Nowadays, many Chinese car companies are starting to develop in the direction of high-end, launching a number of models positioned in the high-end direction, such as Changan Automobile launched the UNI lineup, which is relatively more advanced than the CS lineup in terms of positioning.
The Changan UNI-K was launched with high expectations, and in the Chinese market, monthly sales were 10 times that of the Mazda CX-5.But in the Middle East, the car's sales are not really that good, is the product not good enough or the configuration is not as good as its class rivals?This article will bring you a comprehensive understanding of the UNI-K from the appearance, interior, power, and help you organize the advantages and disadvantages of Changan UNI-K.
Exterior: the front looks a lot like 2025 Lexus RX
Changan UNI-K's length is 4865 millimeters, width is 1948 millimeters, height is 1690 millimeters, for the wheelbase are 2890 millimeters, compared to the same class Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV, the size can be said to be far ahead, while higher body also represents a more excellent space performance.
The appearance of Changan UNI-K is the same as other models in the UNI lineup, all of which adopt a borderless front face, the front grille and the front end of the car's coverings basically blend into one, with no obvious demarcation line, and the inside of the center mesh is trimmed with a large number of dotted skeleton elements, and at the first glance of this car, doesn't it look a little bit like a 2025 Lexus RX?
However, it should be noted that the design of this grille is very complex, once the damage occurs, basically only the entire replacement.
（2025 Lexus RX）
The headlights on both sides do not have a split design, but are slim, flat and irregularly shaped, with LED light sources as standard, as well as automatic headlamps and delayed headlamp shut-off.Fog lamp area has inverted Y shape of silver chrome decoration, there are also designed to have a structure similar to the air intake used for decoration.
The side stance is more dynamic, although it does not have a smooth roof curve like pure coupe SUVs like the BMW X6 or Lamborghini Urus, but the high front and low rear roofline and the rear windshield that comes with a large angled tilt still give the body some sporty look. In addition, the car also makes a recessed design and black trim panels on the lower part of the front doors to build the structure of the deflector slots. It's worth noting that the UNI-K is offered with 21-inch wheels, which are just as imposing.
As for the rear position, Chang'an UNI-K adopts a relatively powerful through the tail lamps, and will be the logo logo fusion in which it also designed the rear spoiler wing, with a bilateral total of four exhaust styling, showing a more obvious sporty atmosphere.
Changan UNI-K all models of the car length of 4865 mm, car width of 1948 mm, car height of 1690 mm, for the wheelbase are 2890 mm, compared to the same class Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV, the size can be said to be far ahead, while the higher body also represents a more excellent space performance.
Recommended reading:
Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V, NA or Turbo?
Interior: large 3.5+10.25+9.2-inch full LCD instrument cluster
Regrettably, although the space performance of Changan UNI-K is not bad, the cabin of this model does not give a very good sense of texture.Entering the cockpit, you can see that Changan UNI-K uses more soft materials wrapped, but the workmanship of some details is not excellent, and it uses imitation leather seats, which give people a tactile feeling that is not very delicate.Fortunately, Changan UNI-K equipped with a lot of comfort features, the front seats are equipped with ventilation as standard, so that consumers can get a more comfortable driving experience.
In the part of the center console, it follows the family design style with a large 3.5+10.25+9.2-inch full LCD dashboard, the design has been seen in other versions of the Changan UNI series.Although the size is large enough, the screen is not well integrated, so it will take some time to get used to it for first-time users.The 12.3-inch trapezoidal center console screen has GPS navigation,OTA upgrades, and cell phone connectivity, which is rare for models in its price range.
The top also has a panoramic sunroof can be opened, the height of 180cm experience person sitting in the car head there is a fist remaining, the sense of space is better, keep the front row does not move to sit in the back row, leg activity space in more than two fists, the rear row space performance is very good.The second row of the middle position is not depressing to ride up, flat floor even if adults are seated, long-distance driving legs also do not feel uncomfortable.
