Smart launches its first PHEV in China, with a pure electric range of 252km and a combined range of 1615km
[PCauto] Smart, the joint venture between Benz and Geely, has officially launched the Smart #5 EHD, with a pre-sale price starting from 189,900 RMB (approx. 113,000 MYR). It is scheduled to go on the market in October.
Marking a radical pivot in strategy, Smart has debuted its first-ever PHEV model, a significant departure from its previous all-electric roadmap. This bold shift is underscored by the vehicle’s large-capacity battery pack and a more accessible price point, making a clear move towards broader market appeal.The Smart #5 EHD represents a potential watershed moment for the brand. It has already garnered significant market attention, primarily due to its exceptional long-range capabilities on a single charge.
on a single charge.
Exterior: A Bold & Rugged Statement
The exterior design of the Smart #5 EHD carries forward the brand’s iconic ”Space Capsule” design philosophy, blending a monolithic, boxy silhouette with modern technological elements. Its overall dimensions are 4705mm in length, 1920mm in width, and 1710mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2900mm.
The front of the Smart #5 EHD features a sealed grille flanked by a full-width LED matrix light bar, which incorporates four individual light sources. The lower apron, finished in a matte-brushed texture, enhances the vehicle’s rugged and assertive character.
The hidden door handles on the side and 19-inch “Cosmos Roaming” wheels further elevate a cutting-edge technological aesthetic. A new fuel filler port has been added to the right rear fender, and the roof offers an optional lidar to support high-level autonomous driving features.
The rear is dominated by a full-width light bar utilizing 196 ultra-red LEDs, directly echoing the front lighting signature. This is complemented by gun-gray trim on the lower bumper and hidden exhaust outlets, which collectively enhance the design’s overall harmony and cohesion.
This design style, which combines square and round elements, precisely targets the urban high-end hybrid SUV market.Its rugged appearance and practical dimensions resonate strongly with users who value outdoor adventures and family excursions.
Interior: Premium Cabin with Spacious Practicality
In terms of the interior, the Smart #5 EHD adopts a wraparound cabin architecture that embodies a harmonious blend of functionality and sophisticated design.
Thanks to the boxy design and 2900mm wheelbase, the interior space is highly efficient and cleverly packaged. The vehicle leads the segment in both headroom and legroom, and the trunk capacity can be expanded to 1525L, supporting flexible layouts such as a “big bed,” making it suitable for family trips and outdoor scenarios.
In terms of materials, the high-end version features NAPPA genuine leather seats and HDD quilting technology. The interior color palette offers dual-tone options of light honey brown and obsidian black, and marks the first introduction of oak wood trim custom-developed by the Mercedes-Benz design team. The cabin’s sophistication is further elevated by chrome accents on details such as the air vents and door handles.
Technology configurations are a defing design highlight of the Smart #5 EHD interior. The five-screen interconnected system includes a 10.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, dual 13-inch AMOLED displays (2.5K resolution), and a 25.6-inch AR-HUD head-up display, supporting multi-screen map transfer and independent entertainment control.
To ensure smooth operation of the vehicle system, the Smart #5 EHD is powered by an AMD V2000 desktop-level chip, guaranteeing fluid and responsive multitasking capabilities.
In terms of intelligent interaction, it integrates AI large models and supports natural language commands such as playing music or controlling the air conditioning. The “Inspiration Planet 3.0” HMI interface is presented in a crystal prism style, and the Dynamic Smart Assistant enhances the user experience, making interactions more engaging and intuitive.
In terms of comfort, the high-end version offers zero-gravity seats, with the front passenger seat supporting a 121° recline angle and an 8-point airbag massage function. The front seats integrate ventilation and heating functions, while the rear seats support electric adjustment and heating. Additionally, it also features a CN95-grade air filtration system and active noise cancellation. This premium comfort is further enhanced by a 256-color ambient light array, with all systems working in harmony to ensure a relaxing environment.
In terms of intelligent driving support, the laser radar and dual NVIDIA Orin X chips provide 508 TOPS of computing power, enabling highway and city navigation assistance, LPA memory parking, and unprotected intersection avoidance functions, significantly boosting safety, stability, and handling when navigating complex road situations.
Smart #5 EHD hybrid technology originates from Geely
The Smart #5 EHD comes with EHD hybrid technology, fine-tuned based on Geely’s hybrid technology. This hybrid system supports five driving modes: pure electric, series, parallel, direct drive, and energy recovery.
The power unit includes a 1.5T hybrid-dedicated engine with a maximum power of 120kW (163 horsepower), ranking among the top in mass-produced engines.
The drive motor delivers a maximum power of 200kW (272 horsepower), enabling a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.9 seconds. The three-speed DHT gearbox supports cold starts at -30℃, with high-altitude power attenuation of only 3-4%.
