Introduction

With affordable prices and extremely low operating costs, pure electric micro-cars have gradually become popular in the market in recent years. The logic behind these types of cars is very simple – the small body cannot accommodate large-capacity batteries, and their low prices do not allow for luxury materials to be used. Therefore, everything is designed to be simple and practical, be it for range or features.

However, the Little Ant, launched by Chery New Energy back in 2017, is an exception. It doesn’t follow the rules and took a boutique route with an all-aluminum alloy frame, four-wheel independent suspension, and a pure electric platform specifically designed for a micro-car.

On November 13, it underwent another facelift in terms of colors and some features, but the price remains at the same level as the old model.

Quick Overview of the 2022 Little Ant Sweet Powder Edition

1. The 2022 edition, also known as the Sweet Powder Edition, has already been launched, with a total of five models available at a post-subsidy price range of 66,900 to 81,900 yuan.

2. There are three models with a range of 301 km, all equipped with a choice of lithium iron phosphate or ternary lithium batteries, both of which have slightly larger than 30 kWh capacities. The charging time remains the same, taking 30 minutes to charge from 30% to 80% in DC fast-charging mode.

3. The entire series is equipped with a rear permanent magnet synchronous motor with a power of 30 kW and a torque of 120 N·m, with a top speed of 100 km/h. The 408 km range version can be equipped with a 55 kW, 150 N·m motor for a top speed of 120 km/h at an additional cost of 1,000 yuan.

4. The exterior features two new colors, “Meet Purple” and “Sweet Peach Powder,” and the interior also adds three new dual-color combinations – Flow Sakura Pink, Dream Demon Blue, and Rouge Red – and three new decorative panels.

Newly Equipped Wheels Bring Minimal Changes to the Overall Appearance

I tested the 301 km range, full-sugar version, which comes in a “Happy Green” two-tone color, resembling a low-saturation macaron green, with a white roof and compact body design that appears very cute and appealing to female users.

The overall styling of the new car remains consistent with the old model, with some upgraded features. For example, the Sweet Powder Edition of Little Ant now comes standard with LED daytime running lights (the lowest configuration of the old model did not).

The new car is equipped with brand-new 15-inch dual-color aluminum alloy wheels and slightly wider tires, with a size of 175/60 R15, which improves driving stability. The front brakes of all models have been upgraded to ventilated disc brakes, and except for the Micro-Sugar Edition, the rear brakes have been changed from drum brakes to disc brakes, which also looks more visually appealing.

The large black composite panel and silver decorative panel at the rear of the car make the back of Little Ant look very special and dynamic. The charging ports for both fast and slow charging are arranged on the right side of the rear of the car, which is more in line with the habit of most people to park with the rear of the car facing inward.

The rearview radar and backup camera are standard throughout the range. Don’t think that a backup camera is useless for such a small car. On the contrary, it is precisely because the car is small enough that you will always park it in some extremely limited positions.

The overall interior quality has significantly improved

The logic behind the upgrade of the Sweet Powder Edition’s interior is very simple, in addition to the new color scheme, a large number of configurations originally exclusive to the high-end models of the old version have been made available to improve overall quality, along with the addition of new configurations.

For example, the Dreamy Blue dual-color interior with simulated metal brushed panel, and a leather-wrapped top center console, gives an obvious improvement in overall luxury.

The car has been equipped with a brand-new flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel with a leather cover and a soft layer added to the inside of the wheel, making the grip feel excellent, even better than many more advanced cars. In addition, it has added an up and down adjustment function, which is more suitable for drivers of different heights, and importantly, all of these are standard across the range.

The style of the colorful digital instrument panel remains the same, displaying abundant readable information including the basic driving information and tire pressure values. However, the battery indicator on the left only has ten simple blocks, and it would be more intuitive if a percentage digital display could be added.

The 10-inch central control screen is also standard across the entire range, supporting basic functions such as Bluetooth, radio, and Baidu CarLife connectivity. The full-sugar version also adds AI voice assistant, navigation, and 4G signal connected car network.

