BYD Yuan UP dynamic evaluation: The tool car attribute is obvious, and there wil
Yuan, an indispensable series in BYD's Dynasty network, if I recall correctly, it was around 2015-2016 when BYD began developing their first-generation "Yuan". The first generation Yuan was actually benchmarked against the Ford EcoSport, and it's evident how similar the first generation Yuan was to the EcoSport. It was common at that time for everyone to benchmark against corresponding joint venture vehicles, so it's not surprising that they looked alike.
Looking at the current generation of Yuan UP, it has no relation to the EcoSport anymore. The first generation Yuan had dimensions of 4360*1785*1650mm with a wheelbase of 2535mm, while the latest Yuan UP has dimensions of 4310*1830*1675mm and a wheelbase of 2620mm, making them completely different vehicles.
This generation of Yuan UP is the first A0-level pure electric SUV on BYD's e-platform 3.0, utilizing CTB technology with a claimed range of 401km. When it was launched and delivered, Wang Chuanfu even personally attended the vehicle delivery ceremony, which was quite a ceremonial moment.
The model I drove this time is the 2024 model with a 401km range, which is the top-of-the-line version of this generation's Yuan UP. In terms of the chassis, it features a MacPherson independent front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension. The tires are Chaoyang 215/65 R17, which is a standard configuration for this class and price range.
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Regarding the powertrain, it uses an AC permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 130kW and a peak torque of 290Nm. The battery is a 45.12kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Almost all the features that should or shouldn't be in this class are present, and in terms of configuration, domestic cars have long surpassed their peers. There's no doubt about it; those interested can look into the details.The emphasis is not on the previous aspects; no matter how powerful the configuration or how high the aesthetic value, these are all temporary. As the old saying goes, a car is ultimately meant to be driven, especially a small A0-class car, which is designed for commuting purposes. How it performs daily and whether it is cost-effective are the key points.
Following the usual practice, the test drive this time still only had the evaluator on board, and the tire pressure was adjusted according to the official recommended unloaded tire pressure. The scoring criteria were based on the ten-point scale commonly used by the main factory. Let's go straight to the results of the evaluation:
01
Power Performance + Driving Experience
As mentioned earlier, the Yuan UP model has an electric motor torque of 290Nm, and its curb weight is only 1540kg. Therefore, this 290Nm of torque is quite abundant for such a small car, and the actual experience is the same.Whether it's a normal start-up acceleration, full-throttle acceleration, or overtaking during driving, the power performance is quite good, and the sense of acceleration is strong. When starting with full throttle, the tires will briefly slip, but the vehicle's controllability is not an issue, and there will be no obvious acceleration deviation or similar phenomena. The overall power output is also quite linear, with no significant abnormalities. This advantage of electric motors over internal combustion engines becomes apparent.
I also specifically tested the power output at high battery levels as well as at medium and low levels (SOC below 50% and above 30%), and there was no particularly noticeable degradation, which I think is quite good. However, during acceleration, the vehicle's nose lifts noticeably, and with each acceleration, it feels as if the rear of the car squats down as if it hasn't stood firm. Although this is not a problem with power performance, the strong power output can somewhat intensify this sensation, making the comfort during acceleration and deceleration not very good.
In terms of drivability, I didn't find any problems overall; it's quite smooth in all driving conditions, which is an advantage that electric vehicles generally have over fuel vehicles. Even the energy recovery system, I think, is well done, without any abrupt or jarring feelings, and the subjective experience feels quite natural, not causing discomfort.
02
Braking PerformanceBraking, when observed from the actual vehicle, utilizes Bosch's electronic brake system. The overall braking performance of the Yuan UP is satisfactory, with a decent linearity in the brake pedal and no excessive dead travel.
During the braking process, the adjustability is also acceptable. The overall feeling is that the brake pedal is quite "responsive," allowing for the achievement of appropriate braking effects according to needs. However, I feel there is a minor issue: the pedal force of the brake pedal is slightly high, which gives a slight "pushback" sensation, and it might feel a bit tiring during long drives.
In emergency braking, the intervention of the ABS does not feel aggressive, and the stability of the vehicle during braking is good, with no noticeable yaw or deviation. The subjective feeling of braking performance is slightly weaker, which may be influenced by the vehicle's curb weight approaching 1.6t and a set of tires that lean towards comfort.
03
Handling StabilityIn terms of stability, it might be relatively weaker. The main issue is that when the vehicle changes lanes, the rear axle's following ability is quite poor, which results in less than optimal controllability. To put it in a joking manner with friends, the front and rear of the car seem to have their own ideas—"The front has already passed, but the rear needs to ponder for a moment before it follows, and then it gives a little twist," that's the feeling.
The analysis suggests that it might be due to insufficient lateral stiffness. The support of the rear axle feels a bit lacking, the overall roll is significant, and the roll speed is quite fast. There is some imbalance in the roll between the front and rear axles, which doesn't inspire strong confidence during lane changes.
Regarding straight-line stability, there is no noticeable deviation due to road disturbances, and there are no obvious instability phenomena when other vehicles pass by (resistance to crosswinds), so there are no apparent issues in straight-line driving. As mentioned earlier, during rapid acceleration, the pitch is quite significant, and the tire grip is average, making it easier to skid. I speculate that this is because the vehicle's nose lifts significantly during rapid acceleration, the support of the rear axle is relatively poor, so the load shifts more to the rear, reducing the load on the front axle, and since it's a front-engine, front-wheel-drive configuration, it's prone to skidding.
