This Is The EV That Volkswagen Sells In China Ahead Of The ID.4

The upcoming ID.4 will be a huge change from the current Volkswagen compliance EV lineup.

Volkswagen e-Lavida (source: Wheelsboy)

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Aug 21, 2020 at 9:29am ET

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Prior to the MEB-based model offensive, Volkswagen was not very interested in all-electric cars - there were some on the market, but just conversions of ICE models, and usually on a small scale (compliance type).

In China, in particular, the situation was not better. The company showed an electric version of the Lavida compact model in 2010, but the market launch happened years later, around 2018.

The Volkswagen e-Lavida is based on the 3rd generation Lavida (produced by SAIC-VW joint venture), which was the most popular Volkswagen in China with some 500,000 sales in 2019.

It utilizes a 100 kW electric motor, similar to the Volkswagen e-Golf, and a 38.1 kWh battery for up to 278 km (173 miles) of NEDC range. It can accelerate 0-50 km/h (31 mph) in 3.4 seconds, while 100 km/h (62 mph) should be achievable in 7-8 seconds, according to Wheelsboy review.

As a conversion, with basic specs and with a conventional cockpit layout, the e-Lavida clearly is not a very compelling EV. It's strongest point is the price of 148,000 RMB ($21,375), which reportedly can be effectively below 100,000 RMB ($14,447).