Voyah is to Dongfeng what Lexus is to Toyota: a luxury brand targeted at a discerning and affluent customer base. In September 2020, it made its formal premiere at the Beijing Motor Show. Two concepts built on the group’s Essa (Electric, Intelligent, and Safety Architecture) platform were displayed in the dedicated booth. The Chinese company is known for its cutting-edge vehicles, such as the i-Land sports sedans and i-Free SUVs.
Voyah Free competes in the same field as the Nio ES8, Audi e-Tron, and Mercedes EQE, with a space mobilization footprint of 4.90 x 1.95 m and a height of 1.65 m. Additionally, it may be requested in conjunction with the Tesla Model X or Model Y in plans to purchase an uncommon electric SUV.
Design of Voyah Free
Due to the range-extender model’s requirement for a grille, the FREE’s design is rather traditional, but it nonetheless commands attention thanks to its reverse angle C-pillar and 20-inch turbine-style alloy wheels that are supposed to give it a yacht-like appearance.
It is indeed larger than other vehicles in its class; it is a full 24 cm longer than a GLC and has a wheelbase that is 8.5 cm longer. This is demonstrated by the spacious interior, which is especially beneficial for passengers in the back.
The interior is anything but traditional, even if the outside is. The FREE feels opulent because of its white and blue trim, another allusion to the nautical theme. With three 12.3-inch screens covering the width of the cabin in a unit that dramatically raises out the dash a few inches upon entry, the dashboard, in particular, is something to behold. At the touch of a button or automatically in Sport mode, it can be lowered once more.
In addition to your standard connectivity, the center and right screens also stream music and videos, at least in the Chinese edition. Along with screen mirroring compatibility with Huawei HiCar, the device also offers karaoke and “party mode.”
In addition to your standard connectivity, the centre and right screens also stream music and videos, at least in the Chinese edition. Along with screen mirroring compatibility with Huawei HiCar, the device also offers karaoke and “party mode.”
Except for the most basic electric version, which loses the massage option, heated, ventilated, and pulsating front seats are standard on all models. However, there is no such option for rear passengers. The top-of-the-line Exclusive Deluxe grade also comes standard with a full-length electronically dimmable sunroof, a 10-speaker high-end DYNAudio sound system, night vision mode, and 110mm air suspension. It makes sense that 97 percent of Chinese consumers chose the more expensive of the two trim options.
The spacing won’t be good because of the double-wishbone and several links. The internal area of the VOYAH is inadequate given its size, and when compared to rival LEADING IDEAL, it simply must be outclassed; while other LEADING IDEAL can accommodate three rows, the VOYAH can only accommodate two. At this point, the narrative’s LEADING IDEAL sales said that the LEADING IDEAL was being handled poorly because it wanted to provide more space. The handling is not significant due to the LEADING IDEAL’s placement. The handling method of choice is VOYAH.
In fact, the capacity of the VOYAH is entirely adequate and the rear row is also very large if we consider the usage scenario of no more than 5 persons alone.
Drive Quality of Voyah Free
The front windows’ double glazing contributes to the cabin’s excellent noise isolation from both road and engine noise, making the engine practically undetectable when it is running.
The air suspension of the Voyah FREE makes it a comfortable cruiser on the road, erasing all but the worst of road conditions. The two 255kWh motors in our test vehicle provide 675 horsepower and 1040 nm of torque, accelerating the FREE to 62 mph in in 4.5 seconds (4.7 in the battery version), and giving it the characteristic, linear shove in the rear that is characteristic of electrified cars.
Battery & Motors of Voyah Free
Voyah Free has two small permanent-magnet synchronous motors that can be coupled to provide 360 kW (490 hp) of power and 750 Nm of maximum torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a peak speed limiter of 200 km/h.
A 100 kWh NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) lithium-ion cathode battery with a 106.4 kWh total energy capacity powers the motor. The Chinese manufacturer claims a mixed cycle WLTP range of roughly 530 km and an average usage of 18 kWh per 100 km. The pack may be recharged with DC electricity up to 125 kW through the Combo CCS connector. We consider it to be a far cry from what Hyundai, a Korean giant, now provides.
The discrepancy can be relativized by a decent curve. For use with the 22 kW AC connectors used in public areas or on individual wall boxes, the car features an 11 kW charger.
Price of Voyah Free
The starting price is around £40,000 for the Voyah Free.
Conclusion
Overall, the Voyah FREE shows a powerful case for itself, especially for £40,000. Suppose you’re looking for a luxury mid-size SUV. In that case, the Voyah FREE deserves serious consideration even if it will likely cost more in Europe because to its amazing feature set, opulent interior, and selection of EV powertrains. However, you’ll have to wait.