The rear seats can be folded almost completely flat to create a huge amount of space.The trunk has a capacity of 518 liters, which can be expanded to 1,412 liters when the rear seats are down.
Engine: Power to outperform rivals in its class
In terms of powertrain, the Changan UNI-K is a standard 2.0L turbocharged engine that gives consumers 171 kW (232 PS) of maximum power and 390 Nm of peak torque, paired with an 8AT transmission.
If you look at the power parameters alone, the Chang'an UNI-K is not a bad performer and already outperforms most competitors in its class.However, the engine displacement is relatively large after all, and the body size is not small, according to the data on Changan's official website, the comprehensive fuel consumption of 100 kilometers is 8.4L-8.9L.
From the driving experience, Changan UNI-K in the front acceleration, power response speed and power output performance are good, in the middle and rear acceleration, can also give a strong power output, the performance is quite excellent.
Features
The Changan UNI-K comes standard with reverse parking radar, 360-degree panoramic camera, full-speed adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, keyless start, remote start, hidden door handles, leather steering wheel, etc., which is a lot of features for a mid-size SUV with a SAR 150,000.
Price
The Changan UNI-K is offered in one model:
Elite：SAR 141,335(Price with VAT)
Summary
To summarize, the overall product strength of Changan UNI-K is not that bad, with a 2.0L turbocharged engine, large space and a relatively rich configuration, it can meet the basic needs of users.
But Changan is after all a Chinese car company, the brand influence can not be compared with the Japanese and Korean brands, many people in the choice of more than 150,000 models, or more willing to choose like Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V models.Of course, if you're looking for individuality and don't care that much about the brand, the Changan UNI-K is still a good choice for those with a budget of SAR 150,000.
Compared to these visible and tangible things, maybe some people are more concerned about the owner's experience with the car, below to help you summarize 5 pros and cons from owners:
Disadvantages:
1. Average fuel economy
Due to the greater weight of the vehicle, equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged engine, the UNI-K's gas mileage performance is not as good as naturally aspirated or hybrid models in the same class, and may be more suitable for the Toyota RAV4 for some family users.
2. Chassis tuning favors comfort
Although it is suitable for daily city driving, the suspension tuning is softer, and the body roll is more obvious when cornering at high speed, which is less attractive to users pursuing a sense of control.
3. Fewer after-sales outlets
In some areas, Changan's after-sales service outlets are not yet fully covered, which may lead to inconvenience in repair and maintenance.
4. Transmission stutters significantly
When the speed is 30-40km/h, there will be obvious frustration, step on the gas pedal to the end, the delay is relatively large, about 1 second before there is a clear sense of downshifting speed.
5. Many strange noises
According to the owner's discussion on the Internet, UNI-K has rattles in the rear trunk and sunroof.
Pros:
1. Stylish appearance
Every detail of the front face is personalized, and the whole front face has a strong sense of crossover, like a car from the future, very recognizable.
2. Larger interior space than competitors in the same class
The 4865mm body length and 2890mm wheelbase bring spacious interior space, both front and rear seats and trunk space, can meet the needs of family users.
3. Luxury Interior
Equipped with high-grade materials and advanced technology, such as 12.3-inch multi-link screen design, NAPPA leather seats, ambient lighting, etc., the overall texture is close to that of luxury brands.
4. Rich Intelligent Configurations
Equipped with L2-level intelligent driver assistance system, including full-speed domain adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, 360-degree panoramic image, etc., providing a safe and convenient driving experience.
5. High cost performance
As a mid-size SUV, UNI-K offers luxury features and strong power while its price is more competitive compared to SUVs in the same class.
Yasir Al-Mansouri have more than 10 years of experience in the automotive journalism world. He is an expert of automotive news articles, features, and reviews on cars, from the latest models to industry trends. He've built strong relationships with car manufacturers and industry experts. Connect with Yasir Al-Mansouri on LinkedIn to stay updated on all things automotive and join our exciting journey in exploring the world of automobiles.
