The Chinese car manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM) has launched its second plug-in hybrid SUV, the Wey 03, onto the European market, aiming to impress with its cutting-edge technology and attractive price-performance ratio. However, German car buyers are often skeptical of new, unknown brands from China. Rightly so? I found out what the mid-size SUV, with its large 34 kWh battery, a system output of up to 442 hp, and an electric range of up to 139 kilometers, is really capable of in my practical test.
The GWM Wey 03 is a compact premium SUV from the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM). It was originally launched in the domestic market as the Wey Latte and was initially known in Europe as the Wey Coffee 02. In autumn 2023, it was renamed Wey 03, accompanying its European market launch.
With the more sober model name and the clear focus on European customers, GWM intends to compete with the Wey brand against established premium brands and position itself as a serious alternative in the mid-size SUV segment. After we have already discussed the GWM Wey 05 as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), it's now its little brother's turn. Our test car came in the highest trim level, called "Luxury AWD."
tl;dr (Conclusion) on the GWM Wey 03: Successful challenger in the mid-size SUV segment
After extensive testing, we can say: The GWM Wey 03 is a positive surprise. The combination of up to 442 hp system power, the ability to charge at fast charging stations with up to 50 kW, and the attractive price-performance ratio make the Wey 03 a very interesting candidate in the mid-range segment. With its impressive all-electric range of 139 kilometers, it also sets standards in the PHEV segment, even surpassing established premium models such as the Volvo XC60.
The compact SUV It also impresses with high-quality interior materials, extensive standard equipment, and premium craftsmanship. The engine runs smoothly but always delivers sufficient power, and the suspension feels confident on the road. Thus, the Wey 03 proves to be a comfortable and safe companion in everyday life. However, compromises must be made in terms of driving dynamics and the operation of the infotainment system.
Strengths and weaknesses of the GWM Wey 03
✅ Advantages:
High electric range of up to 139 km
High-quality materials and workmanship in the interior
Extensive standard equipment at no extra charge
Attractive price-performance ratio (from €47.900, including 19% VAT)
Possibility of fast charging with up to 50 kW
Powerful drive with up to 442 hp (all-wheel drive)
Good space for passengers and luggage
Five-year manufacturer's warranty with no mileage limit
Excellent ride comfort and very good noise insulation
❌ Disadvantages:
Body tends to roll in curves
Delayed gear changes when shifting manually
Higher consumption in pure combustion engine operation (approx. 8-10 l/100km)
Sometimes unwanted starting of the combustion engine in E-mode
Design and exterior of the GWM Wey 03: Striking design and high-quality details ensure a strong first impression
The GWM Wey 03 presents itself with an empty weight of 2.295 kilograms, a length of 4,67 meters, a width of 1,89 meters and a height of 1,73 meters as a stately appearance in the street scene. The design appears confident and modern without being too extravagant. The wide front end and the striking cooling air intakes demonstrate a certain amount of self-confidence and create a striking first impression. The SUV's silhouette is classic, and the proportions appear balanced. I particularly like the large grille with the Wey logo in the center.
The lighting systems further contribute to the car's character: both the full-LED headlights and the LED taillights feature a striking light signature in a dynamic design. On the high-quality 20-inch alloy wheels of the Luxury variant, the Wey 03 makes a stable and sporty impression. four color options (Snow White Metallic, Deep Blue Sea, Iceberg Blue Metallic and Lava Black Metallic) each give the vehicle a different look – from discreetly elegant to sporty and striking, there is everything.
Interior of the GWM Wey 03: Fine materials, plenty of space and clever details
The GWM Wey 03 impresses with its high level of quality in the interior. The workmanship, surfaces, feel and quality are outstanding, leaving the Wey behind German competitors.proproducts do not have to hide. The elegant seats with Alcantara upholstery are a real eye-catcher. The wood-look center console is particularly sophisticated and contributes to the premium character. The ambient lighting can be customized to various colors and creates a cozy atmosphere, but it's not the brightest. A particularly practical feature, however, is the Ambilight flashing on the side where someone is in the blind spot. This increases driving safety.
The Wey 03 also offers a generous amount of space. Space is good both in the front and rear, and legroom in the rear is generous. The trunk has a capacity of 517 liters and can be expanded to a good 1.289 liters by folding down the rear seats. The rear seats can be conveniently folded down using a button in the trunk, creating a nearly flat loading area. The electric tailgate can be opened and closed at any time via voice command, button, or key, making everyday life easier.
The 8-way electrically adjustable, climate-controlled, and heated front seats with memory function for the driver's seat offer good support. However, a little more back support would be desirable for long journeys. Lumbar support, an extendable seat cushion, a massage function, and a panoramic glass sunroof are unfortunately not included and are only available on the Luxury models at an additional cost.
