Recently, a top streamer, while selling products via livestream, blamed consumers for not working hard enough to earn money while complaining about rising prices, which stirred up sighs among many workers and was seen as the extravagant life in a mansion failing to see the social reality of difficult employment and low income. From his own perspective, with traffic in hand, he attracts consumers with low prices on one hand and lowers merchants' purchase prices on the other, gaining a huge margin from the difference. When most workers' incomes remain unchanged, they become more dependent on the low prices in the livestream room. The more dependent they are, the greater the streamer's traffic becomes, so he can negotiate even lower purchase prices from manufacturers. However, enterprises will ultimately pass on costs, and they are still shared among countless workers.
SAIC Roewe, while ensuring its own interests, gives back to consumers with maximum discounts and safeguards their interests. When the traditional "Golden September and Silver October" arrived, it timely launched the "Golden 9 Limited-Time Purchase" event. The all-new Roewe i5 currently has 5 models, with a manufacturer's suggested price of 68,900 to 90,900 yuan. The limited-time discount for the all-new Roewe i5 has increased to a maximum of 19,000 yuan. Taking the entry-level 1.5L manual Comfort Edition with a manufacturer's suggested price of 68,900 yuan as an example, it can be driven home for only 49,900 yuan. The 49,900 yuan also includes the first-year commercial insurance, a worry-free car-ownership gift package, and a 24-month 0-interest financial benefit for car purchases.
Two shoulder lines run through the side of the car, arranged in a well-proportioned way, enhancing the car body's sense of rhythm through the interplay of light and shadow. The sloping roofline is smooth and flowing, highlighting its presence.
The three-segment arrow-feather taillights widen the visual effect of the rear and provide high recognizability at night. The slightly raised small rear spoiler not only ensures driving safety but also adds beauty to the overall image. Echoing the Y-shaped decorations in the front and rear light clusters, the wheels also adopt a Y-shaped design, fully showing fashion.
The interior of the all-new Roewe i5 adopts a wrap-around design, dominated by horizontally stretched lines, which connect with the door panels to form a ring-shaped visual effect. The center console surface and the inner sides of the door panels are wrapped in soft leather, creating a good ambience.
The all-new Roewe i5 comes standard across the range with a 10.25-inch dual-screen setup, which is quite generous for a car at this price. The infotainment system is equipped with Zebra Smart Driving VENUS 2.0. Just say "Hello, Zebra," and it can enable continuous dialogue within 90 seconds, allowing voice control of the sunroof, navigation, music, Zebra mini-programs, and other rich in-car functions.
In addition, the all-new Roewe i5 is also equipped with the latest upgraded 360° high-definition panoramic camera paired with a transparent chassis, creating a 540° panoramic imaging system and providing the driver with a more comprehensive field of view. Especially when parking, the 540° panoramic image can ensure safe distances in front, behind, and on the sides of the car, which is quite practical.
There is another detail in the interior configuration of the all-new Roewe i5 that seems very unique: the multi-function steering wheel is equipped with buttons for turning on the air conditioning and adjusting fan speed. This kind of configuration is very rare and solves the pain point of inconvenient operation at the center screen while driving. While many new-force brands are still designing air conditioning buttons into secondary or even tertiary menus, the all-new Roewe i5 can control the air conditioning so conveniently, showing the engineer's precise observation of everyday needs.
In addition to ensuring the necessary sense of technology, the all-new Roewe i5 has also made efforts in comfort.
The front seats can fit the waist curve of Chinese people to the greatest extent, adopting a triple-softness design of low-hardness cushion, medium-hardness backrest, and high-hardness side wings, in line with ergonomics. It adopts a class-exclusive 20 mm zero-gravity filling layer and a 100 mm ultra-wide side wing design, providing ample wrap-around support. The seat fit area has increased by 28% compared with the previous generation, effectively improving seat wrapping and support.
The length, width, and height of the all-new Roewe i5 body are 4676X1838X1498 mm respectively. Compared with the 2021 model, the body length has increased by 7 cm and the body width by 2 cm, while the wheelbase remains 2680 mm. The 2680 mm wheelbase gives the rear row a class-leading maximum legroom of 54 mm, making it easy to cross one's legs without pressure. The 1415 mm class-leading widest shoulder room can easily accommodate three passengers, and even the middle rear passenger can enjoy comfort. The rear row has the class-exclusive central armrest cup holder, and the whole car has a total of 21 storage spaces. Together with the 422L trunk space, it meets the need to carry items when going out.
Overall, the all-new Roewe i5 has reached a class-leading level in space and loading capacity.
In terms of power, the all-new Roewe i5 is equipped with a 1.5L direct-injection naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum power of 95 kW and a maximum torque of 158 N·m, matched with a CVT transmission that simulates 8 gears.
After experiencing urban roads and highways, the overall power performance of the all-new Roewe i5 gave me a big surprise.
First, the low- and medium-speed power output is very brisk. The accelerator is very sensitive but does not "jump," and the CVT transmission manages the power very smoothly. On the highway, constrained by the power of the 1.5L engine, the mid- and rear-section performance is average. But as long as it is not extreme driving action, during acceleration and overtaking the engine can maintain around the maximum power speed of 6000 rpm, ensuring to a certain extent that the output power is sufficient and strong.
The suspension adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, and the overall tuning has a strong sense of solidity. Hydraulic mount damping is increased by 25%, reducing the sense of bumping and shaking while driving by 21% and the impact over bumps by 14%. When rolling over potholes and gaps, it is clean and crisp, even with a German feel.
Most importantly, the NVH of this powertrain is done well. Engine noise is very low, and the degree of vibration transmitted into the cabin is not obvious either. Whether it is the pedals or the steering wheel, it is difficult to detect the presence of vibration.
Another point where NVH performs well is tire noise. The all-new Roewe i5 uses the Kumho Solus series tires, which focus on quietness and comfort. The tire diameter is 17 inches and the aspect ratio is 50, which counts as "big feet" in the same class, but the overall vibration filtering and quietness level are still good.
The steering wheel has three levels of force adjustment and is very easy to drive.
The top-trim model tested, the 1.5L CVT Flagship Edition, has L2-level intelligent driving functions, with 9 functions including adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and lane departure warning. After turning on the assisted driving function, you can safely lightly hold the steering wheel, leave the accelerator pedal, and let the vehicle control its own speed. It is worth mentioning that in terms of passive safety, the all-new Roewe i5 adopts a high-strength steel cage body, with the torsional rigidity of the cage body increased by 7.2%. The top-trim model is also equipped with the most airbags in its class, 6 in total, which can provide family members with more comprehensive protection.
When consumers buy a car, they care most about cost-effectiveness, that is, buying the best configuration at the lowest price. This time, SAIC Roewe's "Golden 9 Limited-Time Purchase" can satisfy the wishes of most consumers. In particular, being able to drive home an all-new Roewe i5 for 49,900 yuan reduces to a certain extent the anxiety caused by income and allows people to become car owners, bringing their families a higher quality of life.
