KAIYI E5

The Kaiyi E5 features dual-tone black and ivory white leather upholstery on the inside, with the cabin having an ivory white finish for the middle layer of the dashboard and inner door pads. The E5 also has contrast red accents on the seat upholstery and stitching for the door pads and dashboard, which add a dash of sportiness to the cabin.

The flat-bottomed multi-functional steering wheel of the Kaiyi E5 has a comprehensive-looking instrument console behind it, which features a 7-inch TFT MID between traditional-looking analogue dials for speedometer and tachometer. The centre console has a floating design for the rectangular touchscreen infotainment system, which features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while also having the push start-stop button placed beside it on the middle layer of the dashboard.

The middle part of the centre console of the dashboard of Kaiyi E5 has hexagonal-shaped AC vents, while the lower centre console has a hexagonal housing for the switches of automatic climate control below the central AC vents. The AC vents and lower centre console have a premium-looking satin silver finish, with the E5 further getting features like driver seat height adjustment, rear AC vents, a 6-speaker audio system, a single-pane sunroof and a wireless charging pad.

The Kaiyi E5 wears a nicely proportionate design, with a few angular design elements at the front and rear which add a bit of visual drama to the entire personality of the sedan. The front fascia of the Kaiyi E5 looks a bit inspired by that of the globally-available Kia K5 sedan, with it having a trapezoidal grille in the middle that has chrome-studded inserts, along with unique-looking colour-coded inserts too.

This front grille of the Kaiyi E5 is flanked by trapezoidal housings for the LED projectors. The front bumper of the E5 also looks dramatic with the huge C-shaped sleek air vents on its corners. From the side, the Kaiyi E5 looks sleek and elegant, with the sedan riding on 17-inch machined alloy wheels with red brake callipers behind them. 

At the back, the Kaiyi E5 has a unique-looking set of wide-shaped combination tail lamps, which feature dual inverted C-shaped LED inserts that stretch to the Kaiyi logo in the middle of the boot lid. The rear bumper of the sedan also features chrome surrounds for the dual exhaust ports at the bottom. 

With independent suspension on offer – Macpherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear, the Kaiyi E5 has a well-sorted ride quality that makes it a comfortable place to be in most urban settings. However, the steering lacks the required precision, which might not appeal much to driving enthusiasts. 

A 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine supplies power to the front wheels of the Kaiyi E5, via a 9-speed CVT gearbox. This turbo-petrol engine delivers a maximum power output of 156 bhp, while the peak torque output is rated at 230 Nm. While these figures seem impressive on paper, this engine suffers from a lack of bottom-end grunt in the real world. 

There are no ADAS features on offer in the Kaiyi E5, to keep the costs in check. Apart from that, the E5 is decently equipped with all the essentials, including ABS with EBD and brake assist, hill descent control, electronic stability program, traction control, hill hold control, electronic parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse parking sensors, a 360-degree parking camera and four airbags. 

The Kaiyi E5 has a huge advantage of price-to-size ratio, which is unmatched by any other sedan priced below the PHP 1 million mark in the Philippines car market. For its price, it offers unbeatable space and equipment levels, making it a terrific value for money. However, the real-world performance and driving appeal still leave room for improvement.