Who is Aiways again?
And what do they offer?
A logical question when another Chinese brand is offered on the overcrowded European roads…
How about extra space for several children with optional equipment for the price of a smaller car? Fully equipped, bar one exception.
In short: Aiways is the brainchild of two Volvo men who have succeeded in putting a very successful, voluminous MPV on the market for 40K in about four years. Which is, in function of quality and space, very interesting.
Just to be clear: I work behind the scenes for Aiways but have nothing to do with marketing or sales. What you read here is the unbiased opinion of a car enthusiast who only wants to inform you.
Because of those working conditions, I had the chance to drive the U5 for about 500 kilometers. Mainly highway, with some secondary roads and city traffic. In Germany, so taking into account the unlimited speed and the limitations of an electric vehicle in this regard…
Did I mention that already? It is an electric car.
It's a big, high, fairly heavy car, but you don't feel that at higher speeds on open plains. Cars with a battery in the floor obviously have good stability because most of the weight is suspended between the wheels. And it is no different here.
The seat is slightly higher and comfortable, all information is clearly legible and the power is always available. The car drives smoothly and has an acceptable consumption of energy. I didn't have the chance to test the maximum range, but 400 kilometers on paper is ok, and turns out to be correct in practice and in appropriate conditions.
To, again, kick in an open door: highways are not ideal conditions and don't think that you will get 400 kilometers at 120 per hour on average flat roads. Don't be fooled: car weight, speed, heating and other things will limit your range, just as they increase your comfort, safety or pleasure.
Look at it realistically: if you drive more than 300 kilometers every day, you may have to look out for a nice car with a classic powerline, perhaps hybrid, but the vast majority do not get 60 kilometers a day, fortunately, and can therefore do serious charging every five days or a little each day. And enjoy all the benefits of electric driving!
Because I can write what I want here, if you really want to know what's on the market, you should also drive electric. And then weigh everything.
Including Aiways!
For example, I was able to determine that their driving assistance responds very smartly to lane changes. My own car sees a change of situation as being taken over by the driver. In other, and perhaps better, words: if I take control of the steering wheel myself and go to another section, it ends the automatic steering. Maybe logical?
But the U5 pauses and takes over after your maneuver. So, in practice: you drive 120 km/h, get closer to a vehicle in front, brake automatically, you steer to the next section (after using the indicators, of course) and the car quickly returns to the set speed.
It is of course not all top class, the adaptive cruise control does not take into account if cars drive faster. So imagine a car driving faster than you, which then merges in front of your car after an overtaking maneuver, and slowly drives away from you. In this case, the U5 holds back to the predetermined distance, which is already too wide anyway, so that yet another one can insert himself between you and the predecessor and your car slows down again… But that can be solved with a push on the right pedal.
Anyway, I know how few people take full advantage of those features, so don't let that stop you from considering the U5 if you're looking for a roomy car for mostly short distances.
The charging speed of fast chargers, e.g. Ionity, is more than sufficient to cover greater distances in peace and confidence in the car.
And then there's another thing...
It's pretty obvious that a lot of people have no problem with it, but I’m having second thoughts: navigation is not available on the U5.
The explanation is: everyone has a smartphone with the necessary applications and can usually handle them better than an extensive GPS. In addition, they offer mirroring on the central display so that you have a “normal” GPS view by displaying the screen of your mobile phone. While saving the cost of the navi.
I don't know. But I also see that this car will not be bought for daily trips to all corners of Europe. And beyond. That it might be possible with the phone for that rare time when a navigation is needed. That the cost of an original sat nav does not outweigh the use at all…
What I do know is that Aiways probably save themselves a lot of trouble because the European brands have a lot of problems with all those external systems. Maybe Aiways is just smarter than all the others combined?
In all honesty: if you don't need the space, cross the country every day and/or drive more sportily, there are better alternatives. But for the average transport to work, school, the container park, extracurricular activities, shopping… say ordinary life, the Aiways U5 is definitely worth considering!
With a very strong price/quality ratio.
And he just looks good.
See also the charming and occasionally funny, more detailed video blog of "Anna on Roads" !
