Crossover with all amenities: what the Germans peeped

Exotic Chinese electric cars have been coming to Russia in various ways for several years now – and the Skywell brand was the first to officially enter our market.

It is also a startup at home: the firstborn ET5 appeared a little over two years ago, and the brand itself is a project of the giant Skyworth, now diversified and started producing consumer electronics.

Skywell ET5 plays in the same class with crossovers Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and Skoda Kodiaq: 4698 × 1908 × 1696 mm with a wheelbase of 2800 mm. The “five” weighs 1880 kg, which is acceptable for an electric car of such dimensions. Front wheel drive only.

Where could I buy?

Plans for the number of dealers are still modest, with 20 dealers opening this year and 10 next year, although brand representatives admitted that about 70 applications had been received.

But they expect to sell a decent number of cars. For two months of the outgoing year – 200 pieces, in 2023 – already 3000.

Liked the quality and selection of materials. In terms of ergonomics, only a purely symbolic, a few centimeters, the reach of the steering wheel is adjusted.

At first it seemed to me that the Skywell factory had mixed up the front seats: here is the ottoman on the driver’s side.

You press the multimedia menu (the screen is a decent 12.8 inches, but full of translations) a virtual key – and the seat unfolds into the most comfortable sleeping place by car standards. The backrest reclines more than on all other machines, there is lateral support on the headrest, the footstool supports the legs.

The purely electric model ET5 should join this summer hybrid HT-i.

They have the same body and interior, but the hybrid is complemented by a modest 110 hp 1.5 petrol engine and an electric motor. At low speeds, the combustion engine charges the batteries; when accelerating, the two motors work together; on the track, the combustion engine dominates. Such a scheme provides an optimal balance in terms of environmental friendliness, autonomy and efficient energy consumption from two different sources.

We are waiting – meanwhile we are studying the “electric train” ET5.

About technology

The back is very spacious, at least cross your legs. There is no tunnel, so nothing hinders the third passenger. There is no heated seats (like the windshield), but this will come with time. The doors are carefully made, go to the bottom and reliably protect the thresholds.

467 liters are indicated for the trunk – sparingly. This is the other side of the passenger compartment. There is no spare wheel and you can’t fit it: the niche is small and rectangular, you can’t even slide a stowaway into it. Tire repair kit is standard. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

The only electric motor in 204 liters. of. enough to accelerate to hundreds in 7.9 s. The maximum speed is limited to a modest 150 km/h. However, in Russia it is impossible to go faster without a penalty, and the batteries are quickly drained after 100-110 km/h in all electric vehicles. The 72 kWh battery lasts 520 km on the old NEDC cycle and about 400 km on the realistic WLTP cycle.

Under the bonnet, only the filling opening of the windscreen washers is accessible. The rest is smooth plastic. Saved on gas stops.

Optics, of course, LED is already in the “base” for 4.5 million rubles. In the older configuration, which is half a million more expensive, there will be adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting in the interior, painting of the rear hemisphere, a sunroof, a traffic sign scanner, a 220V socket and two USB ports on the second row of seats.

But most importantly, in addition to the automatic turn on, it will also have high beam laser sections. Previously, only Audi and BMW showed off this. They shine at 600 m – a parameter unattainable by conventional optics. With the “Germans”, due to the power, the laser mode is turned on exclusively by automatics when the car is moving quickly and all by itself. It’s very interesting how everything is implemented on ET5.

Skywell ET5 has a calm style that will not become outdated over the years. It is unusual to see a relatively small amount of chromium on the “Chinese”. And how come 19-inch wheels on a car that isn’t gigantic at all look small?

What is the warranty?

Along with the news of the launch of the Skywell brand in Russia, the website skywellauto.ru was launched. It identifies Dealon LLC as the official distributor.

However, for a year now, ET5 crossovers have been offered by the Chelyabinsk car dealership Electrocars, and he also called himself an official distributor. True, this status is now only listed on advertising portals and has been removed from the company’s website and social networks.

The new Skywell ET5 cost 3.8 million rubles in November in Chelyabinsk and was guaranteed for 2 years or 60 thousand km by the forces of the own Electrocars technical center.

But the official warranty is complicated. If you are a private owner – 5 years or 150 thousand km per car, apart for the battery – 8 years or 200 thousand km. If an electric car is used commercially, then 2 years or 120 thousand km per car, 5 years or 500 thousand km per battery. The suspension (1 year or 60 thousand km), the lighting system (3 years or 120 thousand km), an electric motor with inverter (8 years or 150 thousand km) are prescribed separately. The “commercial” means, first of all, the operation in a taxi.

Nominated for the Grand Prix “Behind the wheel”

New models are allowed to participate in the 2023 Driving Grand Prix, i.e. models that appeared in 2022 or that have changed generations. Restyling also counts. crosswalk Skywell ET5 – 100% new.

Vote – win Lada!

Take part in the “Behind the Wheel” Grand Prix vote and help us choose the best car novelties of the year.

As a thank you for the time spent, we raffle among the participants in the survey three frets. There is an opportunity for everyone who completes the questionnaire earlier February 28, 2023.