For cornering stability, the Yuan UP has a mild under-steering characteristic. When braking or accelerating in corners, the vehicle's stability is sufficient for everyday driving, and there is no particularly unstable feeling. There are also no obvious yawing phenomena when going over small speed bumps in the corners.04
Ride Smoothness
The smoothness of this vehicle gives a similar overall impression to the previous Yida model, with each having its own strengths and weaknesses.
The main issue with the Yuan UP is its average control over primary ride smoothness. When the vehicle passes over some damaged road surfaces, there is a noticeable lateral sway of the body, and the amplitude of the sway is significant. However, the frequency of the sway is acceptable, not too fast, and there is often a sensation of longitudinal surging, with the head tapping on the headrest and a slight feeling of pitching.
Of course, the Yuan UP also has its strengths, particularly in terms of impact and energy sensation, which are relatively better. This is likely due to the four tires with a higher aspect ratio, resulting in a softer touch. On some undulating road surfaces, the vehicle exhibits a more pronounced floating sensation, especially the convergence of the rear axle, which takes a few bounces to control. When passing over potholes or damaged road surfaces, the vibrations under the springs are also slightly more noticeable. Additionally, when the tires hit the ground, there is a more pronounced "roaring" sensation inside the cabin, which might be due to the body structure. On roads with continuous longitudinal grooves, the interior also experiences a "roaring" sound.For secondary ride smoothness, the roughness on rough roads is not very strong, there is a certain sense of isolation, and overall, it should not cause too many complaints.
Regarding single impact events like speed bumps, I initially thought there would be issues with convergence, but the results were surprisingly good, with no significant residual vibrations, and the overall touch and energy sensation are relatively small.
05
Steering
This vehicle's steering comes in two modes, comfort and sport. When the steering mode is set to comfort, the overall steering effort at low speeds is relatively light, which is a common approach nowadays, focusing on ease of use, with the torque gradually increasing as the vehicle speed increases.When switched to the sport mode, there will be a noticeable change in the hand force at various speed ranges, making it feel heavier, but not excessively so at low speeds. In terms of response in the central area, the steering wheel dead zone in the comfort mode is somewhat larger, giving the impression that there is a gap in the middle of the steering wheel, and the centering sensation is not particularly strong. When driving at high speeds, slight and small corrections to the steering wheel will be needed to maintain a straight line.
Upon switching to the sport mode, the steering wheel dead zone becomes smaller, and the centering sensation improves, which leads to a certain enhancement in the steering feel. The establishment of the torque also improves. In the comfort mode, the return speed of the steering at low and high speeds is moderate, and the return effect is slightly less effective, with a small residual return angle. In the sport mode, the return effect is better, with no noticeable residual angle.
In the comfort mode, the steering wheel rotation and the central area response in the sport mode are not very sufficient. The vehicle's response to steering inputs is average, but I believe the linearity of the steering is quite good, being relatively smooth.Minor Issues
I personally find the sensitivity of the DAB module (steering wheel airbag) to be a bit problematic. Even when pressing the horn logo area, there is a tendency for it to not respond, and the overall pressure required to press it is relatively high. When holding the steering wheel and pressing with fingers, the distance to the module feels too far away.
The force of the accelerator pedal is on the heavier side, which can cause a slight pushing sensation against the foot. When the cooling fan is operating, there is a noticeable resonance in the car door. By resting your elbow on the door panel and covering your ears with your palm, you can hear a "buzzing" resonant sound (which is essentially the position of supporting your head with your palm).
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07
Driving SummaryThe evaluation results mentioned above are merely some impressions from daily road driving, as the actual driving surface cannot have the high repeatability of a test track, and the results are inevitably subject to some interference. Moreover, some issues are not reflected in the results because not all characteristic road surfaces and conditions can be assessed.
In summary, the evaluation of the Yuan UP indicates that its handling stability is not particularly good, mainly due to significant body roll and poor followability of the rear axle, which does not inspire much confidence and discourages aggressive driving. However, the primary focus of such a small vehicle is not on handling but on ensuring adequate safety.
Regarding steering response, it is quite similar across vehicles that are affordable and comfort-oriented, with not much to complain about. In terms of comfort, the BYD Yuan UP has its strengths and weaknesses in different aspects. It handles general road surfaces well, being very soft, but it falls short on some characteristic road surfaces, commonly referred to as a "riding in a sedan chair" feeling. The swaying motion can make some users feel uncomfortable, although there are positive aspects, such as its performance on speed bumps. The issue of pitch during acceleration and deceleration is also an aspect that affects overall driving comfort, and optimizing this could significantly enhance the experience.
Overall, the BYD Yuan UP gives the impression that it has sacrificed many handling stability features for the sake of comfort. Personally, I do not particularly favor this approach; comfort should be the aspect that is more compromised compared to safety. Regardless of the level of the vehicle, safety is fundamental, and a good sense of handling stability is, in my view, a significant part of safety.
Of course, the majority of Yuan UP users will likely prioritize comfort. However, from an engineer's perspective, pursuing a comfortable feeling at the expense of some control over the vehicle can, in turn, affect comfort to some extent. Striking the delicate balance between these factors during the development phase is inherently challenging.As for whether the Yuan UP is worth buying, consumers at this price point are more likely to use it as a utility vehicle. As long as there are no particularly obvious problems when driving, it's fine. The key is to have sufficient configuration and a fairly realistic range.
For urban commuting, it's indeed quite good.
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