Regarding the battery, it features a CATL 41.46kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, offering a CLTC pure electric range of 252km, fuel consumption of 4.4L/100km while running on depleted battery, and a combined range of up to 1615km.
In terms of charging efficiency, DC fast charging can replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in just 20 minutes. All-weather reliability is another key strength, achieved through aerospace-grade insulation and a proprietary heat pump system. This ensures the EV retains over 90% of its range at -30°C, while real-world high-altitude testing confirms a fuel consumption rate of under 5.3L/100km in charge-sustaining mode.
Unlike extended-range technology, the three-speed DHT transmission enables direct mechanical drive from the engine. This solves the issue of power instability at high speeds and additionally allows the
By combining its advanced EHD super hybrid technology, Mercedes-Benz heritage, and practical design, the Smart #5 EHD is well-positioned not only for success in China but also as a formidable competitor in the Southeast Asian PHEV SUV market, with particular potential in Thailand and Malaysia
Toyota Corolla Cross mid-term facelift in China, featuring a new front face and interior design
AshleySep 29, 2025, 04:08 PM
[PCauto] Toyota has launched the mid-cycle facelift of the Toyota Corolla Cross in China. In China, this model produced by GAC Toyota is called the Frontlander, which is the same model as the Toyota Corolla Cross produced by FAW Toyota.
GAC Toyota has set the price of the Frontlander at 132,800 CNY (approximately 600,000 THB / 78,600 MYR), with a limited-time promotional price starting at 102,800 CNY (approximately 464,000 THB / 61,000 MYR).
As a sibling model of the Toyota Corolla Cross, the 2026 Frontlander has undergone comprehensive upgrades tailored for the Chinese market, focusing on exterior design, interior quality, intelligent technology, and powertrain, aiming to enhance its competitiveness in the highly-contested compact SUV market.
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross/Frontlander front face has undergone significant modifications
The 2026 Frontlander adopts a brand-new front face design. The horizontally stretched shape lowers the visual center of gravity, eliminating the traditional large air intake grille and replacing it with a semi-enclosed style, enhancing the visual impression of an electric SUV. The front logo has been moved to the front end of the hood, and the front light cluster has been redesigned to improve modernity.
At the rear, the internal structure of the tail lights has been optimized to improve nighttime recognition. The rear bumper is paired with chrome trim and hidden exhaust design, enhancing the sense of layering.
The dimensions of the vehicle are as follows:
Length: 4490mm;
Width: 1825mm;
Height: 1625mm;
Wheelbase 2640mm, with an increase of 5mm in both length and height compared to the previous model.
2026 Toyota Corolla Cross/Frontlande Interior Design Becomes More Luxurious
The interior layout has been significantly revamped, with a reduction in the thickness of the dashboard console and a slender strip design for the air conditioning vents, giving the overall style a clean and premium feel.
The area covered by soft materials in the interior has increased, and the dashboard, steering wheel, and door panels now feature a new quilting technique, which significantly elevates the interior’s tactile experience. The front seats have been redesigned to provide better support, with synthetic leather materials available on certain models and an 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat.
The upgrade in technology features is a key aspect of this facelift. Apart from the entry-level version, all other variants come equipped with a 12.9-inch floating central control screen and an 8.8-inch LCD instrument cluster, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8155P automotive-grade chip, with a system response speed improvement of 40%.
The intelligent in-car entertainment system supports three connectivity modes: CarPlay, Huawei HiCar 5.0, and ICCOA Carlink. It integrates applications such as online navigation and QQ Music, and supports OTA remote upgrades.
The new car also adds 64-color ambient lighting and a 50W wireless charging feature, further enhancing the user experience.
In terms of safety performance, the 2026 Frontlander comes standard across all models with the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system. It offers L2-level driver assistance features, including lane-keeping, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic parking assist braking.
The new PKSB parking assist braking system can identify vehicles, pedestrians, and objects, enhancing driving safety.
The powertrain continues to offer fuel and hybrid options
Although the front-end design is inspired by electric vehicles, the power options for the 2026 Frontlander remain unchanged, catering to the needs of different consumers.
The fuel version is equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 126kW and a peak torque of 205N·m, paired with a CVT transmission, with an NEDC fuel consumption of 5.7 liters/100km.
The hybrid version adopts the fifth-generation THS, with a 2.0-liter engine producing a maximum power of 116kW, a combined system power of 147kW, and paired with an E-CVT transmission. Urban fuel consumption is as low as 4.2 liters/100km, with a range of approximately 800 kilometers on a full tank.
The chassis is built on the TNGA-C platform, featuring front MacPherson independent suspension and rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, balancing comfort and handling.
With comprehensive upgrades, the 2026 Frontlander achieves significant improvements in product strength. Its advanced intelligent features and optimized power systems help it maintain strong competitiveness in China’s compact SUV market.
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