Quick Review Verdict: The WULING Hongguang Mini EV in this review is the closest we’ll get to practicality with this electric form factor in the Philippines. It has the initial acceleration, comfort, air conditioning, and space of a regular ICE car within its segment, and is only let down by its lack of rear doors and aging head unit. It’s still something worth considering as an everyday commuter within the city. 

Pros

• Seats 4 people
• Torquey EV motor
• Intelligent use of limited interior space
• Frigid airconditioning system

Cons

• No cargo space with the rear seats up
• Audio control panel is ancient

With fuel prices on a steep upward curve and environmental impact nearing irreversible status, the world is now trying to look toward electric vehicles as the solution of tomorrow. It may not seem realistic, but numerous car manufacturers have committed to battery-powered lineups within the next decade – especially now that the EU has announced that it will ban vehicles running on fossil fuels from 2035 onwards.

As EVs continue to make their way around the world, we got to try out one of the smallest examples available in the country: the WULING Hongguang Mini EV. With a promise of a minuscule form factor with equally minimal compromises, does it live up to expectations?

Big thank you to ATOY Customs for lending us this vehicle!

Exterior

A first look at the outside of the WULING Hongguang Mini EV is enough to make you realize that it’s not like anything sold on the market today. Its boxy shape reminds us of the Nissan Cube of decades past, with its size resembling a Kei car more than anything else. At any rate, not even an automotive casual could mistake it for a Toyota Wigo or a Honda Brio at all.

Its headlights are done in a hexagonal shape with more conventional halogen bulbs embedded. The turn signals are nestled in the corners.

Connecting the two is the piano black grille running across the front fascia. Due to its color, most wouldn’t notice the holes even in broad daylight, lending to its streamlined design. At the center is the WULING brand logo bearing some resemblance to a phoenix, which doubles as the door to the charging port.

From the side, nothing really stands out but you’ll quickly notice that this only comes with two doors much like a Toyota GR Yaris. It’s definitely a unique silhouette that comes with its own pros and cons.

Supplied with every unit are wheels that look like ceramic plates. It adds a bit of a neo-retro vibe with its mirror-like finish and spaceship design that was popular quite some time ago.

The car’s backside shares a lot of aesthetic traits with its face, something you can’t say about human beings but is acceptable with cars. Expectedly, the branding and logos are all layered here as well as a sharp rear-wing that appears to have popped out of a sci-fi film. Embedded within dimples on the rear are sensors for reverse parking.

Interior

Stepping inside the cabin shows you what can be achieved through smart and efficient design. Necessary items such as the airconditioning vents have been bumped up as close to the windshield as possible to maximize real estate within the cabin. Either way, the powerful fan still blows cold air throughout the interior, as seen with the icy blue accents on the control knobs.

Personality is imbued into every crevice of the car, as seen in these pedals which symbolize the addition or subtraction of speed.

The ventilation controls can be spotted at the center of the vehicle, accessible to both driver and passenger. It is surrounded by an orange cladding that spices up the panel.

What you’ll find next to these is a tiny, monochromatic display indicating the current radio station as well as power and volume knobs. A USB outlet is present for connecting your devices, but this is only for charging with no media-sharing capability. We would have appreciated a more modernized design here but there are countless affordable third-party options to connect to the car’s speakers. The sound output here is acceptable considering the cabin size and segment.

Right in front of the driver are the steering wheel and digital dashboard. The latter displays vital information such as time/date, battery level, range, speed, and gear engaged. Both the dash and the circular shifter don’t have a “P” option, with an electric plug symbol symbolizing “charging mode” taking its place.

To save space on the minimally-appointed side armrests, the window toggles are in the center as well.

Storage cubbies are snuck into the cabin wherever the opportunity presented itself. You can put things in the door cards, both for the front and rear passengers as specific sections are allotted. Under the front controls is also a netted section that can store wallets, cards, smartphones, and other similarly-sized items.

A nonslip rubber layering has also been tailor-made for the dashboard, which divides the flat surface into sections and sports a cutout for the cupholder.

Moving onto the seats, they look a little narrow but they’re perfectly fine for a variety of body types. Covered in leather, they’re supple and comfortable but do get hot when you sit on them after being parked in the sun.

The rear seats follow a bench setup you often find in other coupes and is also equally clad in the same material as the front seats. Headroom for all passengers is alright given the cubic design, but rear legroom might be an issue for taller passengers.

