The Aiways U6, an electric SUV coupe, has made its way to Europe, a year after gaining over a thousand pre-orders in a single day in China. The carmaker, founded in Shanghai five years ago, is using the More Adaptable Structure (MAS) platform that was the basis for the release of the Aiways U5 in 2019. The U6 boasts a weight of only 1790 kg and a maximum power of 160 kW with torque of 315 Nm. It can accelerate from a standstill to 100 km/h in seven seconds, with a top speed regulated at 160 km/h.
Equipped with 63 kWh batteries, the Aiways U6 has a maximum range of 385 km, falling short of its promised 400 km offering. It can charge from 20 to 80 percent of battery capacity in 35 minutes at a maximum of 90 kW, or reach a complete charge through an 11 kW charger in seven hours from zero percent.
The interior of the Aiways U6 offers soft and leather surfaces, a non-slip steering wheel, and ample space above the head and behind the driver for the sloping roof line at 2.80 meters of wheelbase. The car’s suspension is a strong suit with McPherson suspension at the front and the multi-link rear axle with reliable bump filtering, while the steering remains indirect and uncommunicative with issues with traction as the driven front wheels fight to accelerate.
The Aiways U6 starts at €46,000, and although it carries extensive equipment such as heating and automatic air conditioning, heated front seats, a 360-degree camera, and numerous driver assistance systems, warnings from said systems can cause constant ringing that may annoy drivers. Infotainment controls are nested and complicated, but it does have a 14.6-inch touchscreen with Android Auto supporting wireless usage, while Apple CarPlay requires a cable connection. Navigation is performed via a smartphone with an app called Pump that accesses vehicle data to recommend charging stations based on the remaining range, although this feature is not yet integrated.
