The electric SUV market is getting more crowded by the day, but there is still room for newcomers to make a splash. One is Voyah, a Chinese brand that plans to launch its first model, the Voyah Free, in Europe next year. The Voyah Free is a sleek, spacious SUV with a premium driving experience, advanced technology, and competitive pricing. Could it be a serious rival for established players like Audi and BMW? Here’s what you need to know about this ambitious newcomer.
What is Voyah?
Voyah is a new brand created by Dongfeng Motor, one of the largest automakers in China. The name Voyah comes from “voyage” and “yeah,” reflecting the brand’s vision of creating exciting and enjoyable journeys for its customers. Voyah aims to be a global leader in electric mobility, with a focus on design, innovation, and sustainability.
The brand was officially launched in July 2020 and has already unveiled three concept cars: the Voyah i-Land sedan, the Voyah i-Free SUV, and the Voyah i-Lynk crossover. The i-Free concept is the basis for the production model Free, which will be Voyah’s first vehicle to hit the market. The Voyah Free will be followed by two more models in 2023: a smaller SUV called the i-Lynk, and a larger SUV called the i-Land.
What makes the Voyah Free stand out?
The Voyah Free is a midsize electric SUV that competes with models like the Audi Q4 e-tron, the BMW iX3, and the Tesla Model Y. It has a sleek and futuristic design with a large grille that features an illuminated logo and a pattern inspired by traditional Chinese paper-cutting art. The headlights are slim and angular, while the taillights are connected by a light bar that runs across the tailgate. The Free also has a panoramic glass roof that gives it a spacious and airy feel.
The interior of the Voyah Free is equally impressive, with a minimalist and elegant dashboard that features a 12.8-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The center console has a rotary dial for selecting drive modes and wireless charging and USB ports for smartphones. The seats are covered in vegan leather, while the door panels and floor mats are made from recycled materials.
The Voyah Free offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo, thanks to its generous dimensions and long wheelbase. It has a length of 4.7 meters (15.4 feet), a width of 1.9 meters (6.2 feet), a height of 1.7 meters (5.6 feet), and a wheelbase of 2.9 meters (9.5 feet). It can accommodate five people comfortably, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The trunk has a capacity of 580 liters (20.5 cubic feet), which can be expanded to 1,480 liters (52.3 cubic feet) by folding down the rear seats.
The Voyah Free is powered by two electric motors, one on each axle, that deliver a combined output of 300 kilowatts (402 horsepower) and 700 newton-meters (516 pound-feet) of torque. This allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.6 seconds, and reach a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph). The Free also has an intelligent all-wheel-drive system that can distribute torque between the front and rear wheels according to driving conditions.
The Voyah Free has a large battery pack with a capacity of 100 kilowatt-hours, which gives it an impressive range of up to 600 kilometers (373 miles) on the WLTP cycle. The battery can be recharged from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes using a fast charger or in about eight hours using a standard wallbox. The Free also supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows it to feed electricity back into the grid or power other devices when needed.
The Voyah Free is equipped with a host of advanced driver-assist systems that make driving safer and easier. It has adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, collision warning, emergency braking, and more. It also has a level-2 autonomous driving system called Voyah Pilot, which can steer, accelerate, brake, change lanes, and overtake other vehicles on highways.
How much does the Voyah Free cost?
The Free is expected to go on sale in Europe in late 2023. The exact pricing has yet to be announced, but Voyah claims it will compete with its rivals in the premium segment. According to some reports, the Voyah Free could start at around €50,000 ($60,000) in Germany.
Voyah also plans to offer various services and incentives for its customers, such as free charging for three years at its own network of stations or partner networks across Europe. Additionally, Voyah will provide free maintenance for five years or 100,000 kilometers (62,000 miles) and free software updates for life.
Is the Voyah Free worth considering?
The Voyah Free is an impressive debut from Voyah, showcasing its design prowess, technological innovation, and environmental commitment. It offers a compelling package of performance, range, space, comfort, safety, and style that could challenge some of the established players in the electric SUV market.
Of course, Voyah still has to prove itself as a reliable and trustworthy brand in Europe, where consumers may be skeptical about Chinese cars or unfamiliar with its name. Through word-of-mouth and positive reviews, Voyah will gradually build its reputation and customer base.
However, if you are looking for an electric SUV that stands out from the crowd and offers something different from the usual suspects like Audi or BMW, then you might want to give the Free a chance.
