YangWang U8L Review: an electric giant that can do more than it seems

The YangWang U8L is not just another Chinese electric car. It is a demonstration that the premium segment in China is no longer limited to "cheaper than Tesla". This is a full-fledged, expensive and technologically rich answer to Western SUVs - with everything that can be packed into an electric SUV. The model was first shown in April 2025, and now it is officially on sale in the domestic market.

The U8L is an extended version of the already well-known U8, and its main task is to appeal to those who want the most. More space, more technology, more pathos. And, of course, more price.

We remind you that you can purchase home and commercial charging stations in our online storeand also use the public charging stations ECOFACTORcharging points located throughout Ukraine. For convenient access to charging infrastructure, we recommend using our mobile applicationwhich is available on iOS and Android.

Who buys U8L and why?

This car is definitely not for daily commuting in Kyiv traffic jams. This is an option for those who want everything at once: a little VIP luxury, a little off-road skills and maximum attention on the road. The U8L is a car that provokes questions. You stand at a traffic light and people look out the window and ask: "What is this thing?"

Chinese buyers are already familiar with this format. The U8L is positioned as the answer to the Bentley Bentayga or Rolls-Royce Cullinan - but without the British gloss. It doesn't play the classics. It plays with innovation, with the wow effect, with a show on wheels. And this is clearly visible in every detail.

What does it look like in real life?

In the photo, the U8L looks big. In real life, it's even bigger. And this is not an exaggeration. But the most interesting thing is not the size. The most surprising thing is how well this giant balances between status and... playfulness.

• Gold emblems? Є.
• Is there a fridge in the boot? Є.
• Curtains on the windows and massage in the armchairs? Yes, and this is standard.
• Sideways driving, rotation in place and emergency buoyancy? You're welcome.

U8L is not just an electric car. It is the flagship for those who want their car to be a part of their image, not just a means of transport.

The interior: not a car, but a business room

Once you get to the salon, you don't want to go anywhere right away. You want to sit, look around, turn on the massage and put your coffee on the heated armrest.

The 2+2+2 configuration is about individual comfort for everyone. No benches, just separate comfortable chairs. They are heated, cooled, and massaged. And yes, even the armrests are heated.

Each has its own display. The front passenger has his own, the driver has a separate panel, and there's another one in the middle for multimedia. Everything looks expensive, but not flashy. The aesthetics here are closer to a private jet than a traditional car.

Feeling on the go

YangWang U8L accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. But most importantly, it does not do so aggressively. Acceleration is smooth, soft, without the feeling that you are thrown back into the seat. This is not a sports car that wants to impress you with speed. This is a car that says: "I can do it, but without hysteria."

It is surprisingly easy to drive in the city. Yes, it is wide. Yes, it's better not to drive into small car parks. But thanks to cameras, assistance systems and smooth steering, you quickly get used to the dimensions.

The e4 platform and tricks in practice

U8L can do what seems impossible:

• Move sideways (crab mode)
• Rotate on the spot
• Drive on water in emergency buoyancy mode
• Self-stabilise in case of a punctured wheel
• Use autopilot even in difficult urban conditions

This is not just marketing. It really works. And this is the main advantage of the U8L over many "premium" SUVs that still drive like ordinary cars.

How the car feels on Ukrainian roads

Surprisingly, it's good. The Disus-P suspension is hydraulic, with intelligent control that constantly adapts to the road surface. Pits, cracks, cobblestones - everything is handled softly, without any impact on the body.

In the rain - peace. In the snow - even more peace of mind. U8L is not nervous. It doesn't care what's under the wheels. This is a rarity for an electric car, because most of them still have a rigid suspension. Here, it's the opposite.

What if there is a flood, a rainstorm or just a village?

The U8L is ready. The emergency buoyancy mode is not a gimmick, but a very practical thing. Of course, you shouldn't drive across a lake, but in cases where the city is flooded or you need to cross a stream of water on a dirt road, this function can really save you.

The Chinese have focused on adapting to difficult conditions. And I'm not even joking here - U8L can be very appropriate in Ukrainian conditions, especially for those who often travel outside the city.

Range and charging

The U8L is not quite an electric car in the usual sense. More precisely, it is not just an electric car. Its power plant is a combination of four electric motors and a petrol engine that acts as a generator. On electric propulsion alone, it can travel about 200 km. And yes, this is enough for daily trips around the city or a short trip to the country. But if you're planning a long journey, a hybrid range extender will help you out, as it increases the range to 1160 km. This is serious.

This approach allows you not to worry about the lack of charging stations somewhere in the district centre or on the road near Poltava. That is, you drive on electricity when there is a charge, and if you suddenly find yourself somewhere without stations, you simply connect the internal combustion engine, and that's it, you can continue driving.

