ARCFOX Kaola

Model Overview

The ARCFOX Kaola is an intelligent family vehicle developed by the ARCFOX brand specifically for urban parents. Officially launched on 20 September 2023, it was initially offered in four variants: Family, Family Pro, Parent-Child, and Parent-Child Pro, with official guide prices ranging from RM131,800 to RM169,800. As the brand's first model dedicated to family mobility, the Kaola was purposefully engineered around the needs of parents travelling with young children, incorporating tailored solutions in cabin air quality and health, integrated child safety seats, and daily practical conveniences. In August 2024, the Kaola S was introduced, repositioning the model into the compact SUV segment with two variants—AIR and PRO—priced at RM109,800 and RM119,800 respectively. In January 2026, the 2026 Kaola S was officially launched, featuring CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries as standard across the range, an improved CLTC range of 520 km, and a lower entry price starting from RM99,800. The 2026 Kaola S lineup comprises three variants: 520 AIR, 520 PRO, and 520 MAX, with official guide prices of RM99,800, RM109,800, and RM119,800 respectively. Since February 2024, selected regional dealerships have offered limited-time rebates of RM10,000, bringing its starting price down to RM99,800 and cementing its value-for-money appeal.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the ARCFOX Kaola blends sleek aesthetics with practical utility. Up front, it features a closed-off grille typical of new energy vehicles, flanked by rounded LED headlamps that give the car a distinct, friendly character with strong road presence. In profile, a short front overhang paired with a long wheelbase gives the vehicle a stretched silhouette while maximising passenger room inside. In terms of dimensions, the 2026 Kaola S measures 4,500 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, and 1,675 mm tall, with a generous 2,820 mm wheelbase that stands out in the compact segment. For 2026, four exterior colours are available: Pearl White, Bubble Grey, Moss Green, and Gloss Platinum Grey. At the rear, a minimalist full-width LED taillight bar is paired with a prominent tailgate spoiler, adding a youthful, modern touch.

Inside, the Kaola S adopts a two-tone cabin finished primarily in white with black accents, diamond-quilted seat upholstery, and a fixed panoramic glass roof to deliver an inviting, airy atmosphere. A low step-in height of just 34 cm ensures easy ingress and egress for children and the elderly. An 8.8-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch high-definition floating central touchscreen are fitted as standard across all variants, boasting improved screen-to-body ratios and higher resolutions over its predecessor.

Powertrain and Performance

The entire ARCFOX Kaola range is driven by a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor paired with a CATL LFP battery pack. The 2026 Kaola S comes standard with this CATL LFP battery, raising its CLTC pure electric range to 520 km—sufficient to support a typical 'one-charge-per-week' urban commute. On the performance front, the 2026 Kaola S is driven by an electric motor producing 150 kW (204 PS) and 255 Nm of torque, completing the 0–100 km/h sprint in the 7-second range. It takes just 3.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 50 km/h, ensuring brisk off-the-line response and effortless overtaking in city traffic.

The battery pack delivers an energy density of 185 Wh/kg using CATL's cell-to-pack (CTP) technology. With DC fast charging, a 30% to 80% state of charge takes 0.43 hours (approx. 26 minutes), while standard AC charging takes around 10.5 hours. A 3.5 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) external power discharge function is standard across the lineup, alongside vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging at up to 6 kW for outdoor appliances or emergency EV charging. In terms of aftersales assurance, ARCFOX offers the 2026 Kaola S a lifetime warranty on the electric drive system (battery, motor, electronic control), an 8-year or 150,000 km battery health guarantee (direct replacement if degradation exceeds threshold limits), and a 'full replacement upon spontaneous combustion' guarantee. By comparison, the earlier 2024 standard Kaola was equipped with a 120 kW electric motor.

Chassis and Handling

The ARCFOX Kaola features a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration built on a monocoque chassis. Up front, it rides on MacPherson independent struts, paired with a torsion beam semi-independent setup at the rear. Stopping power is provided by ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear. An electric power steering (EPS) setup offers light, effortless handling. The suspension is tuned with a clear focus on ride comfort, which, together with the long wheelbase and wide track, delivers stable and composed road manners on paved city tarmac. Auto Brake Hold and Hill-Start Assist come standard across all trims, making stop-and-go driving on inclines effortless.

Cockpit and Equipment

The intelligent cockpit of the ARCFOX Kaola S is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset, anchored by a 15.6-inch floating central infotainment screen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard. The system integrates advanced AI large-language voice models (Doubao, MiniMax, and DeepSeek), offering a rapid voice wake-up response time of under 400 milliseconds, continuous dialogue processing, and dialect recognition. Rear occupants can also control the air conditioning and panoramic roof via voice commands. Standard amenities across the range include voiceprint recognition, continuous voice control, visible-to-spoken command support, Wi-Fi hotspot, and in-car karaoke. The infotainment system also supports FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) remote updates.

In terms of seating comfort, all variants except the entry-level AIR trim feature ventilated and heated driver's seats. The front passenger seat can be folded flat forward 90 degrees to serve as a footrest, extending legroom for rear-seat occupants. The second row benefits from a completely flat floor, creating a spacious rear seating area. The cabin provides 29 practical storage compartments, complemented by a 2.12 m² fixed panoramic glass roof that floods the interior with natural light. Boot capacity measures between 410 litres and 1,360 litres with the rear seats folded down. Higher-spec variants further gain temperature-controlled (heated/cooled) cupholders and a powered tailgate for added convenience.

Safety and Intelligent Driving

The ARCFOX Kaola comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features. For active safety, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) are fitted as standard across all variants, alongside foundational systems like ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Traction Control System (TCS). Mid-to-high-spec variants (PRO and MAX) feature Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities, encompassing full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The flagship MAX variant adds a 540-degree transparent chassis display. Rear parking sensors, cruise control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) are standard equipment. New additions include Sentry Mode, an integrated dashcam, and a 360-degree surveillance system that monitors surroundings while parked, automatically recording footage and alerting owners in the event of tampering. Furthermore, the 2026 Kaola S features an integrated cockpit-and-parking system capable of managing over 40 distinct parking scenarios.

On the passive safety front, the entry and mid-tier 2026 Kaola S variants are fitted with dual front airbags and a driver-side airbag, while the range-topping MAX trim adds full-length curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag for all-round impact protection. The body structure incorporates a high-strength cage design to preserve cabin integrity during a collision.

Market Performance and Reception

The ARCFOX Kaola has seen varying market performance throughout its lifecycle. Across 2024, cumulative sales reached 19,289 units, ranking 15th on China's annual domestic MPV sales chart. In monthly figures, it recorded 1,254 units in July 2025. Following its strategic repositioning as a compact SUV in August 2024 and the launch of the 2026 model with an entry price of RM99,800, sales have shown signs of recovery, with national vehicle registrations reaching 82 units in March 2026, ranking 2nd in the MPV registration category. Customer feedback has been largely positive regarding the eco-friendly, odour-free cabin materials, generous interior space, and flat rear floor layout. On the flip side, some buyers have voiced desires for an extended range of over 600 km; in addition, brand awareness and dealership/service network coverage still lag behind established players such as BYD and GAC AION, posing a key hurdle to further sales growth. As ARCFOX's strategic contender in the family car market, the Kaola differentiates itself with a health-centric cabin and child-friendly practicality; however, securing a stronger foothold in this competitive segment will require ongoing product refinement, brand equity building, and dealer network expansion.