Kaiyi E5 - ideal for a clerk or a headache?

On January 30, 2023, the assembly of Kaiyi E5 compact sedans for the Russian market began at the AVTOTOR plant in the Kaliningrad region. The model in many sources has already been dubbed almost an ideal car for the average office worker.


For the most part, such a high-profile title is due to the low price, of course. We will consider not only the issue of cost, but we will try to understand all the pros and cons. We take as a basis, including reviews from real owners of the Kaiyi E5 sedan.

Brief background

Let's start with the fact that Kaiyi has been a kind of "daughter" of the notorious Chinese concern Chery since 2014. At first, there was no success, because already in 2017, investors announced their withdrawal from the project. Suddenly, there was light at the end of the tunnel - a new partner was found who invested money in starting a new enterprise. In 2019, the brand gained a second wind and assembled 6 models under its “wing” at once.


We can confidently say that all Kaiyi cars are turned Chery. Including those that have already left the stage. The AVTOTOR enterprise has signed a cooperation contract with the brand, and in the near future we are waiting for the release of at least three models. The first of them will be the E5 sedan.

What are you, Kaiyi E5?

The hero of today's issue is, albeit deeply, but still a redesigned Chery Arrizo 7 sedan, introduced to the world back in 2015. Almost all the technical part remained without major changes, except for the suspension. The semi-independent rear with a torsion beam gave way to an independent multi-link. It didn't help much, but more on that later.


Most of all we went through the design of the body and interior. Initially, the task was to make the car not for the most economical, but for "a young audience with an average income." The case was entrusted to the Belgian designer Louy Vermeersch. Previously, he worked for the Italian Pininfarina, which collaborated with Ferrari. How far you have achieved your goal is up to you.

The length of the sedan body is 4666 mm, the width is 1825 mm, the height is 1483 mm, and the wheelbase is 2700 mm. In terms of dimensions, the model is similar to the Korean C-class, which includes the same Hyundai Elantra.

Engine and gearbox

The Russian version of the Kaiyi E5 has a 1,5-liter turbocharged petrol engine. It produces 156 horsepower. With. and a torque of 230 N * m.

The transmission is stepless. The variator has 9 pseudo-gears with support for manual and automatic switching modes. There is also an option with a manual transmission.


As for consumption, the engine consumes 100 liters of gasoline per 8 km in mixed mode. The fuel tank holds 56 liters. You can fill in both AI-95 and AI-92 without any special consequences.

Comfort and safety

Although the dimensions bring the sedan closer to the C-class, in terms of space in the cabin it is more of a B-class. Behind you can comfortably accommodate only if the height of the passengers is not more than 185 cm. And even then, there will be a minimum of space above your head and knees.


The sedan received options such as keyless entry, electric handbrake, six airbags. There is a multimedia system with a horizontal touch screen on the front panel. Not without parking sensors - where without it in a big city? Of the electronic systems, we note the presence of ESP and tire pressure monitoring.

Strengths

Traditionally, let's start with good news, and there are not so few of them regarding the Kaiyi E5 sedan. Since the car is not yet available in Russia, we studied the reviews of Chinese car owners.

Low cost

Almost every Kaiyi E5 buyer motivated the decision to buy a sedan with its low price. At home, the model costs from 700 thousand to 1 million rubles, if translated from the yuan at the current rate. In Russia, they promise to set the price in the range from 1,6 to 2 million rubles, depending on the equipment.

Good dynamics

A sedan "only for a million rubles" with a turbo engine and quite honest 156 hp. With. under the hood is no joke. Although it takes as much as 0 seconds to accelerate from 100 to 9,5 km / h, the dynamics of the car are not bad. The power reserve is noticeable even on the highway, you can overtake without fear.

Stylish exterior

You will probably agree that Lowy Vermeersch did a good job of designing a body that would appeal to a young and energetic audience. In the stream, the sedan definitely does not look like a gray mouse, but at the same time it does not stand out much, which is also a plus for many. In addition, they brought several body colors for every taste. Definitely white and yellow.

Decent Salon

The interior design is just as good as the exterior. Still, the same team, led by a Belgian professional, worked on it. Buyers positively evaluate not only the appearance, but also the functionality of the interior. Here we include good light, a margin of space and power seats.

What are the disadvantages?

One of the often mentioned cons of the Kaiyi E5 sedan is the poor quality of the interior materials. Yes, the car smells like cheap plastic, and the seat upholstery is by no means soft. But what do you want from a budget car? In addition, there are more unpleasant drawbacks, which are discussed below.

Rigid suspension

Although the suspension was improved after the Chery Arrizo 7, it remained stiff. It extinguishes vibrations poorly, and on roads of poor quality it “breaks through” at all, delivering a palette of not the most positive emotions to the driver and passengers. If you drive only in the city or good roads, you won't notice.

"Heavy" wheel

It would seem that if the suspension is stiff, then the control should be clear? Kaiyi E5 destroys this stereotype with its "smeared" handling and uninformative steering. You can retort that this is a matter of habit, and over time it will be possible to curb the car. But how fast is a good question.

Poor soundproofing

Some sedan owners point to too good audibility in the area of ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe wheel arches and side windows. The minus is not the most serious, since the sound insulation can be improved without much sacrifice from the wallet. If you drive mainly around the city, then the interior is not so noisy.

Modest trunk

The luggage compartment itself is not so small - about 400 liters. The main claims go in the direction of too narrow an opening. Loading and unloading things through it is simply inconvenient. There are complaints about the small trunk, but if you need a big one, a sedan is not the best choice in principle.

Oil risk

There is evidence on the Internet that the Kaiyi E5 motor enters the “oil burner” mode after a relatively long operation. It is caused by wear of the valve stem seals and the expansion of the gap between the cylinder and the piston. New cars are not threatened, but still worth bearing in mind.

Take or wait for the best?

If we average all the reviews of the Chinese, Kaiyi E5 is a kind of "workhorse" in order to move from point "A" to point "B" with relative comfort.

Often in China, this car is bought as a second family car. The locals did not have any special hopes for the model from the very beginning. It is even interesting how Russian buyers will react to the novelty.

When can we expect? The brand announced the start of sales in the first quarter of 2023. Since January and February are already behind us, it is obvious that the cars should appear in showrooms in the next three weeks.


By the way, in the middle of 2023, the Kaiyi lineup should be replenished with two new models:

✅ Kaiyi X3 is a compact urban crossover with front-wheel drive and 116 hp internal combustion engine. With.
✅ Kaiyi X3 Pro is a front-wheel drive crossover with a CVT and a 156 hp engine. With.

Interestingly, both models can already be bought in Russia, but through parallel imports. Those who did not want to take a car without a guarantee and with an incomprehensible history will soon be able to buy quite officially.