The Hengchi 5 is an all-electric C-segment SUV introduced by Hengchi Auto (the EV brand under Evergrande New Energy Auto), marking the marque's first mass-produced model to reach customer deliveries. Pre-orders commenced in July 2022 followed by official deliveries in October of the same year. Offered exclusively in a single "Ultra Luxury Edition" variant, it carries an official list price of RM179,000. The Hengchi 5 was tasked with spearheading Evergrande's strategic transition from property development into the automotive sector, yet its market performance and brand trajectory have been fraught with turbulence and controversy.
Positioned as a pure electric C-segment SUV, the Hengchi 5 was marketed under the bold claim of being "the best EV SUV under RM300,000", aimed at urban families. Dimensions measure 4,725 mm in length, 1,925 mm in width, and 1,676 mm in height, with a 2,780 mm wheelbase and a kerb weight of 1,985 kg. Within its class, its overall width and wheelbase offer a tangible edge. Although the company initially claimed to have gathered over 37,000 bookings within 15 days of launch, actual delivery numbers fell far short of projections.
In terms of brand background, Hengchi Auto was bankrolled by the Evergrande Group, which pursued an aggressive "buy-and-build" strategy by acquiring entities such as Japan's CENAT New Energy, the UK's Protean, Germany's Hofer, and Sweden's NEVS. However, as parent company Evergrande Group plunged into a severe financial crisis, Hengchi Auto's development was heavily derailed as a consequence.
The exterior styling of the Hengchi 5 was penned by Anders Warming, former head of design at BMW and MINI. Up front, it sports a closed-off grille flanked by distinctive Y-shaped LED headlamp clusters with integrated daytime running lights (DRLs), resulting in a clean and recognisable fascia. The headlamps feature auto on/off, height adjustment, and a follow-me-home delay function.
Along the flanks, crisp character lines meet a floating roof design, complemented by 18-inch alloy wheels. The rear is well-proportioned, with tail light motifs mirroring the front lighting signatures. A range of exterior paint options is available to cater to individual tastes. Overall, the styling leans towards a sleek, contemporary, and sporty aesthetic, albeit without standout visual differentiators.
Inside, the cabin features a wraparound cockpit layout anchored by a dual-screen setup comprising a 10.25-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen infotainment display. The centre console is minimalist, doing away with most physical switchgear. Material-wise, the seats are upholstered in synthetic leather, complemented by a leather-wrapped steering wheel; overall perceived quality is on par with class averages in this price segment. The interior is available in colour schemes such as black.
The Hengchi 5 is driven by a front-mounted single permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 150 kW (around 204 PS) and 345 Nm of torque, paired with a single-speed reduction gear transmission. The official 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in 7.8 seconds, with a top speed of 180 km/h. Power delivery is linear and well-suited for daily urban commuting, though overall performance remains middle-of-the-road against segment rivals.
For electric range, the Hengchi 5 packs a 72.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, yielding a CLTC-rated range of up to 602 km on a single charge. The traction battery comes with an eight-year or 150,000 km warranty. Claimed power consumption is rated at 13.8 kWh/100 km. While DC fast charging is supported, detailed charging duration specifications have not been disclosed in official publications. The overall range capability sits comfortably within the expected standard for its class.
Underneath, the Hengchi 5 rides on front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link (five-link) independent suspension setup. This configuration is standard fare for this segment, with the five-link rear setup theoretically offering competent wheel tracking and ride compliance. Power is delivered exclusively to the front wheels (FWD), with no all-wheel-drive (AWD) option offered. Steering is handled by an electric power steering (EPS) system atop a monocoque chassis. Stopping power comes from ventilated disc brakes all around, paired with an electronic parking brake (EPB).
Drivers can choose from four selectable drive modes: Sport, Eco, Standard/Comfort, and Custom/Individual. Chassis assistance features include Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), and Auto Brake Hold.
The Hengchi 5 is equipped with a smart cockpit powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor. The 14.6-inch central touchscreen supports full touch operation and integrates satellite navigation, multimedia, and voice recognition. The voice control system manages infotainment, navigation, telephony, climate control, and the sunroof. In-car connectivity includes telematics, FOTA (Firmware Over-The-Air) updates, gesture controls, and facial recognition.
In terms of convenience amenities, standard kit includes an operable panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate (with height memory and hands-free kick sensor), a front wireless smartphone charging pad, and automatic climate control. The driver's seat features 8-way power adjustment (including 4-way height and 4-way lumbar support), while the front passenger seat gets 4-way power adjustment, with both front seats equipped with heating and ventilation functions. Audio is piped through an 8-speaker sound system. Overall, the Hengchi 5 boasts a generous standard kit list, reflective of the feature-laden packaging typical of Chinese EVs.
On the active safety front, the Hengchi 5 comes standard with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Hardware comprises front and rear parking sensors alongside a 360-degree surround-view camera system. Key ADAS functions include Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Monitoring / Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), and Driver Fatigue Warning. An automated park assist system is also included. Notably, many of these advanced safety aids are already commonplace among rivals in this segment.
Passive safety features include dual front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length curtain airbags (6 airbags in total), alongside a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Braking aids include ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TCS), and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
The Hengchi 5's commercial performance has remained decidedly lacklustre. Sales figures reveal that only 324 units were registered throughout 2022, while total 2023 deliveries stood at 1,389 units—of which just 937 units were delivered in the first 11 months before a year-end push accounted for 452 units in December. Heading into 2024, cumulative sales for the first half stood at a dismal 40 units or so, bringing total lifetime deliveries to barely 1,429 units by June 2024. This stands in stark contrast to the initial fanfare of 37,000 launch bookings.
Financially, Evergrande Auto has been bleeding heavily. The company posted net losses of RM56,300,000,000 in 2021, RM27,600,000,000 in 2022, RM11,900,000,000 in 2023, and an additional RM20,200,000,000 in the first half of 2024 alone. Estimates indicate that Evergrande burnt through roughly RM110,000,000,000 over six years of EV ventures, translating to an eye-watering per-vehicle loss of nearly RM20,000,000.
As of 2025, production and sales of the Hengchi 5 have ground to a halt. While cloud back-end servers remain operational and existing units stay drivable, owners face severe maintenance headaches due to a virtually non-existent aftersales footprint and disrupted spare parts supply. In the used car market, the Hengchi 5 suffers from catastrophic depreciation, with one-year-old near-new units fetching a residual value of just 30% to 40% of their original retail price (around RM50,000 to RM60,000). Owner complaints have largely centred on sudden loss of motive power due to traction battery faults, erratic forward surges under hard braking, phantom braking when cruise control is engaged, and excessive air-conditioning compressor noise.
The demise of the Hengchi 5 is the result of compounding factors: severe brand erosion triggered by its parent company's debt crisis, lack of standout mechanical or technological USPs against entrenched competitors, an underdeveloped sales and service network, and the brutal realities of competing as a latecomer in a hyper-competitive EV market. Conceived as Evergrande Auto's shortcut to EV stardom, the Hengchi 5 has ultimately become one of the industry's most prominent cautionary tales in the EV startup boom.
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