This Chinese powerhouse actually has an internal combustion engine

Another new SUV from China, this time not an electric car, but a powerful PHEV. The GWM Wey 03 is just a little late to the plug-in party. Autovisie looks for the added value of the large C-segment car.

De Wey, a sub-brand of Chinese car company Great Wall Motor, is actually closer in size to D-segment SUVs like the BMW X3, but prefers to compare itself to cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan and Cupra Formentor.

GWM Wey 03 has too much power

The 03 is not lacking in performance. As a front-wheel drive model, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine produces 367 hp and 500 Nm. If you choose the AWD version, an electric motor on the rear axle increases system output to a whopping 443 hp and 685 Nm of torque.

Building a high-performance car is one thing, building a car with good driving characteristics is another, as the GWM Wey 03 proves. The steering is far too light and gives no feel and precise cornering is not an option either. The car responds very slowly to your steering inputs and that doesn’t inspire confidence. Just two seconds after turning, you can feel the 2,220 kilograms (2,100 kilograms with front-wheel drive) flowing through the curve.

Disturbing driver assistance systems on Chinese cars

Our complaint does not end here. As befits a modern car, the GWM Wey 03 is packed with driver assistance systems. On the narrow Italian streets Lane keeping assistant to send us to the opposite side of the street. All of these annoying systems are largely due to laws and regulations.

What we can give Great Wall Motor credit for is the extra mile the Chinese automaker goes above and beyond. The GWM Wey 03, for example, believes that the 360-degree camera system can take the entire infotainment screen hostage at lower speeds. This also applies if you slow down at a roundabout, intersection or exit. Extremely annoying as your other information such as music and navigation are suddenly no longer clearly visible.

In addition, the ambient lighting flashes red if someone appears in your blind spot, even if you have not turned on the turn signal to change lanes. This means that when there is more traffic on the highway, the LED lighting flashes almost continuously in a panic. Almost all of these systems can be switched off, but this requires a series of actions in the not entirely clear infotainment system every time you drive.

The professionals

All the horsepower also provides the necessary power Torque steer. However, this is particularly noticeable in the less sporty sport mode, in which the entire power of both the electric motors and the four-cylinder engine is used. In normal and EV mode, the plug-in hybrid behaves better and the rear electric motor is mainly responsible for the drive. This ensures a more comfortable, quieter and more controlled driving experience.

136 kilometers of purely electric range

And purely electric driving is what sets the GWM Wey 03 apart. Thanks to a huge, self-developed 34 kWh battery, you can theoretically drive around 124 kilometers (even 136 kilometers for the AWD version) without a combustion engine. Enough for most Dutch people for all daily trips.

The combustion engine in the GWM Wey 03 is primarily used on longer vacation trips. Fast charging with 50 kW is then also possible. But instead of constantly carrying the combustion engine around with you, you can also carry it over your head Range anxiety Step away. But that is a decision that everyone has to make for themselves.

Beautiful interior

The GWM Wey 03 also offers a beautiful interior with solid materials. It’s not quite the level that the German premium brands use, but Wey says he doesn’t want to create that illusion.

At the same time, the Chinese car manufacturer calls its two equipment packages Premium and Luxury. The difference is mainly in the options that can be selected. Think of a heated steering wheel, a heads-up display and a panoramic roof.

Guarantee on the GWM Wey 03

And although the luxury version is certainly richly equipped, it is highly questionable whether European buyers will line up for the GWM Wey 03. Great Wall Motor tries too young, technically savvy definitely entice car buyers with a 5-year warranty (unlimited kilometers) on the car and at least an 8-year warranty (up to 160,000 kilometers) on the battery.

Exact prices are not yet known, but GWM says it will market the Wey 03 for 45,000 to 50,000. The AWD version (which is always available in the luxury trim) costs an additional 9,000 euros.