Zotye 5008 – The 2008 gets a makeover, and a name change


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.

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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.

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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.

ash 010 web avatar Zotye 5008   The 2008 gets a makeover, and a name change

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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9 Comments so far, please add your thoughts!

  1. avatar cryptonx says:

    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 ).

    • avatar Ash says:

      Do you mean a Jonway UFO?

      Thats not a bad SUV, until you get inside.

      • avatar cryptonx says:

        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

  2. avatar Kevin W. says:

    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.

  3. avatar dragin says:

    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?

  4. avatar Pal Negyesi says:

    How about Zotye Nomad? It’s a name used in South America.

  5. avatar none says:

    wow nice and cool facelift not like our malaysian kembara model

  6. avatar Ben says:

    I ‘m amaze looking at the great car with such an affordable price. i would like to name it ABLE because each an everyone can be able to buy ,it can be able to service as suv or salon, able to economies,able to drive eveywhere and able for all purpose.so its name ABLE IS ok.

    Anyway could someone confirm to me it has same dashboard and steering rack woth toyota Cami or Daihatsu terios

    Regarsd
    Ben
    benjiowusu@yahoo.com

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