Concerning Comfort The GWM Wey 03 is in the top league. The vehicle boasts a comprehensive range of features and numerous comfort functions. Two buttons on the steering wheel, marked with a star and a plus sign, can be freely assigned, for example, to three different driving modes or the 360-degree camera. A real plus in terms of customization.
Another pleasing feature is that, despite the modern touchscreen, important functions such as the power windows, exterior mirror adjustment, and steering wheel adjustment can be operated using conventional buttons and levers. The glove compartment also opens conventionally. While the touch buttons on the steering wheel are a recent trend, they still offer a good tactile feel.
The customizable head-up display presents all important information clearly and legibly, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road, which contributes to safety. Ride comfort is excellent, and interior noise is extremely low, even at high speeds, contributing to a relaxing journey overall.
Infotainment and Connectivity: Advanced multimedia system
The GWM Wey 03's infotainment system is modern and functional. A large 14,6-inch multimedia system offers all the functions needed for everyday use and responds quickly to inputs. Another, smaller 9-inch display in the center console, which can be used to control climate functions and other features, also offers interesting vibration feedback, providing haptic support for operation. The menu structure is largely logical, although some of the German translations contain some odd wording. An app with remote control functions is also available.
The vertical wireless charging cradle for smartphones is well-placed, but unfortunately has one major drawback: Since it's not cooled and only open at the top, the smartphone can quickly overheat there—especially during longer journeys or when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto intensively. However, there are also several USB-A and USB-C ports in the center console and rear compartment for wired charging and connecting to Apple and Google services.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay also work very well wirelessly and run smoothly. However, the path back to the normal Wey menu isn't particularly intuitive. Unfortunately, you have to go through the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay menu to do this. The developers could improve this a bit and make it possible with a swipe gesture or a button on the steering wheel.
Sound: Top quality from Harman
A real highlight is the high-quality Harman Infinity surround sound system, which is installed in the higher Luxury trim levels. With its 12 speakers, including a subwoofer and surround sound, it delivers outstanding sound quality that should satisfy even the most discerning music lovers.
The built-in voice control also responds to commands and allows you to operate various vehicle functions, such as opening the windows or changing the air conditioning temperature. The functionality is good, but doesn't quite reach the level of the best systems on the market.
Drive of the GWM Wey 03: Powerful plug-in hybrid with plenty of power
The GWM Wey 03 is offered in Germany as a plug-in hybrid with two drivetrain variants. The front-wheel drive version combines a 2,0-liter turbo gasoline engine with 150 kW (204 hp) and a 120 kW (163 hp) electric motor for a total system output of 270 kW (367 hp). The all-wheel drive model we tested also features a second electric motor with 135 kW (184 hp) on the rear axle, increasing the system output to an impressive 325 kW (442 hp).
Both variants are equipped with a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission, which ensured efficient power transmission in practical tests. The gearshift and engagement of the combustion engine are barely noticeable, which is also a positive feature. Power delivery is impressive: The all-wheel-drive variant sprints from 685 to 5,3 km/h in just 0 seconds with a system torque of 100 Nm and reaches a top speed of up to 235 km/h in our test. In purely electric mode, speeds of up to 135 km/h are possible, which is perfectly sufficient for everyday use and cross-country trips.
Driving dynamics and handling: Comfortable cruiser with minor weaknesses in the dynamic range
When it comes to driving dynamics, the GWM Wey 03 offers both good and bad points. The SUV features moderately firm suspension, good ride comfort, and, in Comfort mode, light steering with good feedback. The engine also always provides enough power to move forward quickly.
However, some weaknesses become apparent when driving in a sporty manner. The steering is very indirect and lacks feedback in Sport mode, the body tends to roll in corners, and the ESP often applies roughly. These characteristics somewhat dampen the sporty driving experience. Furthermore, the dual-clutch transmission sometimes shows weaknesses when forced to change gears. Manual gearshift commands are sometimes ignored or only implemented with a delay of about a second.
Nevertheless, in everyday use, the Wey 03 performs very well. The suspension absorbs bumps confidently, ride comfort is excellent, and interior noise is very low.. For the daily commute or weekend getaway, the Wey 03 is a pleasant and comfortable companion, not designed for sporty performance, but rather for comfort and relaxed travel. However, if you want to ride a little faster and more dynamically, that's also perfectly possible.
Assistance systems and safety: Extensive equipment for relaxed and safe driving
The GWM Wey 03 is equipped as standard with a Variety of assistance systems The mid-size SUV therefore achieved the top rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP test for exemplary active and passive safety. Standard systems include emergency braking assistance, intelligent speed assistance, adaptive cruise control (ACC) with active lane guidance (Smart Assist), and blind spot monitoring. The higher "Luxury" trim level also features advanced parking assistance and reversing assistance.
