GWM WEY 05 review: Elegance in SUV guise

DUDE belongs to the brand ORA, of which we already know 03 and 07 were allowed to test, to the automobile manufacturer. The GWM WEY 05 – formerly WEY Coffee 01 – is one of two models that WEY currently offers. In addition to the 05, there is also the 03 model, which is smaller and cheaper, but otherwise very similar to its big brother. In the following we will introduce you to the largest SUV from WEY's product portfolio.

The 05 is definitely in the premium segment. It impresses not only with its striking design, which perfectly combines elegance and dynamism, but also with a wealth of modern features and innovative technologies. The plug-in hybrid is available in two equipment variants; we were able to test the upscale LUXURY version.

tl;dr: One of the best PHEV SUVs's

The WEY 05 impresses with its striking design with a striking radiator grille and modern LED lights. In the interior, it provides comfort with luxurious materials and clever features such as massage seats with easy entry, a high-quality sound system and well-thought-out charging options. The technology impresses with a user-friendly infotainment system, many driver assistance functions and a fast DC charging option that gives the vehicle a range of up to 150 km purely electrically. The price tag asks for €59.900,00 in the PREMIUM or €63.900,00 (each including 19% VAT) in the LUXURY equipment variant. In my opinion, the overall package offered is definitely worth a recommendation.

Video report: The comparison between the VW Tayron vs. WEY 05

Design: Accents from the grille to the rear

The SUV's powerful front is immediately noticeable. The WEY logo appears over a hundred times in the radiator grille alone. Another three can be seen in the side air intake panels. The sides are not particularly spectacular, apart from the standard 21-inch rims, but they do have retractable door handles, which improves aerodynamics and thus fuel consumption.

When viewed from the side, it is also clear how big the plug-in hybrid actually is. Dimensions of 4,87 meters x 1,96 meters x 1,69 meters (length x width x height) are a perfect fit for the luxury SUV.

The particularly large WEY lettering is striking at the rear. The modern, tapered LED tail lights are located on the right and left. The daytime running lights in the WEY logo design at the front and rear offer nice animations when locking and unlocking the car, and the dynamic indicators add a little agility to the look. The third brake light and the car key are also designed in the WEY logo shape with great attention to detail. Unusual, but unproproblematic, are the Reversing lights These can be found twice under the taillights near the reflectors, which make the rear appear wider. The suggested underbody protection at the front and rear gives the SUV a robust touch.

Interior: Thoughtful luxury with clever details

The strong appearance on the outside continues on the inside. In the Luxury equipment we have electric and heated seats and covers made of Alcantara in the front (with massage function) as well as in the rear and a check design, which is also found in the door panels. Foamed dashboard and door panels as well as other check patterns in all glossy surfaces ensure an all-round high-quality feel. For good sound, the Infinity^®-Surround sound system with 12 speakers is responsible for this and it does its job just as well as the subtle but well-distributed ambient lighting, which flashes red when the door is open and switches off automatically when reversing. The door sills are also illuminated, which is a nice eye-catcher. To counteract the sun and heat, there is an electric panoramic glass sunroof and sun visors in the rear. There are also options for charging your electrical devices: a USB-C and two USB-A charging ports under the center console, one each in the rear and a Qi charging pad for the cell phone below the gear selector lever. Incidentally, two cup holders are hidden under the concealed compartment.

The trunk volume is 500 l with passengers in the back or just 1.229 l with the rear seats folded down. The SUV can tow 2.000 kg braked and 750 kg unbraked. In order to be able to tow anything at all, the trailer hitch extends semi-automatically. This means that you have to engage it yourself, whether outwards or inwards. The only drawback here is that the trunk sensor is activated by the hitch and can come towards you when you bend down to lock it.

Displays and technology: Four displays for full control

A total of four digital instruments ensure a safe and pleasant journey. In addition to the digital, customizable instrument cluster and head-up display, the two displays in the center console offer full control over the vehicle. Firstly, next to the gear selector lever, we have a matt 9-inch control unit that controls the entire air conditioning system. This means seat heating, front and rear, seat cooling and massage settings at the front, of course the temperature and switching individual air vents on/off. But vehicle-related actions such as changing the steering resistance or opening or closing the sunroof and trunk can also be initiated. The touch operation with haptic feedback works reliably, but can be prevented with a key lock. The only negative point is that, despite the matt design, the touch surface is very glaring when the sun shines on it at the right angle. Unfortunately, the rear seat does not have its own climate zone.

