Although General Motors doesn’t currently offer any plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in North America (a situation that’s about to change), The General does have a hand in PHEV models in the Chinese market. That includes the Wuling Starlight or Xing Guang, offered via the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture. Now, we’re watching the following English-language Wuling Xing Guang review, which bills the four-door sedan as the world’s cheapest PHEV.
Recently posted to the Wheelsboy YouTube channel, the video review is a little over eight minutes long, and covers everything one might expect, including pricing, the exterior, the interior, the performance, the driving experience, and specs.
The price range is probably one of the most interesting aspects of this vehicle. Although the Wuling Starlight PHEV is roughly equivalent to the Toyota Camry in terms of sizing, pricing ranges between $11,000 and $14,000, making it a remarkably affordable option.
The sedan looks nice as well, adopting similar styling seen elsewhere in the Chinese sedan market, with LED lighting and an aerodynamic, almost sporty design. Two trim levels are offered, with each offering its own cabin appointment, including different screen sizes, speaker counts, and seat adjustments. The materials used include a mix of soft and hard plastics.
As for the powertrain specs, the Wuling Starlight or Xing Guang PHEV features a front-mounted electric motor and naturally aspirated 1.5L engine, with the base variant equipped with a 9.5 kw battery providing 50 km (31 miles) of all-electric range, and the top-spec variant equipped with a 20.5 kw battery that doubles all-electric range to 105 km (65 miles).
According to the reviewer, the driving experience is in line with the price tag – that is, the Wuling Starlight PHEV doesn’t match the NVH control of its more expensive rivals. Nevertheless, the flexibility of the all-electric mode and affordability could make this the right choice for some Chinese buyers.
Check out the full review here:
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Comments
Hope that’s not the next Malibu for the US. Greenhouse sure screams current one.
I don’t get the price, but it highlights the BIG problem with PHEVs as opposed to HEVs – price. In this more cost-conscious market (finally!), HEVs make more sense and Mary just doesn’t get that.
I don’t get your comment. The article is talking about a very inexpensive PHEV, not HEV. So it must be possible. I’m guessing China has gone all in on LiFe chemistry and has it down for cheap. Hence they can up the battery size to make a PHEV for not much. Making a BEV with LiFe though results in range limitations. I think Toyota has pretty much gone all in on LiFe as well, although not sure. They may still use some NiMH chemistries.
PHEVs in general are a LOT pricier than regular hybrids.
I watched the review. To sum it up: $11,000 car has NVH levels of an $11,000 car and handles like an $11,000 car, but it has the drivetrain of a $40,000 car. It sounds like a successful first attempt that could be tweaked and improved with future generations.
Yeah, that interior is spartan! Nice “furniture” is expensive.
Amazing what you can do when you’re able to leverage prison labor
More like near slave labor. Those people live in dormitories and make between $2 and $3 an hour and work 9AM to 9PM 6 days per week. That’s a whooping $600 a month. The far east is a strange place.
I assume those EV ranges even the higher 105km (65mi) are in terms of China’s very optimistic, outdated and inaccurate rating system. What would the EV range be in EPA? I doubt it will cross into 30mi. If that is the case, won’t used Volt or Prius PHEV a better buy for the same price??
It’s not really “outdated” or “inaccurate”.
It’s just based on a very different drive cycle more closely matched to how vehicles are most commonly use in China which is for short range, low speed city driving and trips.