Volkswagen ID.UNYX, an electric SUV banned here
- Published on 18/07/2024 9:08
- Modified on 24/09/2025 23:22
Designed for the Chinese market, the new electric SUV Volkswagen ID.UNYX surprises with its style drawing inspiration from competitors.
Volkswagen is determined to succeed in China. Whether this is right or wrong? The future will tell, but today, nothing suggests that foreign manufacturers are welcome in the Middle Kingdom. And conversely… except that to be sold in China, a brand must manufacture its cars there from a certain volume. There’s no point in asking Ferrari to build a factory there, you see…
But despite these local joint ventures, Western manufacturers are facing unprecedented commercial setbacks in China. The local automotive industry has developed, and customers are encouraged to buy Chinese. Again, this is all fair (commercial) game. Even Tesla saw its sales plummet by nearly 25% in a year. Add to this a deep economic crisis (thanks to the war in Ukraine notably, which China supports by backing Russia), and the mix is perfect.
ID.UNYX, a strange name
To attract buyers, Volkswagen presents a new model exclusively designed and produced by and for China. The design is nothing personal, a sort of patchwork of Cupra Tavascan at the front and a restyled Tesla Model Y at the back. As for the profile, the “so 1980’s” door handles are surprising. In terms of dimensions, it is smaller than a Tesla Model Y: 4663 / 1860 / 1610 mm (length, width, height), compared to 4751 / 1921 / 1624 mm for the American model.
When asked what this model offers additionally to stand out, the answer isn’t obvious. The reading of the very reduced technical sheet tells us that the entry-level version offers a power of 210 kW (286 hp) coupled with a 77 kWh battery, which is the old generation that equipped, in particular, the ID.BUZZ or the ID.4 and ID.5. This simple rear-wheel drive version would ensure up to 621 km of range according to the very generous Chinese homologation cycle. When converted to a mixed WLTP equivalent, we would be more around 500 km.
An all-wheel drive version offers 250 kW (340 hp) for a range of 565 km. So, we are looking at a ID.5 re-bodied, simply, that Volkswagen is trying to pass off as a new product. Will the Chinese bite the hook? There is little chance.
In terms of pricing, the starting price would be 209,900 yuan (26,500 euros) and the high-end version at 249,000 yuan (31,500 euros). Prices that are significantly higher than the local competition. Again, we are curious to see how Volkswagen plans to carve out a niche in China. One satisfaction: this Volkswagen ID.UNYX is cheaper than a Tesla Model Y, its declared target.
This page is translated from the original post "Volkswagen ID.UNYX, un SUV électrique interdit chez nous" in French.
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