The first time I was deeply impressed by Weima was in April last year when it announced its price. Not only me, but everyone couldn’t believe that an SUV of this size and range could be priced so down-to-earth.
Four months have passed since the delivery in late September. Weima has experienced capacity climbing and delivery problems, as well as problems with the reputation of the first batch of owners. So, how is this car?
After spending dozens of days together, I think I can make a comprehensive summary of the Weima EX5 now.
150,000 RMB to buy a 2.0T powertrain
Most friends who pay attention to Weima are trying electric vehicles for the first time. Believe me, in terms of power performance, the EX5 is enough to surpass the same price range of fuel vehicles.
The 160 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor with maximum torque of 315 Nm is placed on the front axle, and the power parameters are equivalent to a 1.8T gasoline engine. The power output in ECO mode is more like a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, linear and slowly accelerates when you step on the accelerator pedal, but you can feel its power, and the main task of the ECO mode is to save energy.
If you want to experience the speed of an electric vehicle, you can switch to SPORT mode. Within the speed limit zone of urban roads, anytime you step on the accelerator pedal, the chemical energy stored in the battery pack will be immediately converted into mechanical energy and pull you forward. It is very direct and has stronger explosive force than a 2.0T engine in terms of body sensation, but the 8.5-second hundred-kilometer acceleration means that its explosive force will weaken as the vehicle speed increases. Of course, it is more than enough for daily use.
I have also tried uphill climbing. The whole process only requires you to stabilize the accelerator and there won’t be situations where pressing a little more will cause acceleration or pressing a little less will lose power, except for the slightly light foot feel, no major issues can be found.
Compared with the excellent accelerator pedal, the performance of Weima’s brakes makes me a bit frustrated…
The brake feel is too hard and not linear (only foot feel, there is no need to worry about brake performance), so if you want to slow down the car very slowly and smoothly, you need some skill with your foot. Moreover, when driving at low speed (below idle speed), the control of vehicle speed is not so satisfactory. Pressing less is not enough, and pressing more will stop the car abruptly. This is a bit frustrating.
The reason is easy to find. First, the vacuum booster pump for electric vehicles is different from that for gasoline vehicles, so the engineers need to explore more in terms of adjustments. Secondly, electric vehicles basically have energy recovery systems, and some models’ initial braking force comes from the drag force of the recovered motor. Only by stepping deeper will the mechanical brake be triggered. The intensity of these two forces is not well matched, so the brake feel cannot be improved.
Next, let’s talk about a few details.
1. There are many choices for energy recovery# English Markdown Text
The kinetic energy recovery of WmAuto EVs consists of three modes: off, level 1, and level 2. The off mode allows the vehicle to coast when the accelerator is released, and the level 1 mode applies moderate resistance, similar to engine braking. Most drivers can adapt to this level easily. The level 2 mode provides higher resistance compared to the other two modes.
During my daily driving, I use level 1 for normal driving and level 2 when driving at high speeds. I hope the level 2 mode can provide even stronger resistance, and I strongly suggest integrating it with the accelerator pedal, enabling a one-pedal driving logic. Most WmAuto owners still use the driving logic of traditional gasoline vehicles, so level 1 provides a very suitable amount of resistance, which they can instantly adapt to. However, I still wish WmAuto can encourage these owners to adapt to the habit of driving an electric car with one pedal. Proper use of the kinetic energy recovery system not only improves range but also reduces brake pad wear.
2: Autohold is convenient to use but has room for optimization in logic
The WmAuto EX5’s Autohold can be enabled or disabled via the vehicle’s infotainment system. Once enabled, Autohold activates when the vehicle is stationary, making it convenient when waiting at traffic lights.
However, when I need to maneuver in a narrow space, I find that Autohold and I are not so in sync. Every time I stop and shift gears, I need to tap the accelerator pedal to release Autohold, then quickly switch to pressing the brake pedal to control the vehicle’s speed. In some extreme situations, this process can be dangerous. If the logic for Autohold can be set to activate when the brake pedal is pressed hard, I believe the driving experience will be improved.
3: The logic of the cruise control system is very abstract
The logic of WmAuto’s cruise control system is very strange. According to the instructions in the image above, I doubt anyone can successfully activate the cruise control system.
