Skywell ET5

While the Skywell ET5 might not be too radical on the outside, the SUV can blow one’s mind with its well-laid-out and futuristic-looking cabin. The ET5’s cabin carries dual-tone black and light grey upholstery, which is finished in a theme of leather and is well-contrasted with the presence of faux wood layers over the dashboard and door panels.

The full-TFT screens for the instrument console (12.3-inch) behind the three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and the large rectangular touchscreen infotainment system (12.8-inch) will catch the attention of one as soon as he/she enters the cabin. The spokes and centre boss of the steering wheel and surrounds for the instrument console get satin chrome surrounds, and so do the lower centre console, which gets satin chrome highlights around the auto AC control panel and other buttons.

Another smooth-flowing layer of satin silver flows across the dashboard's width from door to door. The other features gracing the cabin of the Skywell ET5 include powered and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear AC vents, and a wireless charger.

The Skywell ET5 claims to offer a new-generation experience in the way it looks. However, when it comes to the exterior, the all-electric SUV has followed a rather conventional approach, with a few distinguishing elements. It looks modern, but not futuristic, which should go well with traditional SUV buyers who are not too fond of radical design languages.

At the front, the Skywell ET5 gets a sleek fascia, with a closed grille in the middle and slim and angular all-LED headlamps incorporated with daytime running LEDs. The pentagonal housings for the fog lamps on the corners of the front bumper look huge and get a trapezoidal air dame in between them. The ET5 also gets a silver skid plate at the bottom of the front bumper for a mild rugged appeal.

The side profile of the Skywell ET5 looks almost inspired by that of the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, which is evident in the well-contoured bonnet curves, front and rear fenders and curvy C-pillar. While the window panels have chrome surrounds, the ET5 also gets black plastic cladding over its wheel arches and the bottom part of the door panels. Other elements in the side profile of the ET5 include a chrome strip over the cladding on the door panels, door-mounted rearview mirrors and slim silver roof rails.

It is the rear profile of the Skywell ET5 which manages to give some unique visual appeal to it. The rear look of this all-electric SUV comprises a thick connecting LED bar which also has backlit functionality for the brand’s name embossed in the middle. This connecting LED bar joins the large and curvy-looking LED tail lamps on the sides. The corners of the rear bumper also come adorned with huge triangular LED fog lamps.

Like most of the new-generation Chinese SUVs, the Skywell ET5 also has a light steering setup for easy manoeuvrability and a decently comfortable and soft suspension setup for making your urban drives comfortable. However, this setup lacks the enthusiasm and heft a driving enthusiast generally looks for in a vehicle of this class.

The UAE car market gets the Skywell ET5 with a single motor configuration as standard, which powers the front wheels and produces a maximum power output of 205 PS and a peak torque output of 320 Nm. The 72 kWh battery pack offered in the ET5 as standard claims a maximum range of 450 km and takes 40 minutes for a 20-80 percent charge. Skywell claims a 0-100 kmph timing of 9.6 seconds for the ET5.

Skywell has well-equipped the ET5 with modern safety features like six airbags, adaptive cruise control, ISOFIX mounts for child seats, ABS with EBD and brake assist, lane keep assist system, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree parking camera, auto emergency braking and autonomous parking.

The Skywell ET5 might not be revolutionary in the tech it has to offer, but it comes across as a decently engineered vehicle with a potent powertrain setup and appealing design inside-out.