Changan Uni-T Review: A Sporty Compact Crossover

Introduction

Changan has been on a roll recently and we think that, despite what others might think, Changan is the best Chinese automaker right now.

Changan Uni-T Overview

We really liked the Uni-K we had on a test a few weeks ago. The only thing we didn’t like about it was the price which was 180,000 AED. Now, we have its smaller sibling, the Uni-T, in its Sport trim. To see how it fared, you can read the article further or simply watch the review video by clicking these words.

Variants

The Uni-T has two variants:

• Limited
• Sport

The latter just gives the car an aesthetic body kit with plastic front lips that bear a sticker to make it look like the car has carbon fiber. This effect extends all the way to the rear, and we didn’t hate it.

Exterior Design

The headlights look pretty cool, especially when they’re illuminated at night. They also reminded us of the ones found in a McLaren; maybe they were inspired from there, who knows? We really liked the rear of the car which featured:

• A sports spoiler
• Nice looking tail-lights
• Quad exhausts
• A stylish diffuser

Something that we found weird was the pair of rockets on the spoiler; there’s no need for such childish things, but hey, maybe people like them.

Interior Features

Step inside and you will instantly see that Changan has spent a lot of time on the interior. There’s a very nice sporty vibe with:

• Yellow seat belts
• Bucket seats wrapped in a mix of alcantara and leather bearing yellow accents

The 10.3 inch driver’s display is very nice and crisp. The center console also looks premium and has plenty of storage space which comes in really handy.

Autonomous Technology

The Uni-T also has a bit of autonomous tech on offer, allowing the car to drive itself for around 20 seconds, after which it signals you to put your hands back on the steering wheel. During our testing, the cruise control fared nicely with a smooth feel and no signs of aggression.

Infotainment System

The infotainment system includes a DVR mode that can record footage using the cameras placed all around the car at the tap of a button on the gearbox. The reverse camera is very high quality and helpful.

Performance

The biggest downside of the Uni-T is the rear seats. After spending some time with them, we found them very claustrophobic and cramped. Another issue at the back was the single AC vent and USB port. The rear experience can be a deal-breaker, especially since this is a crossover. If you will be seating people other than your kids in the back, then look away; this isn't the car for you.

Engine Specifications

Under the bonnet, the Uni-T has a funky 1.5 litre motor producing 180 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque, which is pretty responsive. The DCT transmission works quite well, but when we slightly played with the accelerator, the car got a bit confused and jerked. This confusion may stem from the crossover not being able to decide which gear to be on, possibly due to turbo lag or the onboard computers. This can be a little annoying at times, and we reckon a torque converter would have solved this issue.

Pricing and Conclusion

Priced at 150,000 AED, we found it a bit on the expensive side. For the same money, you can get a VW T-Roc, which comes with the Volkswagen brand name and offers similar features at a lower price. The pricing is where the Uni-T fails a bit, as with so many offerings from well-established brands available at this price point, why would someone buy a Chinese car? As always, you can let us know about the pricing and the Uni-T as a whole in the comments section.