Based on my experience on the highway, to activate the cruise control, I need to press the number 4 button to turn it on. If I press it with the accelerator pedal pressed, a blue icon will appear on the instrument panel. If I don’t press the accelerator pedal, nothing will show on the panel, but at this time, the cruise control system is on standby.
To activate the cruise control system, I need to press the number 3 button. Here’s the key: if I press it with the accelerator pedal pressed, the icon will turn green, indicating that the cruise control system is engaged. But as soon as I release the accelerator pedal, the system will immediately disengage. I need to release the accelerator pedal, then press the button again. At this point, a green icon will appear on the instrument panel, indicating that the cruise control system is now in control, and all I need to do is control the direction. To adjust the vehicle’s speed, I can use the number 1 and number 3 buttons.
The dashboard display related to cruise control is very limited, with only one blue/green icon without displaying the current set speed. Besides, it is worth mentioning that ADAS driving assistance system of WM cars is still unavailable to option. Even for the basic cruise control, it is difficult to use. As an intelligent electric car, ADAS should be standard, just like in EX5 of Beijing Auto next door.
Easy Steering
The front suspension of WM EX5 uses an independent suspension system, while the rear suspension uses a non-independent torsion beam. It is not strange to use non-independent rear suspension for cars in the same price range as WM EX5, but WM actually uses torsion beam suspension in order to make space for the battery. The tuning of the suspension system is not bad, and the filtering of fine road vibrations is well handled. However, when encountering some large bumps or undulations, the suspension system seems to be overwhelmed, and the body of the car will experience a large bump.
The steering is quite normal, with two levels of steering effort: standard mode and sport mode. In standard mode, the steering is very light and easy to handle, which is very comfortable for both daily driving and high-speed driving. In sport mode, the steering will be slightly heavier. In addition, the NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) of the electric motor gave me a little surprise, especially during high-speed driving. WM has made a lot of effort in the electric motor field. After reducing the noise of the motor, the wind noise was amplified. When driving at a speed of 120 km/h, there is a relatively obvious wind noise coming from the A-pillar.
Conventional Exterior with Highlight of Electric Induction Door Handles
Although the exterior of WM EX5 is a bit mediocre, this design is acceptable to most people. Surprisingly, many people who saw WM EX5 for the first time thought that it was quite beautiful. In terms of colors, I personally recommend white or black.
In the price range of 150,000 yuan, the unique configuration of WM EX5 is the electric induction door handles. When I approach the car with the key after work every day, the door handle automatically pops up. The whole process is very ceremonial, giving you a sense of being welcomed. This feeling is great. And when friends who have not used the hidden door handles sit in your car, you can calmly control the popping out of door handles inside the car. The effect is beyond words, you can imagine it yourself.
There are a few advantages and disadvantages in terms of appearance, which I mentioned briefly last time.
Weima’s fast charging port is located at the front of the car, which is not particularly convenient in practical use scenarios. During the long-term testing process, I deeply realized this inconvenience. In some narrow areas, actions that can be completed in one reverse parking attempt will require multiple forward and backward movements before being parked in the parking space, which is a common problem for all electric vehicles with charging ports at the front of the car.
It doesn’t matter where the slow charging port is located because the slow charging cable is long enough to be pulled in any direction. By the way, Weima can also unlock and lock the slow charging gun through the area on the left side of the steering wheel. If it is parked outdoors, after plugging in the charging gun at night, you can go home and sleep with peace of mind.
Another point that has been repeatedly criticized by many people is that in order to enhance the strength of the body, Weima moved the original reinforcement ribs in the center of the body to the two sides of the body, making it a little inconvenient to get in and out of the car. Through my experience during this period of time, I found that there was indeed a noticeable feeling when getting into the car for the first time, but after getting used to it, there was not much feeling anymore.
How is the configuration? Does it leak air?
Speaking of the interior of the car, everyone is most concerned about whether the car leaks air or not. Is it serious?
In my personal experience on the highway before, it doesn’t leak air! Or I can’t feel any obvious air flow. Be sure to adjust the air conditioner to the internal circulation mode! Otherwise, there will be obvious air flow (air leakage) near the air outlet of the air conditioner. After adjusting to internal circulation mode, there is no feeling of air leakage at all.
