Chinese brands have come to stay thanks to their new generation electrics, but not only that. Currently they are already offering levels of quality and performance very close to those achieved by the more traditional European manufacturers. With the added advantage of having a lower price. We have precisely come to Lisbon to meet one of the most interesting of the moment: the Airways U6. It is the SUV coupé of the Chinese firm, the second that they sell in our market and that is available from 49,140 euroswhich could stay at 42,150 euros with the MOVES Plan.
The U6 is the fruit of the platform MORE (More Adaptable Structure), the same one that gives life to the Aiways U5 that has already passed through our channel and the same one with which other models will arrive in the future. The brand is barely five years old and has had to deal with crises such as the coronavirus or the component. Even so, they have managed to bring their second car to the market and it will reach our market this summer.
Abroad
My colleague Luis Ramos has already talked a lot about the exterior of the Airways U6, who met this model in Munich in a static way. Now I have it to do a dynamic test, but the truth is that from the design I am going to repeat the same keys. Despite being a twin brother of the U5, the truth is that there are many differences between the two. This is the coupe version, the one with somewhat sportier aspirations.
It stands out for its proportions, with a long wheelbase and very short overhangsplus some striking design cues. Begin by saying that this model can only be chosen with four body colors, something unique considering the options of other rivals. The most striking is undoubtedly the canary yellow (either Racing Yellow in Spain) carried by our testing unit.
On the front we see a lot of horizontality through a kind of well marked shark nose and fine optics at the same time as stylized. The daytime running lights have a vertical arrangement and it is surprising to see a widened bumper that presents aerodynamic appendages that help improve its performance. The doors have flush handles on the body and a contrasting molding on the lower part.
Interestingly, the 20 inch wheels They come standard and are the highlight of the profile. That without counting the drop in the roof that gives it the condition of an SUV coupé and that is achieved with a very inclined rear window and some striking C-pillar shapes. The rear of the U6 does not go unnoticed either, as it begins with a contrasting spoiler on the boot lid that adds sportiness. followed by some LED lights that go together downtown and that make it very recognizable at night. It is topped off by a dynamic cut bumper that simulates a kind of diffuser.
Notable changes should also be highlighted in the measurements. It’s considerably longer than the Airways U5, as this coupe SUV goes all the way to the 4,805mm length, with a width of 1,880 mm and a height of 1,641 mm. The wheelbase is 2,800 mm. A differential aspect in the U6 is its aerodynamic efficiency, since it stays in a drag coefficient of 0.248 Cxmuch better than most of its rivals.
Inside
The cockpit of the Airways U6 is the perfect example that Chinese manufacturers should not be conceived as those of a decade ago. If we used to see cheap copies of very dubious quality, now we have to talk about good finishes and materials that are up to par. Most are soft and have a pleasant touch, especially on the dashboard. The upholstery also gains integers, while the construction seems solid and durable. Perceived quality has been one of our big surprises with this SUV coupe.
And like any current car, technology could not be left behind. Behind a steering wheel with a striking design and flattened at the bottom appears a digital instrumentation. It consists of a fairly narrow 8.2-inch screen that can be configured to see the information you want at all times. It is completed with a 14.6-inch central touch screen that improves its graphics and that has many interesting functions. It also enjoys full connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In fact, we see a lot of smartphone prominence in this issue. We like that it has jumbo box center console with a generous space to leave the mobile that includes wireless charging. Also the design of the gear selector in that area, which resembles the lever of an airplane. We don’t like it so much dispensed with analog controls for tasks such as air conditioning. You have to resort to the screen for practically everything and that is always a disadvantage if we are driving.
One drawback that we could expect from a car of Chinese origin was the lack of quality or poor construction. However, this is what has surprised us the most about the Airways U6, which it’s really well done and it’s hard to find fault. Most of the materials are pleasant to the touch and we see no flaws in their finishes. In fact, we liked some details with a lot of personality such as the gear selector inspired by the aeronautical world thanks that way.
The feeling of space inside it is increased by the sunroof, which is the largest in the segment with 2.1 square meters. Although it’s not just that it looks big, it’s that the Airways U6 really is. The second row of seats It has room to spare for two adults due to some notable levels of legroom and headroom. Although it is true that the central square is narrower and lacks shape, it can be used sporadically. Also mention that it has a flat floor, there is no transmission tunnel that can bother.
