Another candidate from the Far East is heading for the European premium market. The Voyah Free is the first model of the brand Voyah, which belongs to the established Chinese car manufacturer DongFeng. As one of the oldest and best-known vehicle manufacturers in the Middle Kingdom, DongFeng specialises mainly in the development of commercial vehicles. With the Voyah brand, the group is now taking a new direction and entering the highly competitive market in the premium segment. The Voyah Free is by no means afraid of the big names. But can it keep up with the direct competition, such as an Audi Q8 e-tron or a Mercedes EQE?
The premium SUV from Cathay
From the outside, the Voyah Free shines with its elegant design. The clear lines and balanced proportions give the vehicle an extremely stylish and modern appearance. In addition, the striking radiator grille and the retractable door handles emphasise the luxurious look. The Voyah Free is also impressive from the rear. The rear lights, which run across the entire width of the vehicle, give the Voyah Free a particularly stylish appearance. Especially in the "Dark Green" colour, as found on our test vehicle, the shape of the Free is shown to its best advantage.
With its high-quality appearance, all-wheel drive and extensive equipment, it presents itself as a classic premium SUV. In terms of price, however, the Voyah Free is in a completely different league. But more on that later
Luxury combined with fancy features
The use of high-quality materials, first-class workmanship and numerous innovative functions contradict the prejudices once held in Europe against Chinese car manufacturers. Quite the opposite: the interior of the Voyah Free combines luxury and innovation at the same time and at a sophisticated level. Likewise, only vegan leather is used - in our case in the colour Dark Blue. An environmentally friendly alternative to conventional leather that still feels high-quality. In the Free, not only are the seats made of leather, but the dashboard and door panelling are also covered in leather. This has become rarer nowadays. Even with some German manufacturers, you increasingly look in vain for such a good finish.
One of our personal highlights is the customised cockpit for the driver and front passenger, each with their own screen. This offers access to numerous features. For example, music, seat heating, films and much more can be controlled independently of each other.
In addition to seat heating, the comfortable seats in the Free are also equipped with a ventilation and massage function. There is also a fragrance function with various perfumes and a dimmable panoramic roof. These gadgets ensure additional well-being in the interior. A photo function in the car serves as a dashcam replacement but can also be used for entertainment purposes and capture the odd snapshot.
Functions such as these are typical for China, where a high value is placed on such "fancy features" and advanced innovations. For example, numerous driver assistance systems support the driver in a wide variety of situations and contribute to even greater driving comfort. These include a night vision assistant, a parking assistant, a driving assistant and a lane assistant. Only the head-up display or steering wheel heating are missing in the Voyah Free. However, this is criticism at a high level.
With an overall length of 4.90 m, the Voyah Free offers a generous amount of space both at the front and in the rear. The boot has a capacity of 560 l and with the rear seats folded down there is even 1320 l available. In addition, a frunk offers further 72 l of storage space.
A clear focus on comfort
The Voyah Free clearly focusses on comfort. The suspension is particularly promising and ensures a high level of riding comfort. Although it does not encourage you to become the ultimate sports car, it still offers dynamic driving. Thanks to all-wheel drive and an output of 489 hp / 360 kW, it provides a powerful torque of 720 Nm.
The Voyah Free needs 4.4 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h. Remarkable for an SUV of this size.
The driver can switch between the different driving modes at any time. There is a choice of Eco, Comfort, Performance, Off-Road or even Snow. With a range of up to 500 km (WLTP), the Voyah Free is also ideal for longer journeys. The battery size is 106.7 kWh.
One small drawback: the maximum charging power. With 100 kW, this is rather low compared to the direct competition and charging stops in the Free therefore will take a little longer.
Plenty of equipment and luxury at an unbeatable price
The luxury SUV from China is available from 69’990 CHF. Despite the low price compared to the competition, it offers a very extensive range of equipment and a high standard of comfort. A Mercedes EQE with similar equipment for example costs almost twice as much. Even better: the Voyah Free is fully equipped as standard. Only the exterior colour and the colour of the leather in the interior can be selected as an option. The excellent price-performance ratio is therefore another plus point in favour of the Voyah Free.
Final thoughts:
In our test, the Voyah Free clearly proved that it can keep up with its European competitors such as Mercedes or Audi. In terms of value for money, it is even one step ahead. Thanks to its elegant design, high-quality workmanship and numerous innovative features, it is a very comfortable and luxurious SUV. It is therefore a good alternative to the expensive European models.
16.07.2024
Author: Levin Salzmann
Media: EcarGenius
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