In addition to the air conditioning vent, the legs will indeed feel a little cold. Li Xiang also mentioned at the EV100 that air leakage is a common problem for electric vehicles. Because gasoline cars have a huge heat-generating engine in the front, there will be no feeling of cold, but electric cars are completely different. When it is cold outside and the air conditioner is not turned on, it may become colder and colder…
Weima has now upgraded the relevant hardware, and owners after February 28th can contact their local Zhixing partners or service ambassadors for upgrades. Feedback on the upgrade after the upgrade is welcome in the comments section.
Next, let’s continue to talk about the interior. The interior has always been a weak point for Weima because there is a large area of leather wrapping throughout the interior, so it looks okay at first glance, but the area with piano paint is cheap, so the overall texture is not very good.
In addition, the workmanship is relatively average. As can be seen from the figure, the joints between the various buttons are relatively large, and the overall feel of the buttons is hard, which is where criticism should be raised.
After careful thought, besides NIO (because of the price…), which new automaker does a relatively good job with the interior?
The two large screens in the car are the most eye-catching. The display quality of the dashboard is good, but the content is not rich enough. It is hoped that the content can be enriched in later OTA updates. It is strongly recommended to add a display of the average energy consumption/average speed of the total mileage and the average energy consumption/average speed of the subtotal mileage to the dashboard.
The fluency of the central control screen is barely acceptable. The height is very suitable in portrait mode, and both operating and viewing contents are relatively handy. However, the position will be a bit too low in landscape mode, which can be comprehensible, because the first requirement is to ensure that it does not affect the driver’s line of sight in portrait mode.
Currently, Only iQiyi is available in landscape mode. It is very enjoyable to watch TV shows or movies in the car while waiting for someone or charging. The official also stated that additional functions for landscape mode will be developed in the future, which can be expected.
The logical use of air conditioning has been introduced once before. Here, the effect of the warm phoenix is mainly praised. Basically, hot air comes out within half a minute after turning on the air conditioning. The PTC heating air conditioning effect is really good, and the electricity consumption is also real.
In the humid environment of the south, the defogging function needs to be used frequently. WmAuto has set a separate physical button for defogging, which is placed in front of the gear shift knob and is very convenient to use with great effect.
How about energy consumption? Are there any mileage anxieties?
To be honest, energy consumption depends to a large extent on each person’s driving habits. Some car enthusiasts can save 15 kWh/100km, while some can consume 25 kWh/100km. After our test, the energy consumption of the WmAuto EX5 400 model in the city is about 18 kWh/100km. That is to say, if the daily commuting distance is about 50 km, the car can be charged once every 5 days, but there may be some mileage anxieties on the last day.
If you have a designated parking spot, you can use the UMC onboard charger to replenish the energy. With a power of 2.6 kW, it can replenish approximately 15 km of actual range per hour. If you use a dedicated home charging station with a power of 6.6 kW, you can replenish approximately 36 km per hour.
Therefore, for owners who can replenish the energy anytime with charging conditions at home or workplace, there is basically no range anxiety in the city. However, if you need to spend some time every few days to use fast charging, there may be some level of range anxiety.
As for high-speed driving, under normal road and driving conditions, a fully charged WM EX5 can run for more than 200 km. If cruising at 100 km/h, the full range can reach approximately 280 km. For long-distance travel within 300 km, the EX5 can barely hold up, but any more may exhaust the owner.
Is it really cheap to use an electric car?
During my trial period, I tried two usage scenarios.
The first scenario is not having a designated parking spot and relying on fast charging stations of various brands for energy replenishment. The cost of electricity and service fee per kWh is approximately between 1.6 yuan and 2.0 yuan. Parking fees sometimes apply. Calculating based on approximately 2 yuan per kWh, it costs around 100 yuan to fully charge. Calculations are based on my average energy consumption of 18 kWh/100 km, resulting in a cost of approximately 0.3 yuan per km. Compared to petrol cars, it is still cost-saving, but compared to excellent hybrid cars, there is not much advantage.