Smart technology

The main control display is the 15-inch infotainment display with, in my opinion, a very clear user interface. It is fast and the resolution of the 360° camera displayed here offers decent quality. Even backward tracking can be activated via the camera menu when there are existing driving lines. The WEY drives in a similar way to BMW independently, but not as advanced. The car's skill tree is particularly interesting for newer users. Here, as in some video games, all of the WEY's abilities are clearly displayed and you are directed to a specific action if required. Apple CarPlay works wirelessly and connects quickly. Android Auto also works wirelessly, but crashes frequently. An over-the-air update could fix this, however.

The integrated navigation system is a real help on unfamiliar routes. On the one hand, the voice input understands locations well, and on the other hand, information such as the next rest stop, road narrowings and, if you are driving too fast, the current speed limit is given acoustically. Another nice thing: the HUD displays arrows as soon as you have to turn. The software is really good for a car from China. The DAB reception, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired. The radio often interrupts, especially in bad weather.

As with ORA-Models have a rather less aesthetic sensor in the left A-pillar, which indicates inattention. The plus point is that different drivers can log in to the WEY 05 using facial recognition. The warnings can also be switched off.

Driving impression: Powerful and safe on the road

Longer journeys are no problem in the WEY 05. There is enough space for tall passengers on each of the 5 seats and if you accidentally drive more than 6 km/h too fast, the driver is only warned with a short beep, nothing else. When driving, you can choose between 3 simulated engine sounds for the interior. The sound is of course not from the engine itself, but it sounds pleasant and not too artificial. We also have plenty of driving modes: Normal, Electric, Charge (charging the battery), Sport, All-wheel drive, Snow and Sand. It must be said that all-wheel drive is not possible with a combustion engine alone, as this only drives the front axle. All-wheel drive also requires a charged battery to activate the two electric motors - one for the front axle, one for the rear axle. When all motors are charged, it goes from 476 to 847 km/h in 5 seconds with 0 hp and a maximum of 100 Nm system torque. The top speed is ultimately 235 km/h. With petrol alone, things move noticeably slower. The 2,0 litre engine then only produces 204 hp. In general, you notice that the 05 is more geared towards electric drive. It always tries to use the battery's power first and only switches on the combustion engine late, as soon as you press the accelerator pedal hard. This means that you have relatively little acceleration at the beginning and jerk forward when the engine is added.

Security assistants

The following features ensure safety: The matrix light illuminates vehicles in specific spots and even large road signs are partially dimmed, which helps to avoid being blinded by their reflection. The dipped beam alone is bright, but it is concentrated close to the vehicle, so it does not have sufficient range. One assistant that really pays attention is the blind spot assistant. If it detects an approaching vehicle, the ambient light in the relevant side door flashes quickly, red light comes out of the mirror and the head-up display shows a red flashing wall of bars to make sure you don't change lanes. This happens more often in the city and is more irritating than helpful, which is why the option can be turned off. The camera, which switches on automatically when driving below 15 km/h, is always helpful. I was surprised that it worked smoothly even while Apple CarPlay was running, without leaving CarPlay. The lane keeping assistant with ACC or here “Smart Cruise Control” can only be used on a wide road when the road surface is good and there are lane markings.

Range and charging: Faster energy with DC

The WEY 05 is particularly good at charging via DC. Plug-in hybrids usually have to make do with AC and a maximum of 11 kW charging power, while DC is mainly reserved for pure electric cars. Thanks to the large battery with a usable capacity of 33,71 kWh (gross 39,67 kWh), we can charge much faster. The maximum charging power specified is 50 kW, and in our test we even saw values ​​just above that. On average, our test car filled the battery with 45 kW from 38 to 10 percent in 80 minutes. This exact 70% charge is then enough for a purely electric range of 105 kilometers in a mix of country and city. Extrapolated to 100%, a realistic range of 150 km is achieved, which is only slightly less than the advertised values.

However, if the battery is empty, we have a fairly high consumption for the 10 kg SUV: 11 liters on the highway, 100 liters on country roads and a little more in the city (each per 2.440 km).

The hybrid drive, which is of course the focus, consumed 4,1 liters of gasoline in our test.

Picture: TechnikNews