Trunk
If we talk about its trunk, we see that the Airways U6 also fully complies. offers nothing less than 472 liter capacity distributed in rectilinear and usable forms. Under the floor we would have a small hole, enough to leave the charging cables without disturbing them. However, we do not have one of the main advantages of the U5, which it was a frunk or front trunk underhood. The shapes of the U6 don’t allow it.
We also don’t see a spare wheel even though there would apparently be room for it. We’ll have to make do with it puncture kit. On the other hand, this trunk has benefits such as lighting or hooks to fix the load. It is also possible to fold down the rear seats in two parts (60:40) to obtain a maximum capacity of 1,260 liters.
Engine
The mechanical range of the Aiways U6 is very simple and does not give rise to mistakes. The reason is that there is only one version available in our market. It consists of an electric propulsion system with a motor located in the forward position that has 218 hp and 315 Nm of torque. It is slightly more powerful than the U5 to enhance that differentiation between models and remains a front-wheel drive example, although the brand says that the platform would be prepared for all-wheel drive versions with a dual-motor configuration.
In this case, there are no options in terms of battery either. Use one of CATL with 63 kWh capacity which is in line with what the segment dictates. In fact, with it the Airways U6 approves a electric autonomy of 405 kilometers with consumptions of around 16 kWh. Our obligation now is to get behind the wheel and check if everything that appears in its technical sheet is fulfilled.
Behavior
The first sensation behind the wheel of the Airways U6 is absolute driving comfort. In part, it is thanks to how quiet it is, with very little aerodynamic noise and a good insulation job. The only thing that will cloud that goodness is how intrusive the driving assistance systems, which have alerts for practically everything. It is almost mandatory to stop and configure them to be able to enjoy behind the wheel.
This Aiways U6 the truth is that it has features that are quite good for its characteristics. We speak of an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and a top speed limited to 160 km/h. As in other specimens, we see that various driving modes appear to modify its behavior. In this case, they are ECO, Normal and Sport; being clear what each one is for and without finding great changes between them. In general, we would say that this model has not been designed to convey strong sensations.
We have already mentioned some details that made the aerodynamics of the Airways U6 one of the best in its segment. This also benefits you at the level of efficiency and helps you to homologate 405 kilometers of autonomy. The truth is that we are making contact and I will not be able to verify if it reaches that figure. Although I could venture to say that it will far exceed 300 kilometers thanks to consumption that they are around 15 kWhGiving the feeling that it is electric is quite well achieved in that regard.
To continue driving once the battery runs out, it will be time to charge the Aiways U6. It can be done in several ways, starting with alternating current. In a Wallbox type socket 11 kW it would charge in seven hours. The other option would be direct current, in which it accepts loads of up to 90 kW to reach 20 to 80% in 35 minutes. It will be a criticism of this model that do not accept higher fast chargessince most of its rivals can be plugged in at 150 kW.
Although the Airways U6 is a Chinese car, it must be recognized that the chassis has a very European feel. The brand knows that the customer from our continent is more demanding in this area and they offer a set-up that leaves a good taste in the mouth. In part, it is due to a suspension setup. The front axle is of the McPherson type, while the rear is a multilink with stabilizer bar. With this, the electric SUV achieves a good poise in any circumstance And it’s not too clumsy in curves.
Always keeping in mind that it is a vehicle with a considerable weight of 1,790 kg. The 20-inch wheels penalize a bit in its handling, as well as a steering that is too assisted for us. He break system It is made up of 314 mm discs (the front ones are ventilated and the rear ones are solid), bitten by double-piston calipers that do their job like a charm.
Opinion cars.com
We are witnessing a change of era in the automotive sector. With the advent of electrification, there has been an outbreak of new manufacturers of Chinese origin who are demonstrating his good work in many ways. Airways is the perfect example that, despite not having the engineering tradition of the more traditional brands, they have managed to make good cars in a short time and offer them at a reasonable price. It is true that we found some flaws in the U6, but we could say that pass the exam with flying colors.
The truth is that the commercial offer of the Airways U6 is simple, but effective. There is only one electric propulsion system to choose from, the same as for the moment only commercialized with the Prime finish. It stands out for being very complete, we do not miss anything and that is good news, because it is a car that is dangerously close to 50,000 euros. With the Moves Plan, you stay at a more affordable rate and surely more offers will arrive on websites such as Coches.com in the near future.
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