Jetour has a potential hit in its hands.
According to company executives, the Ice Cream mini-Electric Vehicle it offers for a price of ₱699,000 has been well-received by the public, with an impressive number of reservations taken at the Manila International Auto Show alone.
This apparent demand for the Ice Cream got us thinking. Are Filipinos really that interested in small, affordable Battery Electric Vehicles? Given that Jetour Auto Philippines is the first official car distributor to sell and warrant an actual mini-EV, could this herald the arrival of more EV models from the brand?
On a recent trip to Wuhu, China, we were able to test-drive a small EV in a controlled route. Sitting beside the Jetour Ice Cream in the display area was the EQ1. Affectionately called the Ant, the EQ1 is a more modern take on the same urban mini-EV formula the Ice Cream is based on.
Unlike the retro looks of the Ice Cream, however, the design of the EQ1 looks more like the Toyota iQ mini hatchback with its modern lines, short overhangs, and delightfully cute proportions.
The EQ1 is 3,200 mm long, 1,670 mm wide, and 1,550 mm tall with a 2,150 mm wheelbase. It weighs anywhere from 920 to 1,005 kilos, depending on the trim. Three range options are available in China – the 251-, 301-, and 408-kilometer NEDC variants.
One test unit even had a roof rail, presumably so you could bring along more cargo aside from your backpack, which easily fills up the car’s cargo space. And then, to add a cherry on top of the ice cream, the EQ1 also sports a panoramic sunroof. Imagine that for a small car like this.
The electric motor’s power churns out 40 to 75 PS depending on the range option. It can top up with a slow charger in 9 hours or via fast charging from 30% to 80% in about 40 minutes. Yes, unlike the Jetour Ice Cream, it can accommodate fast charging.
The EQ1 runs on 16-inch wheels and has more space at the back of the second row when upright. It has its own portrait-oriented tablet-like infotainment system on the dashboard, unlike the Ice Cream, which relies on a mobile phone for audio-visual entertainment.
And the interiors generally give off a more youthful vibe with a mix of blue accents splattered around as opposed to the decidedly retro finish of the Ice Cream.
It has an all-aluminum body construction to ensure lightness. The doors are made of polycarbonate plastic; you can even press on the door panel and watch it deform and come back to shape.
But wait, there’s more
However, if you’re looking for sportier styling, there also exists the EQ1 Pro, a more well-equipped, high-performance micro-EV. It is longer than the EQ1 by 202 mm, wider by 10 mm, and taller by 40 mm. It has 17-inch wheels that give off a more dynamic stance.
The front end’s design is more aggressive, too, with thinner LED headlights and vertical DRLs flanking the sealed-off bumper. It has flushed door handles and styling accents on the exterior that include contrasting orange bits and running boards. The rear quarter glass is also more prominent, making the cabin a bit more spacious, at least in feel.
Inside, leatherette seats with power functions are standard. The front passenger seat even has slide-and-fold buttons controllable by the rear occupants to facilitate ingress into and egress from the back seats.
Drive selection is via a steering column stalk, and entertainment and vehicle functions are all coursed through a massive landscape touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. Even the air conditioning vents are positioned on top of the dashboard with their controls embedded in the infotainment screen, ala Tesla.
Is it any good?
In the short distance we drove the EQ1, we felt it was a substantially solid car. While it was light, it did not feel feathery. The steering was heavier than expected for such a small car, and I’ve driven bigger crossovers with lighter steering than this.
While acceleration wasn’t mind-blowing, it was decent for its size. It absorbed ruts and speed bumps, insulating the cabin mostly from the jarring road undulations. There were no secondary bumps after crossing the ruts. The brakes were linear in feel, and a light dab will induce stopping power.
Visibility was excellent, too, with the thin A-pillars not getting in the way of your line of sight. Overall, it left a positive impression on me. It didn’t feel cheap, even though its price suggested it would be.
In China, the EQ1 sells at about CNY 65,870 or about ₱527,618.70. The EQ1 Pro costs double that because of the higher spec, features, and range. Add shipping and other ancillary expenses; you can expect prices ranging from ₱800K to just above ₱1.2M for these two models. But that’s just our guess. Stranger things have happened.
Will we see them in the PH?
Now, isn’t that the million-dollar question? At the Jetour Business Conference, these cars were presented to distributors from various countries to be tried out and considered for ordering for their respective markets.
Jetour Auto Philippines is looking at these models to complement the Ice Cream. We foresee a strategy wherein the Ice Cream is the base model with the base price, ideal for short urban rides within the metro.
The EQ1, with the 300-kilometer range option, could be for those who live outside Metro Manila, like in Laguna or Bulacan but have to work in the city or plan to do weekend trysts in Tagaytay or Clark.
The EQ1 Pro, with the 400-kilometer range, can be the all-in-one solution for those who don’t want to be bothered by range anxiety, have road trips to Baguio or further in mind, and don’t want to compromise on specs and features.
Whatever the model mix, these Chery-built and AIQAR-branded mini EVs would play well into the hands of EV evangelists and first adopters with their relatively affordable pricing. As to when they will arrive, only time will tell.
Do these mini-EVs make you more interested in switching to electrified mobility?
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Source: Do not underestimate these ants: Are the EQ1 and EQ1 PRO Jetour’s next EV salvo?