China’s (according to its own statements) market leader in SUVs and pick-ups, Great Wall Motors, wants to conquer the Austrian market by summer 2024 at the latest. One of the first vehicles will be the Wey 03, a plug-in hybrid SUV just under Mercedes GLC format with a phenomenal electric range. We had the opportunity to drive it around Rome for the first time.
An impressive radiator grille, lots of chrome and metal strips – the GWM Wey 03 makes a great appearance. If it doesn’t seem quite premium on the outside, this impression changes in the interior: here you are quickly reminded of Mercedes. Quilted, perforated (artificial) leather in a checkered shape, metal applications with integrated speakers, even the workmanship suggests Stuttgart quality workmanship. But the technical data is even more impressive: depending on the drive, the plug-in Chinese can do it with its 34 kWh (net: 29 kWh) battery has a purely electric WLTP range of 124 or 136 kilometers, with the higher value applying to the all-wheel-drive top model. Even charging is quick: Even with 50 kW DC charging power (0-80% in 38 minutes, AC: 7.4 or 11 kW), the Wey 03 is currently unrivaled in the segment until the new generation of the VW Tiguan catches up .Double and triple heart There are two drives to choose from: a front-wheel drive car with 442 hp system output or 500 Nm torque and an all-wheel drive car with 442 hp/685 Nm. A 204 hp two-liter four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is responsible for the front axle together with a 120 kW electric motor, which pass on their power via an in-house developed nine-speed dual clutch transmission. With AWD, there is another 135 kW/184 hp or 232 Nm electric motor in the rear, which drives the rear axle via a two-speed automatic transmission. Background for those interested in technology: This rear motor is usually used alone in pure electric operation, which is primarily why the all-wheel drive is electric travel more efficiently – the front electric motor always has to “drag” the large gearbox along. The all-wheel drive vehicle can also recover more energy. How does it drive? It depends…The drive has a big impact on how pleasant the driving experience is in the GWM Wey 03. The hybrid system of the all-wheel drive vehicle is perfectly tuned, and the transition between the combustion engine and electric motors is smooth. The normal and sport driving modes (apart from E-mode), which are relevant in everyday life, deliver what you expect without exaggerating anything. There’s even sporty driving performance included: the standard sprint only takes 5.3 seconds and the acceleration only ends at 230 km/h. With front-wheel drive, the car is hardly recognizable. In normal mode it can hardly move from a standstill because the power arrives with such a delay and the accelerator pedal characteristic is extremely defensive. If you step on it harder, it will break away with the wheels spinning. If you roll along leisurely on the country road and then step on the accelerator, it takes just under three seconds until full power is available. When the combustion engine switches on, it’s often hectic because it often starts working hard and at high speeds. They still have to do some work at the headquarters in Baoding, a kind of nine-million-strong suburb of Beijing. Everything is good on paper: 7.3 seconds from zero to 100 km/h, and the basic model also runs at 230 km/h. Chassis is more for the undemanding The chassis of the GWM Wey 03 cannot keep up with the sporty driving performance. The steering is callous and indirect, the Wey sways when turning, and leans noticeably and visibly to the side when cornering. On the other hand, it is not particularly comfortable either, the wheels (19 inches with front-wheel drive, otherwise 20 inches) bump woodenly over uneven surfaces. You can feel the weight at all times (2100 kg with front-wheel drive, 2220 kg with all-wheel drive). The car also feels cumbersome when maneuvering: the turning circle of the 4.67 meter long and 1.89 meter wide SUV is 12.70 meters! For comparison: a BMW With two exceptions: the electric car pedestrian warning noise is noticeably loud and the multitude of assistance systems causes a cacophony of warning tones. Something is always beeping or warning or even intervening. It is not enough to switch off the lane departure warning system, because the emergency assistant will still reach into the steering wheel, whether necessary or not. In the case of the narrow-lane country roads around Fiumicino, constant use was just annoying and even dangerous because the car would end up straight in oncoming traffic if you weren’t careful. You can turn all of this off – but the next time you restart, the search in the menu starts all over again. The speed limit warning is very persistent: “The speed limit is XX kilometers, you are exceeding the speed limit.” You cannot turn this off yourself, it comes from the Navi and is always active if you have switched on the spoken navigation instructions. Strange finding: This limit warning often differs from the one shown on the speedometer display because one is based on the navigation software and the other on camera observation. The good news: The complete assistance package is on board as standard, including adaptive cruise control with lane guidance assistant . The steering wheel needs to be turned slightly at regular intervals so that the car knows that the driver is there anyway. He is also constantly monitored. If he is inattentive, a warning sounds. The corresponding sensor is noticeably stuck on the B-pillar – this could be solved more elegantly.Three displays seriesThe GWM Wey 03 offers three displays as standard: a 9.2-inch speedometer display, a 14.6-inch touchscreen and another in 9 inches for the air conditioning, similar to what we know from Audi. Ingenious control trick: You don’t need to hit the little arrows to adjust the temperature and fan speed – you can also use two fingers to move up/down (temperature) or left/right (fan). The menu structure on the main display could be tidier, but with with a little practice you will find your way around. There are buttons on the steering wheel that are made of a highly reflective film. These look as cheap as anything else on the otherwise very high-quality car.Opulent spaceThere is a lot of space in the SUV. Even tall adults feel more than comfortable in the back seat, both because of the space and because of the elegant appearance. You also sit well in the front, despite the slightly short seat surface. Only the longitudinal adjustment range of the steering column is too small. That’s good for the back seat passengers, but bad for a truly ideal seating position. There is enough space to store things, including under the center console. 517 to 1289 liters fit in the trunk. Remarkable: 2000 kg trailer load. When, what, how much? There is currently neither an importer nor a dealer contract in Austria. Just negotiations. But GWM Europe is confident that market entry can happen in the first half of the year. Then the GWR Wey 03 in the already very well-equipped basic version will probably be available from around 45,000 euros. The top equipment should cost 4,000 euros more, while the only top-equipped all-wheel drive vehicle costs another 5,000 euros. If you are too demanding for the front-wheel drive car, you have to expect at least 54,000 euros. The thing with the name Attentive readers have long noticed: We already reported on this car two years ago, when it was at the first Munich IAA. Back then it was still called Wey Coffee 02. But Great Wall Motors is restructuring the brand(s): Wey is no longer its own brand, nor is Ora. Instead, GWR will be the brand in the future, Wey and Ora will be model names with a number set aside. The second Wey model – placed one class above the GWR Wey 03 and with a coupe-like roofline – comes to dealers as the Wey 05, the Ora Funky Cat becomes the GWM Ora 03.FahrzitIt is a promising premiere, the GWM Wey 03 delivered there. In fact, it offers an unbeatable offering in its class: size, performance data, electric range, features – everything is outstanding. It still needs a bit of fine-tuning, but there could still be a lot of progress before the market launch. Then you’ll see whether it’s a case of: Au-Wey or Wey Not? Why? Extremely good electric range Great performance data Relatively affordable price Why not? Expandable driving characteristics and hybrid set-up (FWD) No established brand Or maybe …… BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Seat Tarraco, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, VW Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq…
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