Roewe Clever

The Clever is an all-electric micro hatchback launched by SAIC Roewe in 2020, primarily designed for short urban commutes. The model was once a core sales pillar for the Roewe brand thanks to its 311 km range and an affordable price tag between RM40,000 and RM60,000. However, having fallen behind newer rivals like the BYD Seagull in terms of overall product competitiveness, it has now been discontinued.

Model Overview

Positioned as an A00-segment 3-door, 4-seater hatchback under SAIC Roewe, its key selling points include a 311 km range, a 5.5-hour AC slow-charging time, a 367-litre boot, and dual front airbags. The 2022 Yuanqi Bobo Edition was the final variant on sale, carrying an official recommended retail price of RM59,999. In terms of dimensions, it measures 3,140 mm in length, 1,648 mm in width, and 1,531 mm in height, with a 2,000 mm wheelbase. Its main market rivals include the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV, Geely Panda, and BYD Seagull.

Design Language

The exterior was offered in two distinctive colourways—"Huang Zhizhi" (Cheese Yellow) and "Bai Yeye" (Coconut White)—featuring a compact, rounded front fascia complemented by "Thunder" LED indicators and boomerang-style alloy wheels for a youthful, trendy aesthetic. Inside, the cabin features a body-coloured vibrant capsule theme, equipped with an optional 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, integrated faux leather seats, and an NFC smart key card. Its 367-litre boot capacity remains particularly generous for a micro car.

Powertrain and Range

Driven by a front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup, it is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor producing 33 kW (45 PS) and 100 Nm of torque, achieving a 0–50 km/h sprint in 6 seconds with a top speed of 100 km/h. Power comes from a CATL-Yikong 29 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, delivering a CLTC-rated range of 311 km with an energy consumption figure of 9.9 kWh/100 km. DC fast charging is not supported, while a full charge via 6.6 kW AC charging takes 5.5 hours.

The chassis features a front MacPherson strut and rear trailing-arm non-independent suspension setup, equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes alongside a mechanical handbrake.

Features and Safety

Equipment is strictly utilitarian: standard kit includes dual front airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring display, rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, and ABS with EBD, underpinned by a safety cage structure built with 67.7% high-strength steel and an IP67-rated water-resistant battery pack.

Notable Omissions: The car lacks Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), fast charging, Hill Start Assist, and cruise control, while offering only a 2-speaker audio setup and no connected car or OTA update capabilities. Compared to the BYD Seagull, it shows a substantial gap in charging flexibility and intelligent tech features.

Market Performance and Recall

The Clever was once a vital sales driver for Roewe, registering 20,834 units in 2023 to become the brand's third best-selling model. However, sales plummeted to just 836 units in 2024, and after shifting only a single unit in 2025, it was officially retired from production.

Major Recall: In September 2025, due to a braking system defect that caused inconsistent braking performance when ABS was triggered over speed humps, SAIC issued a recall for 98,408 units of the Clever manufactured between December 2019 and July 2023 to rectify the issue via a complimentary software update. Initiated following a defect investigation by China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the exercise affected nearly 100,000 units of the now-discontinued model.

In summary, as an early pioneer in the micro EV segment, the Roewe Clever held solid appeal with its 311 km range, dual front airbags, and generous boot space. Nevertheless, critical drawbacks—such as the total absence of DC fast charging, lack of ESP, and dated tech—caused it to lose ground completely against new-generation competitors such as the BYD Seagull and Wuling Bingo. With the model now discontinued, buying new is no longer recommended; for those considering the used market, verifying that the recall update has been completed and checking the battery's state of health (SoH) are essential.