Many of the world's top automakers find themselves catching up when it comes to battery electric vehicles. In the past five years or so, companies such as General Motors, Nissan and Volkswagen have had only one electric car in their lineups, and none of them are particularly best-selling in Canada. This provides an opportunity for countless EV companies in China to grab some customers from under the noses of some Western brands, which is basically why we found ourselves behind the wheels of the 2021 Imperium SEV.
The Imperium SEV is a battery-electric mid-size crossover manufactured by the newly formed automotive division of an electronics company called Skyworth Group in Shenzhen. Surrey, British Columbia-based Imperium Canada, which already sells a range of electric scooters and e-bikes, will soon begin importing these vehicles to Canada and selling them through a network of brick-and-mortar dealers — the first to open in Quebec early next year.
Our short 24-hour test drive of the Imperium SEV was spent behind the wheels of the prototype model, so Christian Dubois, president of Canadian Imperial Motors, told us to have reservations about our impressions. For example, due to the early manufacturing state of the vehicle, the infotainment screen menu was not in English, so we couldn't really test how the navigation system worked near our Suburban Toronto. In addition to this, our test vehicles are almost identical to the models we will receive in Canada starting in 2022.
Sold in China under the Skywell ET5/Skyworth EV6 name, the SEV is powered by a single front-mounted electric motor that is said to produce 204 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. This motor offers amazing straight-line performance for its size and offers the kind of instant acceleration that many EV buyers are looking for — though it won't cause laughter like your neighbor's Tesla.
The power transmission is somewhat imperfect, leading to high torque steering and a lot of wheel slippage when at low speed full throttle, but we don't think most efficiency-conscious EV buyers will use it very often. The traction control also seems rather rough when driving on snow-covered roads, opting for an almost complete cut-off of power rather than using torque vectoring to simulate the performance of the front differential. These problems can be solved by tweaking or better tires, as our testers have a fairly low quality all-season set of tires.
What about that battery?
Our test vehicles are premium trim-level models that include high-end options such as a large 12.3-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, front fog lights, and most importantly, a larger 72 kWh battery pack that claims to offer a very generous but not always realistic range of 520 km of the European Test Cycle (NEDC).
The fleet management company that was guarding the vehicle forgot to plug in the power the night before we picked up the car, so our 24-hour test drive started with a battery capacity of about 35% and the number showed an indicative range dashboard of about 150 kilometers. According to our observations, while the 6.6 kW car charger is extremely slow, it is almost impossible to increase the range by 20% after 10 hours of overnight insertion, but according to our observations, the predicted range is almost accurate. Other automakers' on-board chargers are also typical. If they don't live near a convenient or affordable fast charging station, we recommend any future Imperium buyer (and all EV drivers, in fact) purchase a Level 2 charger for their home. Imperium says SEV can be charged quickly at 70 kWh.
Not flashy, but practical
The exterior and interior style of the Imperium SEV can be described as unpretentious and straightforward, but while the design of the vehicle is not noteworthy, the quality of its manufacturing is worth mentioning. Forget any preconceived notions you have about cars made in China – the manufacturing standards for imperium SEV are very similar to those of many other economy cars sold here today. The touchscreen also responds to input, while the digital dashboard is clear, legible, and easy to read. However, the backup camera was a big disappointment, passing blur and intermittent feeds to the 12.3-inch touchscreen, making it difficult to use.
Other aspects of the cabin are also impressive. The seats are comfortable and well supported, the swivel dial gear selector is responsive and the stitched leather steering wheel has a very nice look and feel. The spacious rear seat (rear legroom is very important for many car buyers in China) and the huge cargo space behind the second row ensure that the SEV also has plenty of room to carry the family.
Pricing and availability
The standard Comfort interior class, which costs $40,195 at base including destinations, comes standard with a smaller 8-inch display and 55 kWh of battery pack, claiming NEDC range of 410 km.
In comparison, this premium décor is priced at $47,170, including destinations. This pricing structure is similar to other battery-powered crossovers such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt EUV, but the Imperium SEV is a niche on top of both models and offers more space for passengers and cargo.
These prices also do not take into account federal and provincial incentives. In Quebec, SEV will be eligible for $5,000 in federal and $8,000 provincial EV incentives, while Imperium SEV premiums will cost a reasonable $35,000 before taxes and after government incentives.
Imperium's first two distributors will open in Laval and Quebec City in January 2022, with more to be announced later. The company hopes to eventually expand to British Columbia, Ontario and other Canadian provinces, but given that Quebec buys most of its electric cars in Canada, it makes sense for Imperium to focus on it in the first place. Dubois expects Imperium to receive approximately 1,200 SEV prototypes in the 2022 model year.
Final thoughts
We encourage Canadian EV buyers to abandon any preconceptions they have about lesser-known car brands such as these, and if they have the ability, test drive imperium SEV. It's a well-structured, comfortable and relatively affordable family electric car that hit the market at almost perfect times. It's also backed by an encouraging eight-year/160,000km battery warranty and a five-year/160,000km powertrain warranty, which should help alleviate any concerns they have about buying electric cars from new automakers. At the very least, SEV is an interesting addition to the Canadian auto market, and it could get more attention from established automakers.