In the past, people only considered small cars to be "compact" and "cheap". However, with the continuous upgrading of automobile technology, the functions equipped are becoming more and more complete. Nowadays, young consumers are no longer satisfied with the function of small cars as a means of transportation. They are more looking forward to having a car that can show personality, meet family needs, and have high cost performance. So, among the many new cars, which small cars are worth choosing? Here are three very popular models recommended to you. Compared with most models of the same price, they are a step up in appearance, space, comfort, and even configuration and power. They are definitely good value for money and can be used as a reference for everyone when buying a car.
BYD Seagull
Suggested price: RMB 69,800-85,800
The Seagull is BYD Ocean Network's new pure electric small car, built on the e-platform 3.0 technology. Since its launch at the end of April 2023, its sales have been rising steadily with its affordable price and good product strength, and it has won the sales champion in the market segment for many months. According to the latest data, the cumulative sales from January to April this year reached 99,116 units, with an average monthly sales of more than 24,000 units, of which 28,797 units were sold in April, making it the absolute leader in small cars.
As a pure electric small car, Seagull can compete with traditional fuel models as well as pure electric models. In terms of price, the price of 69,800-85,800 yuan is only lower than that of competing products. In terms of appearance, unlike the rounded and cute shapes of most small cars on the market, the overall style of Seagull is more individual and dynamic. Its length, width and height are 3780/1715/1540 mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2500mm, which is very good data for a small car. At the same time, the four-door shape also greatly improves convenience. Both the spacious interior space and the stylish and unique appearance have attracted the attention of many consumers.
In terms of interior, the whole series is equipped with a 10.1-inch adaptive rotating floating Pad, built-in DiLink intelligent network system, supporting video playback, voice interaction and other functions, bringing users a new smart car experience. At the same time, it also adopts the high-strength body structure + blade battery exclusive to pure electric models, and comes standard with main/passenger airbags and front and rear through-type side airbags, ESP electronic vehicle stability system, EPB electronic parking, etc. In addition, it is also equipped with a high-level intelligent driving assistance system, including adaptive cruise, active emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning and other functions.
In terms of power, it is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous drive motor with a maximum power of 55kW and a maximum torque of 135N·m. The official 0-50km/h acceleration time is 4.9 seconds, which can meet daily commuting needs. In terms of battery life, it uses BYD's unique lithium iron phosphate blade battery, which has two versions with a capacity of 30.08kWh and 38.88kWh. The CLTC pure electric range is 305km and 405km respectively. It is standard with slow charging and fast charging. In fast charging mode, it only takes 0.5 hours to charge from 30% to 80%. Among small cars under 100,000 yuan, compared with cars of the same level, the comprehensive strength of the Seagull is indeed strong, and it is no wonder that its sales have been rising steadily since its listing.
Suggested price: RMB 59,800-88,800
Wuling Bingo is a new small electric car under SAIC-GM-Wuling, and it is also a rare and hot-selling model in this market segment. Since its launch in March 2023, Wuling Bingo's sales performance has been relatively good, becoming another popular model of SAIC-GM-Wuling after the "Hongguang MINIEV". Among them, the sales volume in April this year was 11,749 units.
In addition to the affordable price, the strong product performance is also the key to a popular model. In terms of appearance, it has obvious styling differences from other electric vehicles in the family. The whole vehicle is outlined with rounded lines, and the closed front grille is matched with rounded headlights, which has a very fashionable visual effect. Its length, width and height are 3950/1708/1580 mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2560mm, which is larger than the Hongguang MINIEV. It will also be more outstanding in terms of space performance, and the rear seat will be more practical.
