The Zotye SUV is a nice little SUV for a nice little price (around 50-60,000rmb) and with rear wheel drive, it might even take you off the tarmac (although not too far). The Zotye was given a makeover for 2008, and a name change to coincide with the year 2008, cleaverly Zotye came up with ‘2008′ but now that the year 2008 is drawing to a close, Zotye have given their SUV a slight facial update, and a new name ‘5008′ which will ensure that the SUV will be in production for quite a few years to come.
The 5008 is on show this week at the Chengdu motor show where the car appears to be bringing in the crowds, its cheap, it looks good, its economical, what more could Chinese consumers want in a first car, or a second small car? The Zotye 2008, quite frankly, had an awful dashboard, but this situation seems to have been rectified in the 5008. The new dashboard seems to be quite bland but functional, after all, this is a 50,000rmb car. Engines are from the Mitsubishi stable, with both a 1.3l and a 1.5l available.
Verdict: We like it. The best looking little SUV to come out of Zotye yet, even if it is a Daihatsu Terios, with Polo headlights. We hope they change the name for foreign markets though, it appears to have been named ‘Xpolsion’ for Egyptian markets, which doesnt strike us as being a great name for a car, unless you’re a TX4.
ROFL
its Xplosion XD and for the Egyptian XD not Xpolsion
yes Ash there are 2 Actually XD
Xplosion and Grand Xplosion
the Grand Xplosion is the Chinese Toyota Rav-4 Knock off I dont know ifs ia Zotye or not.
The Xplosion costs $10.000 aprox here. ( after 55% taxes/customs over its original price ).
Do you mean a Jonway UFO?
Thats not a bad SUV, until you get inside.
Yes Ash,
It’s the Jonway UFO
I Don’t like it either from the exterior or the interior but its branded as a Grand Xplosion from the same dealer who sells the Xplosion ( Zotye ) .
Any info on that car ? chasis / engines etc ?
Since there’s no mention of Jonway on CCT except an old article.
the CEO is also on sale here but no one even knows about it ..
Brilliance And Chery are dominating the chinese brands here
with Chery selling A5s / A6s and A1s like hot cakes
and Brilliance is selling the BS6 and BS4
the funny thing is , Egyptians seems to DITCH the Equally Priced ” Hyundai Sonata / VW jetta / VW Passat ” and buy a Brilliance BS6 ( Galena here ) instead for reasons beyond me XD
The bs4 is not as hot tho because its more expensive than an Elantra here even tho both the BS4/BS6 are assembled in the BMW factory here .
I am thinking of either the Chery A3 or the Brilliance FRV ( The 1.6 versions ) Any news/dates for them for export markets ?
Thanks
Im not sure, but Im guessing the Brilliance FRV will be cheaper than the A3.
That interior is Cute. Much of an improvement over the basic Zoyte. (Which I’m assuming is a license built Daihatsu Terios/Toyota Cami) I rather like the front facia, even if it’s a bit Subaru-ish.
No Kevin, no license sought, no license needed. Dies came via Taiwan.
The question now is, how many noses can you put on a Terios and stay profitable?
How about Zotye Nomad? It’s a name used in South America.