New Seres 3 EV: UK launch confirmed for Chinese Nissan Qashqai rival
The new Chinese brand is set to launch with a Qashqai-sized model, possibly as early as this year.
Seres is the latest Chinese brand to hit the UK, joining the likes of BYD, GWM Ora and, of course, MG.
Seres’ first UK car, the 3 all-electric model, was shown in right-hand drive form at the Munich Motor Show and could be on sale here as early as the end of this year, beating another Chinese newcomer Omoda with its C5, which is due on sale in the UK in early 2024.
Like the Omoda C5, the Seres 3 is nearly identical in size to a Nissan Qashqai at 4,425mm long, 1,935mm wide and 1,765 high.
However, unlike the C5, which will be available as an EV and with an internal combustion engine, the Seres 3 will only be available as an electric car. With its 54kWh battery, the 3 will offer a range of 205miles.
The single electric motor driving the front wheels produces 161bhp and 300NM of torque with ‘comfort’, ‘eco’ and ‘sport’ drive modes, while the battery can be completely recharged from a 7kW home charger in eight hours.
Speaking exclusively to Auto Express at the Munich show, Seres sales director Howger Wu told us that the car had already been homologated for sale in the UK, although there’s no word yet on the firm’s sales tactics for the UK market.
There’s also no word yet on pricing, although the car is already on sale in Europe with prices for the two different trim levels, S2 and S4, at €34,000 (£29,063) or €36,000 (£30,773).
The Seres 3 on show in Munich is a smart, if somewhat bland-looking crossover with a blanked off front grille to denote its EV powertrain. It sits on 18-inch alloys, while the quality of the leather-clad interior was impressive for the money. There’s a digital dash display and 10.25 infotainment touchscreen, while top-spec cars get heated, massaging seats and a panoramic roof.
As you’d expect, there’s Qashqai-sized space in the back with plenty of room for two adults (three at a push) with a good size boot and decent in-car storage, too.
Also on show in Munich was the larger, better-looking Seres 5 model, although there’s no news yet on whether that car will come to the UK.
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