SKYWELL BE11

EV importer introduces obscure Chinese firm's mid-sized crossover to UK market

- SAM PHILLIPS

Say hello to the Skywell BE11, a rather unusual new electric crossover from China that's due on sale in the UK Sales imminently. The Skywell brand emerged in 2017 as a joint venture between consumer electronics group Skyworth and electric bus maker Nanjing Golden Dragon, and its cars are being brought here by Gloucestershire-based importer Innovation Automotive - which has sold DFSK electric trucks and vans for a while now and will soon also introduce a smaller and cheaper electric crossover, the Seres 3.

Skywell apparently sees itself as a rival to Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which is pretty ambitious, to say the least. The BE11 is its first-ever car, and you can have it with either a 72kWh battery offering 248 miles of range or a 86kWh battery that yields 304 miles. Both are mated to a single front-mounted motor that makes 201bhp and 236lb ft.

With similar proportions to a BMW iX3, the BE11 is pretty big inside: the cabin feels spacious and light, thanks to a panoramic roof. There are plenty of storage compartments and cubbyholes, and rear accommodation is impressive, too, with plenty of room for adults.

Our test car is an early example of the BE11 and UK pricing hasn't been confirmed yet, but we're told that the 72kWh version will cost around £35k and the 86kWh one somewhere between that and £40k. This moves it firmly into Audi Q4 E-tron, Toyota bŹ4X and Volkswagen ID 4 territory.

In terms of interior quality, it falls way short of those cars. The fake wood veneers, synthetic leather seat upholstery and scratchy plastics all feel cheap. You can prod and push bits of trim far too easily.