The Skyworth K is a fridge-maker’s first attempt at an electric car, and it’s more than just O-K.
For those who see electric vehicles as soulless white goods on wheels, Skyworth’s entry into the motoring world might seem like confirmation of their worst fears. After all, this is the same Skyworth better known for refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines, not exactly the lineage you’d expect for an SUV.
But brush aside your scepticism for a moment, because their first foray into four wheels, the Skyworth K, is rather more competent than anyone had a right to expect.
Understated styling
At first glance, you could mistake the Skyworth K for a regular internal combustion SUV, save for the absence of a traditional grille.
Its design is modern, and importantly avoids the more cartoonish excesses that plague some EVs from newer brands. Paint quality on the test car was notably rich and glossy, while the doors closed with a reassuring heft, free of any alarming clangs that betray budget engineering.
Big in size, big on value
At 4,720mm from nose to tail, the Skyworth K is longer than a Volkswagen Tiguan by nearly two centimetres. A difference not immediately obvious in a car park, but notable when you step inside.
Thanks to a generous 2,900mm wheelbase, the K feels roomy and accommodating, more in the vein of a proper mid-sized family SUV. The 467-litre boot is respectably sized too, being large enough to accommodate a hefty weekend shop.
Inside, the cabin is a showcase of features. There’s adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and all-around cameras to soothe parking anxieties. The two digital screens are crisp and vivid, although navigating the labyrinthine menus will require a short apprenticeship.
Even the sound system tries its best to impress, offering audio presets for different music genres from rock to classical, and even an “elderly” setting. Perhaps that last one operates at a frequency only discernible to the Pioneer Generation, because I couldn’t hear a difference.
While wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity is present and prompt, it’s not without gremlins. Occasionally, Spotify would crackle as if an old cassette deck had reanimated itself, and during one phone call, the radio merrily played on in the background, forcing me to yell over the din like a contestant in a retro game show.
Smooth, but you need to be gentle
Range-wise, the Skyworth K posts credible figures. Over a mixed test route, energy consumption averaged 16.8kWh/100km. In the real world, you’re looking at just under 440km per charge, a figure good enough to banish most range anxiety on our roads.
Around town, the K is an easy companion. Good visibility and a cushy ride make it particularly friendly in multi-storey carparks and tight urban spaces. It soaks up bumps and potholes with a degree of grace you wouldn’t normally expect at this price point.
However, the steering can feel too light at times, even in Sport mode. It’s great for manouevring around tight spaces, but you do feel a little hesitant turning at higher speeds. The brakes can feel spongy at times too, but as long as you take it slow, you’ll won’t have much of an issue.
Value you can’t ignore
With a price tag under S$190,000 including the sky-high COE, the Skyworth K is the least expensive way to buy a spacious, full-sized electric SUV in Singapore today. It undercuts rivals by several tens of thousands of dollars, all while offering comparable, if not superior, equipment levels and space.
How Skyworth manages this feat without seemingly cutting major corners is almost a mystery. True, there are rough edges: the foot pedals have a squidgy feel, and the adaptive cruise control sometimes introduces a slight choppiness into the ride. But taken as a whole, these minor foibles are easy to forgive.
A remarkable first effort
For a debut model from a company whose previous expertise lay in cooling drinks and displaying cat videos, the Skyworth K is an impressive statement of intent.
It doesn’t dazzle with cutting-edge technology or sports car dynamics, but it offers exactly what many families seek: space, comfort, and peace of mind, all wrapped up in a thoroughly competent package.
Technical Specifications
Skyworth K
Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Front-Wheel Drive
Power: 150 kW (201 bhp)
Torque: 320 Nm
Gearbox: Single Speed (A)
Acceleration: 9.6 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Battery Capacity: 86 kWh
Drive Range: 489 km
Energy Consumption: 5.q km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$180,888 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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