Car review: Avatr may just make you 1-1

SINGAPORE – Two Chinese carmakers and a battery manufacturer walked into a bar... but instead of ending up with a punchline to a joke, they formed Avatr, an upmarket electric vehicle (EV) brand to rival premium German car brands.

So goes the origin story of Avatr, which is unrelated to Canadian film-maker James Cameron’s movie franchise involving humanoids with blue skin.

The joint venture was initially called Changan Nio New Energy Automobile Technology in 2018, and was renamed Avatr in 2021, as automotive company Nio had reduced its stakes.

The Avatr 11 (pronounced “one-one”) is the first model to be launched in Singapore and has the makings of a serious contender in the premium EV segment.

CATL, the world’s largest EV battery maker that supplies the likes of BMW, Tesla and Xiaomi, has stakes in Avatr, while Huawei, of smartphone fame, is also involved in the car’s development.

Perhaps to flaunt its battery capability, the Avatr 11 Long Range claims to be able to cover 600km on a single charge. This is almost enough range for a round trip between the Tuas Checkpoint and Kuala Lumpur.

The Standard Range version, which has a smaller battery (90kWh instead of 116kWh) is good for 475km.

Over the three-day, 170km drive, the Long Range test car posts an average energy consumption of 18.2kWh/100km, better than the claimed 21.7kWh/100km.

This suggests the car can get quite close to the 600km range in real life. For typical drivers in Singapore, a full charge may be good for more than a week of driving.

The Avatr’s design is striking, with handsome proportions and sculpted curves. Its sheer size gives it a commanding road presence. At 4,880mm long, the Avatr sits between the Porsche Macan (4,784mm) and its big brother, the Cayenne (4,930mm).

The design of the rear is particularly unique. Instead of a typical hatch format, the Avatr’s boot is hinged below the windscreen, like a saloon car’s. The buttresses extending from the sloping roofline to the rear of the car are another interesting design feature.

Just as unusual for a sport utility vehicle (SUV) is the boot spoiler that pops up when the car is in Sport driving mode.

The Avatr’s 22-inch tyres fill the enormous wheel arches nicely, while the test car’s matt grey colour – a $5,000 option – shows off the curves on the body really well.

The premium version of the 11, at more than $320,000 with certificate of entitlement, sits at the higher end of the price scale among Chinese EVs on sale in Singapore today.

For the money, the car is packed to its panoramic glass roof with equipment.

This goes beyond the usual fare of voice control and front massage seats to include fancier features such as motorised doors that open and close automatically.

Paired to a smartphone app, the car can be left to back itself into a parking space with the driver standing a short distance away.

Avatr is also keen to name-drop familiar specialist brands associated with premium car brands, such as brakes from Brembo (like BMW) and a Meridian sound system (like Range Rover).

The interior looks extravagant. Most of the materials used, down to the thick floor carpets, look and feel posh. The physical controls – from the indicator stalk to the seat adjustment buttons – work with a satisfying heft and precision.

That said, the car is not immune from Chinese EV makers’ obsession with digital screens.

To start, there is the obligatory centre infotainment screen with dimensions that are a laptop-matching 15.6 inches. The interface is relatively easy to use, which is good, since the screen is needed for just about everything, from adjusting the wind direction of the air-conditioning to opening the glove compartment.

The second screen’s width is 10.25 inches, and it sits in front of the driver to display information like speed and energy consumption. Once again, this is quite the norm for cars these days.

Less common, but not unheard of, is having a video screen fitted where you would normally find the rear-view mirror. It streams a constant video feed of what is going on behind the car. Turn it off and you get a conventional mirror.

Then there is a fourth screen, set ahead of the co-driver on the dashboard. This is a touch-sensitive display, which is basically the second infotainment control panel.

After the screen-fest at the front half of the cabin, the backseat is a paragon of serenity. By that, I mean that there is nothing for the occupants to poke or swipe. Instead, there is plenty of legroom and a bench set at the perfect angle for a snooze.

Curiously, for a premium SUV, there are only two air-conditioning vents at the back without any temperature adjustment knobs.

However, rear passengers do get seat ventilation like in the front seats, activated with physical buttons on the door. There is only one USB-C power point for everyone to share.

The software on board works nearly faultlessly, from wireless Apple CarPlay connection to recalling the driver’s setting, so there is no need to fiddle with the screen at every start-up. The adaptive cruise control that also does automatic lane change is effective.

On the move, the Avatr 11 is a quiet and refined drive, even by EV standards. On the expressway, it feels confident and wind noise is practically absent.

The test car does misread road signs on at least one stretch of road. It momentarily shows that the speed limit is 100kmh, not the actual 70kmh. The Traffic Police will probably not be amused.

The ride comfort at lower road speed is quite good, remaining settled even when the car is driven over badly repaired roads.

At speeds below 30kmh, it makes a whimsical tune – like a ride at an Uncle Ringo carnival – or it can be set to some kind of spaceship-sounding whoosh. This is to comply with regulations for EVs to be able to alert other road users that they are approaching.

The accelerator can be more responsive. Even in Sport drive mode, there is a lag between the driver’s right foot and the car picking up the pace. But get past the initial lethargy and the car accelerates energetically, reaching – and breaching – speed limits effortlessly.

The 11 is a very promising start for the Avatr brand, with its good looks and refinement. At this rate, its owners may well be going to the bar to celebrate over happy hour.

Avatr 11 Long Range

Price: $320,999 with COE and before applicable discounts
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous with 116kWh NMC battery
Transmission: Single-speed, rear-wheel
Power: 230kW
Torque: 350Nm
0-100kmh: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 200kmh
Power consumption: 21.7kWh/100km
Charging capacity: 11kW AC; 240kW DC
Agent: DPL Premium Automobiles
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Comparable considerations

Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive ($130,626 without COE, $255,026 at last COE)

It does not quite match the Avatr in positioning, but the dual-motor top-end version of the Tesla Model Y is much zippier, taking just 4.8 seconds to get from 0-100kmh. Extensively updated in early 2025, the facelifted Tesla not only looks smarter, but also feels more premium with the upgraded cabin.

Porsche Macan Electric ($250,688 without COE, $375,088 at last COE)

The Porsche badge alone would be a premium over the Avatr. But there is plenty of substance packed in the basic version of the electric SUV from Germany. It is a more dynamic car to drive, and it is faster than the Avatr (0-100kmh in 5.7 seconds). The cabin design is more conventional, but still beautifully presented.

Polestar 4 Electric Long Range Single Motor ($342,000 with COE)

The closest rival in town to the Avatr in price and performance is the Polestar 4. The Chinese-owned Swedish electric SUV has a slightly smaller battery (100kW), but its operating range is longer. While an Avatr driver can easily turn the digital rear-view mirror into a conventional mirror, this is not an option on the Polestar 4 because the car does not have a rear windscreen to look out of.