In practice, the systems work largely reliably. The 360-degree camera offers good resolution and multiple perspectives, which is helpful when maneuvering in tight spaces. The parking sensors, on the other hand, sometimes react a bit too sensitively, but this helps prevent damage when maneuvering. The traffic sign recognition works reliably, but can occasionally be overwhelmed by more complex additional signs.
Furthermore, Smart Assist keeps the vehicle safely in lane and adjusts the speed well to the traffic flow. However, it's noticeable that these assistance systems tend to issue audible warnings more frequently than is typical with some European manufacturers. However, some of these can be adjusted or deactivated in the settings.
Range and consumption of the GWM Wey 03: Electric long-distance quality and realistic consumption values
The heart of the drive system is the 34 kWh lithium-ion battery (gross capacity), which is designed to enable an electric range of up to 130 km (front-wheel drive) or 139 km (all-wheel drive) according to the WLTP test cycle. This is where the GWM Wey 03 really shines. With a full 55-liter tank and a fully charged battery, you can theoretically travel 550 km with the combustion engine plus 139 km with the electric motor, for a total of almost 700 km – a good range.
The electric range is a particular highlight of the Wey 03: In practical tests, the plug-in hybrid achieved around 125 kilometers in pure electric mode at moderate outside temperatures – not far from the manufacturer's stated 139 kilometers (WLTP). On a typical commute with cross-country sections, motorway sections (up to 130 km/h), and some city traffic, the onboard computer shows a remaining range of around 100 kilometers after around 25 kilometers.
In pure electric mode, consumption is approximately 20,2 kWh/100 km, which is an acceptable value for a vehicle of this size and weight class. However, with a discharged battery, consumption increases significantly due to the sole use of the combustion engine. In hybrid mode with a largely discharged battery, consumption ranges from approximately 7,9 to 9,9 liters per 100 kilometers.
The combined consumption according to WLTP with a full battery is an impressive 0,5 liters of petrol and about 24-25 kWh of electricity pro 100 kilometers. However, these figures are only realistic if charging is regular and most journeys can be covered purely electrically. With sporty driving or longer motorway journeys, consumption increases accordingly to about 5 liters of gasoline and 30 kWh of electricity. pro 100 kilometers. A special feature is that in E-mode, the combustion engine may automatically start if the accelerator pedal is too low, and the purely electric mode cannot be immediately reactivated.
Charging with the Wey 03: CCS fast charging as a huge advantage
A special feature of the GWM Wey 03 is that it can be charged not only at AC charging stations, wall boxes, or household sockets (all alternating current), but also at rapid charging stations. The plug-in hybrid has a CCS connection and can be charged with up to 50 kW DC (direct current).
In practice, however, values of around 35–40 kW are more likely to be achieved at a fast charging station. In a test with six percent remaining charge and at a 300 kW station, the charging power initially settled at just over 35 kW and later increased to a maximum of 39 kW. The charging process from 0 to 80 percent took approximately 42 minutes in total, slightly longer than the 38 minutes specified by the manufacturer.
The Wey 03 charges three-phase at up to 11 kW using a wallbox. The 34 kWh battery is fully charged in approximately three to four hours. An interesting detail from the practical test: At some public charging stations, the Type 2 AC charging process only starts once the car is locked.
The ability to quickly charge is unusual for a plug-in hybrid, but it significantly increases everyday usability. For example, the battery can be quickly recharged while shopping, further reducing the use of the combustion engine.
Price, warranty and distribution of the GWM Wey 03
With a starting price of EUR 47.900 The GWM Wey 03, with its front-wheel drive "Premium" variant, is positioned in the mid-price segment of plug-in hybrid SUVs. The better-equipped "Luxury" version with front-wheel drive costs €51.900, while the all-wheel drive variant starts at €55.900. (All prices are as of May 2025 and include 19% VAT.) Compared to its established competitors, the Wey 03 offers good value for money. A similarly equipped, but inferior-spec VW Tiguan plug-in hybrid costs around €6.500 more.
Another plus point is the extensive Warranty package: GWM offers a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty and an eight-year, unlimited mileage warranty on the drive battery (or up to 160.000 km). These superior warranties underscore the manufacturer's confidence in the quality of its product and can allay any potential concerns about a relatively unknown brand.
For the distribution of Great Wall Motor models on the local market, the Emil Frey Group is responsible for this, a reputable and established dealer group based in Switzerland. This solid sales structure creates additional trust in the still young brand on the European market and guarantees a well-developed service network.
Many thanks to GWM for providing the Wey 03 for this review. This did not influence our opinion!
