At the Mobility Live Middle East 2024 held in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, I got a chance to check out the Skywell ET5, which has been confirmed for the U.S. market. The Chinese electric SUV (launched there as the Skyworth EV6) was expected to reach American shores as the Imperium SEV in 2022.
The release has faced setbacks, but when it does appear in the U.S., the car is expected to be sold as the Liteborne Aurium SEV, with the prices ranging between $34,000 and $48,000, as per a Freep story from 2023.
Skyworth is a consumer electronics brand, but since 2019, the Chinese concern has been making EVs as well. The company has launched its first electric SUV in the Middle East, as well as some parts of Europe. Here’s what I found out exploring a commercial version of the same:
Design
The Skywell ET5 is not a groundbreaking design and follows a basic recipe, which I found works very well for its intended purpose. Featuring conventional proportions that I would associate with gas-powered SUVs, what stands out is its muscular bonnet, foglamp enclosures that are shaped like a dumbbell, pronounced shoulder line, and the LED lights with four projectors.
From the side, the ET5’s generic SUV profile is further evident, with a neat floating roof spoiler. The understated rear is perhaps my favorite angle of the car with a single light band running across the tailgate and large reflectors embedded on the outer edge of the rear bumper.
Interior
What hit me first when I opened the door of the Skywell ET5 (Liteborne Aurium SEV) is its large touchscreen, which controls almost all functions of the vehicle. This leaves the dashboard looking clean and uncluttered, but as I’ve pointed out in earlier reviews, I’m not a fan of operating the air-conditioner or infotainment volume via menus.
I’m six feet tall, and I had no issues getting in and out of the ET5. The model I sampled was modified for logistics use, so it didn’t have rear seat amenities. The front seats (leather) are well designed and offer ample back, shoulder, and under-thigh support. I quite like the faux wood finish, the white topstitching, and the soft-touch surfaces on the door cards. Skywell has put effort into enhancing the feel of the cabin, and some of the materials and the color choices are surprisingly good.
However, the software of the infotainment system needs to improve as it displays a noticeable lag while adjusting the fan speed or the audio volume through the steering wheel, and isn’t as fast as some of the other Chinese SUVs I sat in at the show.
I would also like to see Skywell provide a thicker and more grippy steering wheel in future iterations and improve the quality of the operation of plastic parts, such as the aircon vents and the shutter for the cup holders, to make them more robust. Some of the features in the model I reviewed include a panoramic sunroof, 12.8-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch gauge cluster, cruise control, and electrically adjustable seats with heating and ventilation.
Specifications
Going by Skywell’s global site, the SUV measures 184.9 inches in length, 75.1 inches in width, and 66.8 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 110.2 inches. Globally, it is available in two variants, one with a 55.3 kWh battery pack and one with a 71.9 kWh battery pack, with the latter sold in the Middle East. The company estimates the battery packs to deliver a range of 410 km (255 miles) and 520 km (323 miles), respectively, as per NEDC calculation.
Common to the two variants is a 201 hp (150 kW)/320 Nm (236 lb-ft) electric motor powering the front wheels. It takes 40 minutes to charge from 20-80 percent, with an 80 kW DC capacity. The home charging solution is an 11 kW system which takes 8-10 hours to charge the battery.
TopElectricSUV says
Overall, the Skywell ET5 (Liteborne Aurium SEV) is an excellent first attempt at building an electric vehicle for a company that’s made a mark globally manufacturing televisions and audio-visual products. While its inaugural launch has some areas needing improvement, particularly in the software responsiveness and build quality of some interior parts, the company appears on track to become a strong contender with its future launches.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
