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Thanks: Changan Motors Rus Changan’s lineup is strong, so it came as a bit of a surprise for us when the brand brought in the “Uni” models, the Uni-K and the Uni-T. These two crossovers looked great when they first launched, but Changan is selling these two models side-by-side with the rest of the CS lineup of crossovers, so there appears to be a little redundancy in the lineup. To answer our questions, we needed to review at least one of them to see where they fit into the lineup. So this is the 2023 Changan Uni-T, the smaller crossover in the 'Uni' lineup, that’s compact in size, but big on the features and the style. We will admit, this early on, that Changan has something special here, and we’re kind of hoping that the brand would have made this their main lineup of products, paired with the same exceptional value that the brand delivers. So let’s dive into it. Exterior The design of the Changan Uni-T is anything but boring. It’s pretty impressive to see a crossover like this deliver so many curves and lines that not only look right, they also break some molds when it comes to crossover design. In some ways, it kind of looks like a concept car, but it isn’t. Some people even thought that it was an electric car, or a hybrid at the very least. Spoiler alert, it isn’t, but it’s kind of all the better for it. You get a full suite of LED headlights taillights, and fog lights for starters, a grille that leads somewhere, but it looks like it’s actually closed off thanks to Changan’s one-piece bumper and grille design. It has to be said that this car is unlike any crossover we’ve seen before. Manufacturers often make their gasoline-powered cars and their electric-powered counterparts distinct from one another, with a clear line of design separating the two. In Changan’s case, they decided to tread that line very carefully, in a way that makes it still functional to accommodate all the air that you need for a gasoline engine, but with the futuristic style of a car of tomorrow. The model further displays hints of concept car in its design, with the biggest wheels we’ve ever seen on a crossover of this size, coming in at 20 inches. We know, the ride could have taken a hit—spoiler alert it didn’t. However, the chief concern here would be that the rubber you’d have to purchase if the high-end OEM tires wears out will cost you a pretty penny at your tire dealer. However, the tradeoff is an absolutely gorgeous stance that we really fits the vehicle’s aesthetic. If this were our car, we definitely wouldn’t go for a smaller set of aftermarket wheels, and that’s a bit funny considering the performance of this car on the road. Interior At this point, you’ve probably sat in a Changan already, either that or you’ve seen some of the reviews and might have been mildly to majorly impressed. Drawing comparisons from the Changan lineup, the CS55 Plus is a similar car, but take that model and elevate it further and you get the Uni-T. The interior of the Uni-T features a new and improved aesthetic that uses new touches and materials to create a rather dynamic interior. The steering wheel is a flat bottom, the dashboard flows (almost) uninterrupted with a silver piece of trim spanning the entire length of the dash, and highlighting the interior’s features and lines up front. There is also a nice LED strip in the front nestled in its own pod that pulses and blinks as if the car is alive and trying to tell you something. It’s all really enticing and engaging. That is, until you really get into the nooks and crannies of the vehicle. There is one gap under the gauge cluster that doesn’t exactly spark joy for us, and with a “premium” brand experience like this, we dare question why didn’t Changan equip it with a auto dimming rear view mirror. Everything else is otherwise complete as you get an ample number of AC vents for the front and rear passengers, you get premium seats that are quite dialed in for comfort and a bit of spirited driving and there are a ton of storage spaces that you can take advantage of. It’s also worth noting that the space inside the cabin is more than enough for small to large occupants, and adequate for the extra large. The rear cargo area is a little short for a crossover, mainly brought about by the extra aggressive fastback roof design (which we absolutely love, by the way). On te topic of roofs, one thing we’ve noticed with most panoramic roof designs is that there is usually a gap between the rear and the front section, to allow the roof to double as a sun roof. Well, in the case of the Uni-T, instead of opting to be everything at once, the glass is a stunning one-piece part that doesn’t try to be a sunroof. While it may seem like a con, it’s actually a good thing Read More