Charging is standard for such cars: both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) fast charging are supported. But let's be honest here: Ukraine still has a poorly developed charging infrastructure. That's why the hybrid component of the U8L looks not just like insurance, but a real way to avoid nerves on the road.

This is a rare case when a compromise between ecology and practicality does not look like a "betrayal" but a very appropriate solution.

How we at ECOFACTOR see the future of charging cars like the YangWang U8L

The U8L impresses with its functionality, power and autonomy. But even for such a hybrid giant, charging infrastructure matters. And we understand this well. At ECOFACTOR, we have been working for more than a decade to ensure that electric vehicles, regardless of their class - from city compacts to large SUVs like the YangWang U8L - have convenient access to the charging network in Ukraine.

We have created an ecosystem where charging is not a quest, but a habitual process. Our charging stations are designed, manufactured and installed in Ukraine and can be found through map in the ECOFACTOR mobile application for iOS and Android. It is this app that allows the driver to find the nearest point, check availability, start charging and control the process - without any extra steps.

Despite its long range, the U8L also needs to be charged - and we offer solutions for both private owners and businesses. We have AC stations up to 44 kW, DC stations up to 420 kW, as well as mobile charging stationsThe company's products are easy to use in unstable infrastructure or temporary locations.

A separate part of our ecosystem is online shop with charging cables, adapters and accessories that fit a variety of connector types and use cases. If you have a hybrid model with a non-standard port, we have a better chance of finding the right accessory than anywhere else.

We also provide a platform for operators that allows businesses to create their own network of charging stations, set tariffs, see usage statistics, add new points and maintain existing ones. This is especially relevant if you are planning, for example, to install charging stations in a business centre, hotel, restaurant or residential complex, where a driver of a car like U8L may appear tomorrow.

So, here's what we propose:

• Charging stations of our own production (AC and DC)
• Mobile application for drivers (iOS and Android).
• Map of charging stations in the app
• A platform for charging infrastructure operators
• Online store of cables, adapters and accessories
• Support for billing without commission as part of the "Support Act"

The YangWang U8L shows what the electric cars of the future can look like. And we at ECOFACTOR are working to ensure that charging for them is just as modern, simple and adapted to Ukrainian realities. Whether you have a sports sedan, an electric crossover or a hybrid tank, we are already preparing the infrastructure that will withstand any load.

Pros and cons (honestly and without embellishment)

What really appealed to me was the set of unique features that you won't find in any other production SUV. Sideways driving, emergency buoyancy, rotation on the spot - all these are not just technical fads, but real scenarios that can be useful, especially in our weather and road conditions. The interior deserves special praise: it is spacious, well-designed and really gives the impression that you are not in a car, but in a business hall. The U8L rides very smoothly - regardless of the surface, the massive weight does not prevent you from feeling complete control over the situation. And most importantly, the hybrid range really allows you to not think about charging every day. Combined with the climatic challenges, this car looks quite prepared for the unexpected: rain, snow, flooding - anything.

But there are things that may raise questions. First of all, the price. For many, $180,000 for a Chinese car still sounds strange, despite all its bells and whistles. It also weighs a lot - more than three tonnes, and this definitely does not make parking in the city easier. The electric range is not impressive - only 200 km without the support of an internal combustion engine, which is not enough for a purely electric scenario. And the dimensions are a real problem for narrow streets, underground car parks, and simply narrow yard passages. And one more thing: currently, the U8L is officially available only in China, so for a Ukrainian buyer, it is either a grey import or waiting for the model to enter our market.

So is it worth it?

YangWang U8L is a car for those who are tired of the same SUVs. This is not another option among a dozen similar ones. This is a separate type of car that wants to be everything at once: luxury, all-terrain vehicle, electric car and show car.

It's not for everyone. But if you want to surprise, to be the "first", to have a car that really has the features of the future, the U8L will not disappoint you.

Conclusions.

YangWang U8L is definitely not a universal car for everyone. But this is its essence. It's not about rationality, economy, or the standard logic of choosing a car. It's about the desire to have something that stands out from the crowd. Something that combines luxury, technology, extreme and a bit of theatrics. The U8L is like a couture suit: not for every day, but when you put it on, everyone notices you.

It openly shows what an electric car can be when designers and engineers have no limits. This is an electric SUV with character. And to be honest, it's a bit of a pity that it hasn't reached Ukrainian car dealerships yet. But who knows, perhaps it is precisely such models that will accelerate the development of charging infrastructure, and we at ECOFACTOR will definitely be ready for this.

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