The Roewe D5X went on sale today (May 20) priced between 119,800 and 146,800 yuan (16,550 – 20,300 USD). Billed as an A+ size class SUV it can be seen as the SUV equivalent of the Roewe D7 sedan. As such it is the first SUV equipped with Roewe’s fourth generation DMH super hybrid system, the D5X is only available as a PHEV. Four different models are available as follows:
Freelance edition | 119,800 yuan (16,550 USD) |
Deluxe edition | 129,800 yuan (17,960 USD) |
Ultimate edition | 139,800 yuan (19,300 USD) |
Tech edition | 146,800 yuan (20,300 USD) |
For a limited period of time there is a 10,000 yuan (1,400 USD) discount for each model for people who pay a 1,000 yuan (150 USD) deposit. Additionally there are six inducements to attract buyers.
The new car measures in at 4700, 1890 and 1664 mm (l/w/h) and rides on a wheelbase of 2765 mm. Depending on version it comes with 19 or 20-inch wheels.
Overall the design is quite clean with the car adapting the new pure and elegant design language. Inspirations is supposedly drawn from classical Chinese architecture. At the front there is an enclosed grille only broken by an air inlet below the bumper. There are hidden door handles on the sides.
Inside the Roewe D5X benefits from suede type material and looks quite smart, and thanks to the panoramic roof is light. There is 24.6-inch dual screen setup incorporating both the instrument screen and infotainment screen. A new Zebra (Banma) intelligent machine interface system, helps blend phone and car navigation allowing one-click sending navigation information to the car. The driver benefits from L2 driving assistance features.
PHEV only the Roewe D5X used the fourth generation of what Roewe refer to as the DMH (dual mode hybrid) super hybrid system. The system can trace its ancestry back to the first generation used in the e550 in 2013. In its latest form it uses a 1.5 liter turbocharged hybrid 15FKE engine which has a maximum power of 110 kW. There is also a front mounted electric motor with maximum power of 153 kW. Acceleration time for 0-100 km/h is 6.9 seconds. All-electric range is said to be 135 km CLTC with a combined range of 1,300 km.
The 15FKE engine used in the fourth generation system uses the Miller cycle and has a 43% thermal efficiency and the PHEV also uses a 21.5 kWh battery pack. During a test earlier this year on Hainan Island the car managed a combined range of 1,621 km with an average fuel consumption of 3.8 l/100 km which is considerably better than the 5.257 l/100 km official CLTC figure. The battery can support up to 6 kW external discharge.
SAIC claim the Roewe D5X has a new generation ultra-high-strength body cage which has the highest proportion of high-strength steel (79%) and ultra-high-strength steel (44%) in its class. The car has completed the extreme safety crash test of the China Automotive Research Institute three times.
Sources: Autohome, Fast Technology