2021 Aiways U5 SUV. 1st generation
Aiways (loosely translated as ‘artificial intelligence ways’) is an electric mobility startup from Shanghai. The project has managed to attract huge investments in the development and production of vehicles. The Aiways U5 is the first electric car of the new brand, a compact SUV, which aims to compete in the European market with the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric. It has covered a 15 thousand kilometers route from China through Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Siberia, Moscow and Northern Europe to the Frankfurt international exhibition without any accidents, which speaks for itself. And now it has reached the land of milk and honey. We will tell you what it’s made of.
Design
The new Aiways U5 looks like a standard compact electric SUV, similar to both Tesla 3 and S models and Hyundai Kona EV, and is somewhat reminiscent of the Gumpert Apollo sports car, which is not surprising, since the U5 was developed under the leadership of the very Roland Gumpert.
With its eclectic style, the U5 cannot be called an outstanding automotive design creation, featuring a simple and quite harmoniously balanced exterior with the futuristic LED headlights, compressed sides and muscular ribs. The profile is distinguished by standard sloping roofline and retractable door handles. But, perhaps, the designers went too far with the front end, which looks too wide and tall. This is where the second ‘trunk’ is located, where you can put cables and small items.
The large radiator grille is directed forward and is framed by two false air intakes topped with cone-shaped lights. One of these two air intakes houses a charging socket, which is not very ergonomic, as the site is exposed to dirt, and you have to bend over to find the connector.
Powertrains
The 2021/2022 Aiways U5 comes with one motor and battery. The 150 kW (or around 204 hp) electric motor delivers 310 Nm of torque and is powered by a 63 kWh battery.
The manufacturer claims that the SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, and the top speed is limited to 140 km/h. The expected range is over 400 km under ideal conditions with a consumption of 16.8 kWh per 100 km. In practice, the average consumption is 22.9 kW/h per 100 km, while the driving range is up to 280 km. Therefore, it is not recommended to go too far from the city.
The new Aiways U5 is equipped with two types of charging options for 6.6 kW or 90 kW. According to the manufacturer, you need 10 hours to fully charge your vehicle or 35 minutes to charge 80% of your vehicle’s capacity using a fast charger. Three driving modes are available: Eco, Normal and Sport. The Sport mode is the most powerful, whereas the Eco mode is the most efficient.
Interior
The interior finishing of the 2021/2022 Aiways U5 is of a sufficiently high quality, but the main advantage is its layout, due to which the interior has turned out to be very spacious for a compact SUV. The sense of space is enhanced by the standard panoramic roof. The electric SUV has a spacious trunk of 0.4 cubic meters. The U5 is also distinguished by the absence of a glove compartment. There are only two small hooks in its place, so you’ll have to store your items in the doors or under the center console.
The new Aiways U5 is a modern Chinese vehicle, featuring numerous options, which enable it to compete with European or American luxury electric cars. However, European buyers are not very fond of these options. But the ‘Chinese’ is way cheaper than similar models offering a similar trim level, which ultimately is its competitive advantage.
