Changan UNI-T

The cabin of the 2024 Changan Uni-T is a balance of practicality and premium bits. The interior is much improved than typical China-made cars. The multifunction steering wheel is flat-bottomed and the dashboard flows uninterrupted with a silver trim covering the entire length. The 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit is good but has only Android Auto support. The full-color instrument panel in crisp and easy to read. The two front seats are electronically adjustable and the driver can easily get into the most comfortable driving position. The seats are of faux-leather. The central console gets a wireless charging pad and a USB port to connect smartphones. The gear shifter is nicely integrated and looks like a fighter jet control.

The 2024 Changan Uni-T looks great from all sides. It’s impressive to see a crossover having so many curves and lines that not only break the mould but also looks great. Some of the exterior design elements seem to be inspired by the McLaren P1. The oversized front grille has no border and merges into the bumper. The Uni-T gets all-round LED lights. A swan-shaped element houses the headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs). The car runs on 20-inch alloy wheels, probably the biggest for any car in this class. From the rear, 2024 Changan Uni-T looks more like a large hatchback than a crossover. The stooping down roofline conforms to the current design standards. Overall, the Changan Uni-T looks futuristic and more like a concept car. 

The 2024 Changan Uni-T has a spacious cabin. There’s a generous amount of legroom even on the back seat. The rear windows aren’t big enough. Even tall passengers have to strain their necks to look out. That aside, the roofline eats into the headroom on the rear seat. But for someone who wants to be cocooned inside, the sports seats hold nicely in place. All seats have great padding and come with lumbar support. Long hours of highway travelling, is much less tiring in the Uni-T. The fully-independent MacPherson and multilink front and rear suspension setup is nicely tuned and even with the 20-inch wheels, does exceptionally well to absorb bumps and potholes. While the air-conditioner cools fast, the rear seat has no air vents.  

The 2024 Changan Uni-T is hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, BlueCore 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 178 PS/300 Nm. The motor is mated to a wet-type 7-speed dual-clutch. It’s the same powertrain that hauls the 2024 Changan CS55 Plus. Shifting gears is really smooth in the Uni-T. The car doesn’t have the characteristic lunge in start-and-stop traffic. The dual-clutch is nicely tuned in this regard. The performance is inspiring and the steering wheel responds promptly to commands. On highways, the 2024 Changan Uni-T performs admirably well. On city roads, the chassis does become a bit stiff while cornering. But it holds on nicely and body roll is negligible. There are multiple drive modes, selectable as per the road condition.  

The advanced driver-assist system (ADAS) of the 2024 Changan Uni-T is tech-rich. It comes with a 360-degree camera that eliminates almost all blind spots. Other equipment includes lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking, integrated adaptive cruise control, electronic stability control, and multiple airbags. The ADAS needs refinement as it often becomes too intrusive.

At a starting price of ₱1.679 million, the 2024 Changan Uni-T is affordable considering the features it offers. It has superb styling and is a head-turner. The cabin is comfortable and tasteful. The car handles well the powertrain is frugal. But there’s still a lot to improve that has the fundamentals right. It’s a worthy car for people on a budget.