to avoid sudden stops.

Whether on short or long journeys, this Asian gem provides a very decent level of 'family' comfort. While this may not seem obvious from the outside, it becomes clear when you test-drive the vehicle.

 

Essai Aiways U5

Power and capacity: what's it worth?

A Autonomy tenacious

The range of this large electric SUV is 400 km on the WLTP cycle. However, its range is flexible and very resilient. Here's what the range of the Chinese electric car is worth in different outdoor conditions (road, weather, etc.):

Conditions Autonomie
City - Cold temperature* (°C)
340 km
Motorway - Cold weather
235 km
Combined - Cool temperature* (°C)
285 km
City - Mild temperature
505 km
Motorway - Mild temperature
300 km
Combined - Mild temperature
385 km

Test Aiways U5 - Battery and engine

The U5 is equipped with a140 kW electric motor poweredThe top-of-the-range version has a 65 kWh battery, giving it a range of 450 km according to theNEDC.

Other batteries with lower capacities will also be available. It also has three driving and energy recovery modes.

This Chinese electric car also features abatterya sandwich structure battery. Its special feature is that itsstructuremultilayerinserts an insulating shield between the battery module and the cooling plate, separating the battery from the cooling plate."dry zone(battery module) of the"wetland(cooling plate).

This particular feature of the battery is the secret to maintaining its capacity.

Made up of cells supplied by the groupCATL

It consumes 17.4 kWh per 100 km, according to the WLTP cycle.

What's more, the brand offers8-year guarantee or 150,000 kmfor the batteries and the motor.

Accélération 0 - 100 km/h Vitesse de pointe Gamme électrique Puissance totale Total Torque Cv
7.5 seconds
150 km/h
335 km
150 kW (204 bhp)
310 Nm
190

Aiways U5 test: Fast and satisfactory recharge

Located at the front left of the vehicle, the charging port accepts up to 6.6 kW in alternating current, i.e. recharging in around 10 hours via a wall-box. With rapid DC charging, the system can recharge in up to 90 kW for a charge of 20 to 80% in 35 minutes.

Taking type 2 and congo for fast charging.

Charging is possible using an ordinary wall socket or a charging station. Public charging is always done via a charging station. The charging speed of the EV depends on the charging station (EVSE) used and the maximum charging capacity of the EV. The table below shows all the possible options for charging the Aiways U5. Each option indicates how quickly the battery can be charged from empty to full.

EV charging in Europe differs from country to country. Some European countries use mainly single-phase connections to the network, while other countries use almost exclusively a three-phase connection. The table below shows all the possible ways of charging the Aiways U5, but some charging modes may not be available in certain countries.

Battery and charging

Capacité de la batterie Batterie utilisable
63 kWh
63 kWh

Europe

Caractéristiques Données
Charging port
Type 2
Port location
Front - right
Charging power
6.6 kW AC
Charging time (O→335 km)
11h15min
Load speed
30 km/h
Fast charge port
CCS
Fast charge port slot
Front - right
Fast charge power (max)
90 kW DC
Fast charge time (34→268 km)
40 min
Fast charge speed
350 km/h
Autonomy range
335 km
Energy consumption
188 Wh/km
CO2 emissions
0 g/km
Vehicle fuel equivalent
2.1 L/100 km

NEDC ratings

Gamme autonomie Consommation d'énergie Consommation de véhicule Émissions CO2 Équivalent carburant
503 km
138 Wh/km
125 Wh/km
0 g/km
1.6 L/100km

WLTP ratings

Gamme autonomie Consommation d'énergie Consommation de véhicule Émissions CO2 Équivalent véhicule essence
410 km
166 Wh/km
154 Wh/km
0 g/km
1.7 L/100km

Safety (Euro NCAP)

Évaluation de sécurité Occupant Adulte Occupant Enfant Année d'évalutation Usagers de la route vulnérables Assistance à la sécurité
73 %
70 %
2019
45 %
55 %
Lease an electric car

Aiways U5 chargers

Type 2

Mennekes - IEC 62196

Prise Type 2 - Mennekes - IEC 62196 - Essai Aiways U5

Point de charge Puissance max. Puissance Temps Vitesse
Wall socket (2.3 kW)
230V / 1x10A
2.3 kW
32h15min
10 km/h
1-phase 16A (3.7 kW)
230V / 1x16A
3.7 kW
20h15min
17 km/h
1-phase 32A (7.4 kW)
230V / 1x29A
6.6 kW †
11h15min
30 km/h
3-phase 16A (11kW)
230V / 1x16A
3.7 kW †
20h15min
17 km/h
3-phase 32A (22 kW)
230V / 1x29A
6.6 kW †
11h15min
30 km/h

Fast charge (10 -> 80%)

Fast charging allows longer journeys, adding as much range as possible in the shortest possible time. Charging power decreases considerably once the 80% state of charge has been reached. A typical fast charge rarely exceeds 80% of SoC. The fast charge rate of an electric vehicle depends on the charger used and the maximum charge power the electric vehicle can handle. The table below shows all the details for fast charging the Aiways U5.

Max. Power: maximum power supplied by the charge point

Avg. Power: average power supplied by the charge point over a session from 10% to 80%

Time: time required to charge from 10% to 80%

CCS Combo 2

 

Prise Combo CCS - Essai Aiways U5

Point de charge Puissance max. Puissance Temps Vitesse
CCS (50 kW DC)
50 kW
40 kW †
70 min
200 km/h
CCS (100 kW DC)
90 kW †
70 kW †
40 min
350 km/h
CCS (150 kW DC)
90 kW †
70 kW †
40 min
350 km/h

You can now buy the Aiways U5 in Europe

Unbeatable rates

On the European continent, Aiways u5, the new Chinese electric car, is currently available for hire. In France, the SUV has made its first appearance on the small island of Corsica. You can hire it through the Hertz subsidiary, with a fleet of 400 vehicles.

Next, the the former CFO of the conglomerate Shanghai automotive giant SAIC - Gu Feng - and the old pattern Volvo's China sales manager - Fu Qiang - will give access to his product only through direct sales. She will be available very soon!

It's a tactical choice, given that the Chinese SUV is unique in its specific segment, and currently has no competition whatsoever. Whether from a technical point of view or in terms of its ranking among competitors' prices, it is the only one to offer such a thing, if we take into account the vehicle's strengths.

The Aiways U5, equipped with a 50 kWh is offered at a minimum value of €37,100. Otherwise, with a 64 kWh, its rate is slightly higher than 41 000 €.What's more, with State aid You can deduct up to €14,000 from the initial price of your new car, thanks to the ecological bonus and the conversion premium. Discover all these aid for the purchase of an electric vehicle.

Technical data and inspection

In France

In France The Aiways U5, the Chinese electric SUV, will be serviced by the Feu Vert network, Go Mécano and bodybuilders AD and Albax.

Essai Aiways U5 -Visite technique periodique

At first glance, the Aiways U5 seems perfectly capable of satisfying the demands of European customers. 😊

Finally, the hardest part for the Chinese brand will be convincing customers, compensating for the lack of a brand image and a genuine distribution network.

As we understand it, the Aiways U5 is made up of aesthetic and practical elements, designed to suit multiple uses for the majority of Europeans. So despite the lack of brand awareness, the vehicle has a lot going for it

Picture of Ilona Soulage
Ilona Soulage

Let's explore the world of electric vehicles and charging points together. Passionate about new things, I'll help you make the ecological transition.

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