Remember that Changan Eado EV that was spotted in Malaysia? Here's a quick run-down on this RM 90k EV

Last week, photos of a Changan Eado EV460 on Malaysian streets raised an eyebrow or two. For a country with only a handful of EVs, the sight of the Eado EV460 has gotten people talking.

For those who are still in the dark, here's a brief run-down on what you need to know about this EV. 

First, what is the Changan Eado EV460?

The Changan Eado EV460 is a C-segment sedan that has its roots as a regular internal combustion engine (ICE) car, hence its taller bonnet and fuel lid on the right side. 

In China, Changan offers several versions of the Eado, including hatchback and sedan body styles. Said model also gets the choice between regular petrol-powered engines and an EV version - the latter being the Eado EV460. 

Is the Changan Eado EV460 powerful?

The Changan Eado EV460 gets an electric motor that does 136 PS and 245 Nm. A 52.56-kWh battery pack allows for an NEDC range of 405 km. It comes with China-specific GB/T charging ports. Yes, ports. There are two charging ports on the Eado EV, one located on the front grille that does DC quick charging and another is where the fuel lid is. The latter does regular, slower AC charging.

According to Changan, the Eado EV460 takes 30 minutes to charge using DC fast charging from 30% to 80% charge. From 0% to 80%, it takes only 50 minutes.

How big is the Changan Eado EV460?

The Changan Eado EV460 is 4,740 mm long, 1,820 mm wide, and 1,530 mm tall. It has a 2,700-mm-long wheelbase, putting it on par with rivals like the Geometry A Pro.

Here’s a quick dimension comparison between the Changan Eado EV, Geometry A Pro, and FC-generation Honda Civic – the latter serving as a point of reference.

What does it compete against?

Given its similar dimensions and segment its in, the Changan Eado EV460 competes against the Geometry A Pro and the BYD Qin Plus.

The Geometry A Pro does 204 PS and 310 Nm, with an NEDC range of between 430 km to 600 km, depending on variant and battery capacity. 

As for the BYD Qin Plus, power output ranges from 136 PS and 180 Nm to 184 PS and 280 Nm. The Qin Plus offers an NEDC range of up to 600 km, also dependent on variant and battery capacity. 

What safety kit does the Eado EV460 get?

Safety equipment varies from variant-to-variant. On the top-spec variant, it gets 6 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ABS, EBD, and stability control. Cruise control and a reverse camera are also offered. 

There are no ADAS features available on Eado EV460. 

Which other countries sell the Changan Eado EV?

Currently, the Changan Eado EV460 is only sold in China and the Philippines. In other words, it's only available as left-hand drive, which begs the question - so what is it doing here in right-hand drive Malaysia then? Unfortunately that's a question we don't have an answer to yet.

What’s the price of the Changan Eado EV460?

In China, the Changan Eado EV460 is priced between CNY 129,900 (~RM 84k) to CNY 139,900 (~RM 91k), overlapping rivals like the Geometry A Pro (CNY 118,700 / ~RM 77k to CNY 188,700 / ~RM 123k ) and BYD Qin Plus (CNY 105,800 / ~RM 69k to CNY 174,800 / RM 114k).

All prices are inclusive of subsidies provided by the Chinese government.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, Changan Philippines only said that the Eado EV460’s price as “Price on application”.

Is it coming to Malaysia?

As mentioned earlier, the Changan Eado EV460 is not available in right-hand drive form so introduction to Malaysia can be ruled out.

Although Changan has a presence in Malaysia via Berjaya China Motors (BCM), the company is focused on commercial vehicles, not passenger cars.

That said, the presense of one left-hand drive unit of the Changan Eado EV460 running around in Malaysia certainly adds to the intrigue.

Also Read: Far from home, what’s this Changan Eado EV doing in Malaysia?