It’s certainly impressive, though for its presence rather than beauty, knocks the fact that it’s built to be more spacious than its rivals. Legroom is surprisingly substantial, with limousine-sized space for three adults in the back, even for tall people in the front.
Although the rear seats don’t fully fold, the trunk is also generous, at 496 liters (1,619 with seats down). Front passenger knees also benefit from the absence of a glove box. If you want a place to store bits, you can choose a leather case that fits perfectly into the space.
That last detail suggests an attitude of providing everything you need, but not too much in order to keep prices low. A far cry from Daciaesque cost-cutting militancy, Aiways’ decision to offer effective phone mirroring and cost-effective access to an app called Pump that handles everything from traffic updates, rather than selling satnav, is refreshing. For billing point tracking.
The fact that everything, including turning the car on and off, is done through the touchscreen also adds to the tech geek’s flair.
To drive, the U5 is refreshingly simple. Its barely modified Chinese kinematics system leaves the steering feeling a little light and a touch too sluggish in corners, just a tiny bit off the right side of the control. Mirroring the state of roads in China as in Britain, its smooth demeanor handles the worst imperfections.
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