And what do they offer?
A logical question when another Chinese brand is offered on the overcrowded European roads…
How about extra space for several children with optional equipment for the price of a smaller car? Fully equipped, bar one exception.
In short: Aiways is the brainchild of two Volvo men who have succeeded in putting a very successful, voluminous MPV on the market for 40K in about four years. Which is, in function of quality and space, very interesting.
Just to be clear: I work behind the scenes for Aiways but have nothing to do with marketing or sales. What you read here is the unbiased opinion of a car enthusiast who only wants to inform you.
Because of those working conditions, I had the chance to drive the U5 for about 500 kilometers. Mainly highway, with some secondary roads and city traffic. In Germany, so taking into account the unlimited speed and the limitations of an electric vehicle in this regard…
Did I mention that already? It is an electric car.
It's a big, high, fairly heavy car, but you don't feel that at higher speeds on open plains. Cars with a battery in the floor obviously have good stability because most of the weight is suspended between the wheels. And it is no different here.
The seat is slightly higher and comfortable, all information is clearly legible and the power is always available. The car drives smoothly and has an acceptable consumption of energy. I didn't have the chance to test the maximum range, but 400 kilometers on paper is ok, and turns out to be correct in practice and in appropriate conditions.
To, again, kick in an open door: highways are not ideal conditions and don't think that you will get 400 kilometers at 120 per hour on average flat roads. Don't be fooled: car weight, speed, heating and other things will limit your range, just as they increase your comfort, safety or pleasure.
Look at it realistically: if you drive more than 300 kilometers every day, you may have to look out for a nice car with a classic powerline, perhaps hybrid, but the vast majority do not get 60 kilometers a day, fortunately, and can therefore do serious charging every five days or a little each day. And enjoy all the benefits of electric driving!
Because I can write what I want here, if you really want to know what's on the market, you should also drive electric. And then weigh everything.
Including Aiways!
For example, I was able to determine that their driving assistance responds very smartly to lane changes. My own car sees a change of situation as being taken over by the driver. In other, and perhaps better, words: if I take control of the steering wheel myself and go to another section, it ends the automatic steering. Maybe logical?
But the U5 pauses and takes over after your maneuver. So, in practice: you drive 120 km/h, get closer to a vehicle in front, brake automatically, you steer to the next section (after using the indicators, of course) and the car quickly returns to the set speed.
It is of course not all top class, the adaptive cruise control does not take into account if cars drive faster. So imagine a car driving faster than you, which then merges in front of your car after an overtaking maneuver, and slowly drives away from you. In this case, the U5 holds back to the predetermined distance, which is already too wide anyway, so that yet another one can insert himself between you and the predecessor and your car slows down again… But that can be solved with a push on the right pedal.
Anyway, I know how few people take full advantage of those features, so don't let that stop you from considering the U5 if you're looking for a roomy car for mostly short distances.
The charging speed of fast chargers, e.g. Ionity, is more than sufficient to cover greater distances in peace and confidence in the car.
And then there's another thing...
It's pretty obvious that a lot of people have no problem with it, but I’m having second thoughts: navigation is not available on the U5.
The explanation is: everyone has a smartphone with the necessary applications and can usually handle them better than an extensive GPS. In addition, they offer mirroring on the central display so that you have a “normal” GPS view by displaying the screen of your mobile phone. While saving the cost of the navi.
I don't know. But I also see that this car will not be bought for daily trips to all corners of Europe. And beyond. That it might be possible with the phone for that rare time when a navigation is needed. That the cost of an original sat nav does not outweigh the use at all…
What I do know is that Aiways probably save themselves a lot of trouble because the European brands have a lot of problems with all those external systems. Maybe Aiways is just smarter than all the others combined?
In all honesty: if you don't need the space, cross the country every day and/or drive more sportily, there are better alternatives. But for the average transport to work, school, the container park, extracurricular activities, shopping… say ordinary life, the Aiways U5 is definitely worth considering!
With a very strong price/quality ratio.
And he just looks good.
See also the charming and occasionally funny, more detailed video blog of "Anna on Roads" !