In terms of interior, it adopts a two-tone interior style, with many detailed chrome trims, creating a good fashion atmosphere. At the same time, it is also equipped with the currently popular dual 10.25-inch through-type screen design, double-spoke multi-function steering wheel, and knob-type shift mechanism to further enhance the vehicle's sense of technology. The circular air-conditioning outlets at both ends of the center console are very unique, and the one-piece styling seats also increase the youthfulness of this car. In addition, it also provides a number of highly practical configurations, such as ABS anti-lock, brake force distribution, tire pressure alarm, seat belt unfastened reminder, child seat interface, cruise control, reversing image, automatic wiper, front driver and passenger airbags, ESC body stability control, automatic parking, etc.
In terms of power, it provides two power options: low power and high power. The low power model is equipped with an electric motor with a maximum power of 30kW; the high power model will be equipped with an electric motor with a maximum power of 50kW. Although the power parameters are not too high, it is enough for a small car and can fully meet the needs of daily driving. In terms of battery life, depending on the battery capacity, the CLTC operating range is 203km, 333km and 410km respectively, which is enough for daily commuting.
BYD Dolphin
Suggested price: RMB 99,800-139,800
As BYD's first model built on the e-platform 3.0, the Dolphin is also one of the best-selling pure electric models in this market segment, with cumulative sales of 48,266 units from January to April this year, and an average monthly sales of more than 12,000 units. The Dolphin was first launched in China in August 2021, and the Dolphin Honor Edition was launched in February this year. There are a total of 4 models for consumers to choose from, with a price range of 99,800-129,800 yuan, which has obvious advantages compared with many models of the same price.
In terms of appearance, it is round and cute, and provides rear privacy glass and new Atlantis Gray and Heat Wave Scarlet pure color. Thanks to the advantages of high integration and high flexibility of the e-platform 3.0, it has a wheelbase of 2700mm, comfortable chassis tuning and quiet riding experience. It is not only flexible and easy to park, but also guarantees interior space and high-level driving quality to meet the needs of different scenarios.
In terms of interior, the whole series is equipped with a suspended 5-inch full LCD instrument and a 12.8-inch central control screen, with a built-in DiLink intelligent network system, which supports online navigation, OTA remote upgrades, voice interaction and other functions. It is worth mentioning that the Dolphin's seats adopt an integrated design, with a more stylish shape. The front seats are also equipped with ventilation functions, and the overall comfort is improved. In addition, a Type-C charging port has been added to the front row, and 50-watt wireless charging has been upgraded. The DiPilot intelligent assisted driving system greatly improves playability and convenience, making driving easier. At the same time, the whole series is equipped with LED headlights, 6-speaker audio, heat pump air conditioning, mobile power station VTOL, mobile phone NFC key, leather steering wheel, and 6-way electric adjustment of the main driver's seat.
In terms of power, there are two power versions. The low-power version is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 70kW and a peak torque of 180N·m; while the high-performance version has a maximum power of 130kW and a peak torque of 290N·m. In terms of battery life, depending on the model version, it is equipped with batteries with a capacity of 32.256kWh and 44.928kWh, and the CLTC range is 302km, 401km and 420km. In addition, the four-link independent suspension has been upgraded. Compared with the same-level competitors, which are mostly torsion beam non-independent suspensions, both the driving performance and comfort have been qualitatively improved.
Uncle Che’s summary
As the competition in the domestic automobile market becomes increasingly fierce, automakers need to continue to innovate in the competition and improve their competitiveness. Just as the three models above have an average monthly sales of more than 10,000 units, they can gain a foothold in the fiercely competitive automobile market. The product strength is naturally recognized by users, and they all have their own characteristics. Among them, BYD Seagull has a good performance in terms of appearance, configuration, power, etc., and it has really achieved the goal of being small but complete; Wuling Bingo is a more people-friendly choice among new energy vehicles of the same level, and has attracted many consumers with reasonable configuration and affordable car costs; and Dolphin has been on the market for a long time, has certain market feedback, and its appearance is younger and more sporty, and it has leading safety and endurance performance in its class. If you are looking to buy a small car recently, the above three models are all very good choices, and you can choose them according to your needs.