Although the air conditioning operation interface has been integrated into the large screen, Little Ant still designed an independent air conditioning control area to make operation more convenient, and even allows for blind operation via the multi-function key on the right side of the steering wheel during driving.

At the bottom are the gear shift knob, cup holder, and storage compartment. There is also a larger space that has been hollowed out at the bottom, with a 12V cigarette lighter interface and two USB-A interfaces inside.

The high-end models are equipped with a wireless charging panel in the storage compartment in the middle of the seat, which is rare in a micro car.

The fixed central armrest has been removed and replaced with a folding one, which is standard across the entire range, and the freed-up space has been turned into another storage compartment.

The full-sugar version comes with a panoramic sunroof and manually openable sunshades that open in opposite directions.

Advanced Seat Configuration

The Sweet Powder version of Little Ant has also upgraded the seats, with the entire range using faux leather + fabric with perforations wrapping and softer interior fillings. The mid to high-end models also have four-way electric adjustment, making it the only one among all micro cars.

The electric adjustment of the passenger seat is standard across the lineup and is designed with an Easy-Entry button for easy access to the rear seats.

There is nothing to complain about regarding the space in the front row. Even with a height of 174 cm, I still have a fist-sized space above my head.

While keeping the front row unchanged, I can still sit down in the back row. Both head and legroom are just at their limits, and although the seat cushion is also relatively short, the feeling of a “small bench” cannot be avoided. However, there is no pressure for short-distance riding. What more could you ask for?

Don’t expect too much space in the trunk but all models’ back seats have been upgraded to be foldable and split, allowing for travel with three people and more luggage. This overall flexibility is a plus.

Easy and flexible driving

With the help of an all-aluminum frame and composite material covering, the Beetle’s curb quality is controlled at around 1 ton. The power of the 30 kW motor, during low-speed stages, is still good with an acceleration time of less than 6 seconds from 0-50 km/h. If the optional 55 kW motor is selected, the time would be less than 5 seconds.

Equipped with ECO and SPORT driving modes, the overall power difference is not significant, only the response of the accelerator pedal varies to some degree. If it is basic urban driving, using ECO mode already results in excellent power performance. Along with the small body and a turning radius of only 4.55m, it is very flexible to maneuver in the city.

Equipped with an electronic parking brake and an automatic parking function (except for the entry-level Sugar/WeChat version), it is very practical for the stop-and-go situation at traffic lights in urban areas. If you turn off the automatic parking function, the Beetle still creeps like a traditional fossil fuel car without any learning curve.

The electronic power steering wheel is very light and does not have much road feel. It has good control over the void and the overall adjustment is not a completely comfortable setting.

The entire series has been widened by 10 mm, with the size reaching 175/60 R15 of Chaoyang RADIAL RP28 tires. The grip is good and the tire noise is completely acceptable. Driving at a faster speed, such as turning or changing lanes, can give you more confidence. Plus with a flexible body and precise steering, you can even find driving pleasure on this micro car.

The shock absorption performance of the four-wheel MacPherson independent suspension is of a relatively advanced level among micro cars. Some small vibrations on the road can be absorbed by the tires and suspension. The sense of isolation is still strong when driving at low speeds.

If the speed is increased to around 80 km/h, some longitudinal vibrations of the vehicle body will become more obvious, and it may not be particularly comfortable when facing large undulating road surfaces. But don’t forget that this is a micro car with a short wheelbase and light body. It’s already impressive to have such performance.

Summary

Although judging a car company or a certain model solely by sales volume is not rigorous enough, we must admit that for consumers, sales volume achieved by huge investments truly is the most valuable reference.

Since its launch in 2017, the Little Ant has won a large number of fans with its outstanding pure electric car driving experience and exquisite and charming appearance. And, it has maintained stable monthly sales of over 5,000 units. Just in the past October, Little Ant’s monthly delivery volume reached 10,125 units, and the cumulative sales volume has exceeded 230,000 units. This is the best proof of Little Ant’s product strength being recognized by consumers.

This time, the Sweet Fan version of the Little Ant not only has obvious upgrades in configuration, but also has a similar price to the old model. Plus, it has colors and designs that are more in line with current trends. We believe that it can capture a large number of new consumers.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.