Four seatbelts can be found within the cabin.

Opening up the rear door on this hatchback reveals cargo space that can only be described as “minimal.” A Marie Kondo approach to packing may be essential for 4 people. However, a couple going on an out-of-town trip could definitely fit their luggage within the area of the rear seats.

Comfort and Driving Dynamics

We weren’t able to drive the WULING Hongguang Mini EV for a prolonged amount of time in the Philippines during this review, but piloting this on city streets gave us an image of what it would be like to live with this automobile.

Its smaller 12-inch wheels did fall into potholes and other road imperfections, but the front McPherson suspension setup took the hits in stride. Despite its urban looks, the car did not feel like it was going to disintegrate after going over craters and rougher terrain; nor did I require a spinal realignment after testing. While it’s by no means a Rolls Royce Cullinan in road refinement, it’s impressive for what it is.

Stepping on the quirky gas pedal reminded us of the pleasures of lightweight, perky cars. It can squeeze itself through tight traffic spaces and whir quietly on city streets. The natural torque of its 20 KW, 80 Nm electric powertrain can get it up to speed in a jiffy despite the presence of a passenger. Keep your foot mashed to the floor and this little EV will reach an advertised maximum speed of over 100 km/h. That beats out the Renault Twizy, which also means it’s street and highway legal.

Turning is effortless which successfully emulates the feeling of modern power steering systems. It has a golf cart-esque feel to it, which those who’ve driven one recall to be quite great fun. Its turning radius of just 4.2m is astounding. Mr. Atoy Llave has gone to the extent of performing a handbrake turn in this, boasting its nimble side.

Stopping on a dime is doable with a confidence-inspiring brake feel. The front disc and rear drum brake system are responsive to modulation and have also been proven under stress with a sudden-stop braking test. The brake pedal doesn’t sink into the floor easily, with the decrease in speed sufficiently proportional to the brake force applied via the right foot.

The onboard 13.9 kWh battery can hold a range of a claimed 170km, with this dropping to 130-140km in realistic stop-and-go Manila traffic.  Incoming variants of the WULING Hongguang Mini EV aim to increase this range to around double its current capacity. Calculating to a cost of PHP 9.7545 per kilowatt-hour, topping this up costs PHP 135.59. That means each kilometer traveled (considering the lower-end 130km of range) will cost you PHP 1.042.

WULING Hongguang Mini EV Quick Review Philippines: Conclusion

The WULING Hongguang Mini EV is a solid representative of affordable, privatized electric transport years into the future. It offers the necessary amenities such as air conditioning, decent range, seating for more than 2 people, windshield washers, and other comforts we now consider requirements more than luxuries. This makes it a splendid city car and definitely shouldn’t be dismissed as just another toy. It’s not perfect at all, but we’re confident enough to say that the pros outweigh the cons here.

WULING Hongguang Mini EV Review Price Philippines

This EV is being sold by resellers through Atoy Customs for a price of PHP 680,000. According to Atoy Customs, this model sold here is far from base specifications and the overhead is just enough to cover shipping, taxes, and administrative expenses. Considering that you’re getting here, we’d say it’s a deal worthy of your consideration. It also comes with a 6-month warranty.

We were able to speak with Mr. Atoy Llave himself on why he decided to allow local resellers to use his beloved Atoy Customs as a dealer for sales. He mentioned that this model is not flimsy or unreliable like other EVs he’s tried – it doesn’t have a fatal flaw or compromise (that he knows of, at least). He’s also conducted his own research and discovered that rave reviews of the brand can be found aplenty online.

He would also like to clarify to the public that Atoy Customs is not an official WULING distributor, however, his partnered resellers have assured prospective buyers that parts are available should something malfunction or break. All-in-all, he is passionate about opening the public’s eyes to the feasibility of using an EV as a commuter car and is willing to answer questions about it – but he also understands that current EV support in the Philippines has a very specific market.

One day, he is still planning to bring one of these up to the mountains of Antipolo just to prove its torque and dispel myths that “EVs can’t climb.”

We’d like to say thank you to Atoy Customs for letting us use the WULING Hongguang Mini EV. They have plans to bring in future models with a higher range and more amenities installed. For those who are interested in viewing, testing, or purchasing the unit, please contact James at +639088121379.