The second scenario is having a designated parking spot where UMC onboard charger is used for energy replenishment every night. With a charging power of 2.6 kW, charging from 10 PM to the next morning at 8 AM can replenish 50% of the battery, which costs around 8 yuan. Calculated based on the actual driving distance of 130 km, the cost is 6 cents per km, which is cost-effective. It is also very convenient to plug in when arriving home and unplug when leaving the next day.
Who is the WM EX5 suitable for?
The first category is consumers with budget constraints living in cities with license plate restrictions. WM electric vehicles have significant advantages in terms of attributes and prices in such areas.
The second category is consumers interested in electric vehicles who need a second car at home.Overall, with a price of 150,000 yuan, the WEY EX5 offers very high configuration, relatively spacious space, and power exceeding that of fuel vehicles at the same price. However, the poor braking performance can be a bit exhausting. WEY has implemented some smart layouts, but currently they are relatively ordinary. The actual range of 200-300 kilometers is more than enough for urban commuting. Of course, occasionally driving within 300 kilometers on the highway is also no problem.
If you have the conditions to have a charging station at home and need a second car for the family, the WEY EX5 is still a very suitable choice, although there are some insignificant details after careful experience. However, WEY has shown sincerity by pricing accordingly for these minor issues.
It is recommended that friends interested in WEY EX5 must test drive it. If you can accept its rather poor braking feel and relatively poor interior workmanship, then the WEY EX5 is also a good choice.
How to choose?
Personally, I recommend the EX5 400 innovative edition (the version with a range of 300 is meaningless), because we have chosen all the available configurations for this vehicle, and I have experienced all of them. I would like to give some advice on optional configurations.
The 2880 yuan electric heating system must be selected, especially for users in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and northern regions. There will be a significant difference in charging speed and winter range whether you select it or not.
The 2000 yuan 18-inch low-drag wheel, in addition to upgrading the size, the tire model has also been upgraded to Michelin’s Primacy 3st. It has a very high cost performance and is recommended to be selected. However, the replacement cost will increase compared to 17 inches in the later stage, so you need to weigh it yourself.
The 5000 yuan Nappa luxury seat option package is relatively expensive in all optional configurations, with nice leather texture. In addition to upgrading the leather of the seats, this option package also adds three functions: the side mirror folding function, seat heating function, and seat memory function.
First, let’s talk about the side mirror folding function. Because the EX5’s battery pack is arranged in the bottom of the chassis, the whole body is relatively solid, and the position of the side mirror is relatively high and the field of vision is small. Therefore, the automatic folding function of the side mirror when reversing is quite practical.
However, the seat heating and seat memory functions are more practical. The feeling of having heated seats is great, and I believe everyone understands this. Moreover, for electric vehicles, the importance of seat heating seems to have been elevated to another level. So if you have a strong demand for seat heating and memory, you can consider choosing this seat option package.
But there is one problem, the seat heating of the WmAuto has only one level, and it can feel a bit hot after sitting for a long time… it would be better to have another level.
The 11-speaker surround sound system, which requires an additional 1280 yuan, does not bring a particularly good listening experience, basically at the level of just making sound, so it is not recommended.
The APA parking assist, which costs 2980 yuan, besides being able to completely free hands and feet during parking, the radar around the car body is upgraded from the original front 4 and rear 4 to front 6 and rear 6. However, personally, I think that the 360-degree panoramic image and 8 radar sensors with Extra Innovative Edition, which come as standard, are already sufficient for reversing assistance.
There is also a 3000 yuan experience upgrade package, which contains some optional functions. Wireless charging should be a practical function, but WmAuto put it in a very abstract position under the left side of the center console. It is not very convenient to access, and for iPhone Xr, it can only be charged wirelessly when placed in the upper right corner. It may not be in a charging state when the vehicle moves slightly.
Therefore, use a data cable honestly. WmAuto has prepared 8 USB interfaces (very exaggerated, crazy praise) so that everyone in the car can find their own charging posture.
The rest of the ambient lights and fragrances are some configurations that improve the overall level, so it depends on personal needs. Here are a couple of photos for you to see.
Finally, it should be reminded that if you want to buy, you must make a big order before March 31, 2019, which will be 10,000 yuan more expensive, but you can enjoy the 2018 subsidy policy, which will be much cheaper than the subsidy plan for 2019.
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.