When I first saw it three years ago, I wondered why the front was so pronounced. This is AVATR, Changan's luxury brand, representing the pinnacle of premium with innovation, design, and emotion infused into every model. The concept of New Luxury places the look of premium Chinese electric vehicles as elegant, refined, and smoothly curved like concept cars. It's an EV that doesn’t need to shout for attention but radiates aura through quality and confidence. AVATR stands out for comfort, dynamic electric powertrain, advanced safety systems, and prices accessible to Benz/BMW owners who can afford to try it and often become fans.
Changan's vision is grounded in reality. Senior executives recognize that not every market is ready to transition to electric vehicles overnight due to infrastructure, costs, and usage differences across countries. Thus, besides EVs, hybrid technology serves as a crucial bridge, offering both efficiency and electric driving without forcing buyers to radically change their car usage habits. AVATR is a brand offering options for those interested in EVs with budgets between 1.5-2.5 million baht, who own European cars but want a different feel—essentially, those wanting to save on car purchase and energy costs while keeping a luxurious look and near-European driving experience.
The AVATR 07 is a Coupe SUV EV that merges advanced technology, strong performance validated by international testing, and top safety standards including a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. It offers warranties on the vehicle and battery. AVATR 07 competes on product quality and user experience, not just price. The brand is serious about driving innovation as a modern automotive technology company with global thinking, headquartered in China—not merely a Chinese company exporting cars but a global enterprise.
AVATR 07 comes in two trims.
Max RWD (test unit) priced at 1,659,000 baht and Ultra AWD priced at 1,859,000 baht.
The AVATR 07 Max RWD test model in gray costs 1,659,000 baht. It has a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, producing 338 horsepower and 365 Nm torque, with a range of 575 kilometers per charge (test data).
The AVATR 07 Ultra AWD, priced at 1,859,000 baht, features dual electric motors powering all four wheels, with 590 horsepower and 645 Nm torque, and a range of 545 km per charge (NEDC standard). It includes a Magic Carpet intelligent air suspension and 21-inch alloy wheels.
The vehicle comes with a 5-year or 120,000 km warranty and an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty on the high-voltage battery.
The AVATR 07 was designed by Nader Faghihzadeh, Chief Design Officer and former BMW designer behind the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé and 7 Series, collaborating with the AVATR Global Design Center in Munich, Germany. Given full creative freedom, Nader produced a stunning design blending UFO/Future Elegance style with a sporty fastback SUV shape. Highlights include a bold yet refined front with C-shaped DRL halo lights, optional digital side mirrors, wide sporty wheel arches, 20-inch alloy wheels on the single motor model, 21-inch on the dual motor, and long LED taillights complementing the curved rear.
Dimensions of the AVATR 07 are 4,825 mm long, 1,980 mm wide, 1,620 mm high, with a 2,940 mm wheelbase. Ground clearance is 174 mm. Cargo space is 500 liters, expandable to 1,325 liters with rear seats folded, plus 90 liters of front storage. Kerb weight is about 2,315 kg for the RWD and 2,434 kg for the AWD models.
The AVATR 07 is built on the CHN Platform, a collaboration between Changan, Huawei, and CATL, featuring a 100% pure electric BEV powertrain and an 800V architecture.
For 1.65 million baht, the RWD AVATR 07 offers a rear Permanent Magnet Synchronous motor with 338 horsepower (252 kW) and 365 Nm torque. It accelerates 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h. The CATL Shenxing LFP battery holds 82.16 kWh, delivering up to 575 km (WLTP). Our test car had over 10,000 km but remained quiet and in excellent condition, which is notable since media test cars are often pushed hard, especially at high speeds.
The top Ultra AWD model has dual motors—front AC Induction and rear Permanent Magnet—delivering 598 horsepower (440 kW) and 645 Nm torque, accelerating 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h. The CATL Shenxing LFP battery is 82.16 kWh, with a range of up to 610 km (CLTC) or about 463 km (WLTP). Achieving 3.9 seconds is nearly supercar territory, impressive given the nearly 2.5-ton sporty coupe SUV body.
The 800V Silicon Carbide (SiC) high-voltage platform supports ultra-fast DC charging, replenishing from 30% to 80% in about 10-15 minutes (or adding 350-400 km range in just 10 minutes on ultra-fast chargers). Such high-power chargers are becoming more common, especially in provincial cities not far from Bangkok.
The AVATR 07’s chassis and dynamics include an electric variable-ratio power steering (R-EPS) with precise response and a narrow 5.85-meter turning radius. The suspension features an intelligent Taihang chassis with double wishbone aluminum alloy front and multi-link aluminum alloy rear with hydraulic bushings to reduce vibration. The Max RWD model rides on 20-inch Continental EcoContact 7 tires sized 255/50 R20.
The Ultra AWD trim upgrades to an automatic-leveling air suspension adjustable up to 125 mm, paired with CDC® (Continuous Damping Control) variable dampers that adjust shock absorber stiffness up to 100 times per second. While test driving, I actually preferred the standard suspension for its smoothness and stability at speed, which was limited due to legal restrictions. The rear-wheel-drive AVATR 07 felt more stable and better balanced than a BMW X4 when pushed hard.
The braking system uses Continental’s 2nd-Gen Brake-by-Wire (MK C2) with quick, precise response and ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels. The stopping distance from 100-0 km/h is under 34.5 meters. The Comfort Brake System (iCST) smooths stops by reducing nose dive during parking brakes, preventing passenger dizziness.
The interior features a Digital Stage Layout with a futuristic enveloping front console theme. Soft materials in dark purple/blue tones accented with green stitching enhance the premium feel. The panoramic display is a 35.4-inch 4K screen stretching under the windshield, showing driving info, vehicle status, and a wide surround view without obstructing visibility.
The central touchscreen is a large floating display of 15.6 inches, delivering sharp images and controlling all vehicle functions. The cockpit includes a sport-style squircle-shaped steering wheel wrapped in leather, trimmed with champagne/gold-gray accents, with dual scroll-wheel controls and a central AVATR emblem. The column shifter is mounted behind the steering wheel on the right for space efficiency.
The floating center console includes a wireless charging pad angled towards the driver for easy access, large dual cup holders with silver rings near the armrest and storage box, and a two-tier design with lower open space for bags or sunglasses plus USB/power outlets.
The front seats are zero-gravity sport bucket seats with integrated headrests, trimmed with luxurious gold side plates. They offer full electric adjustment and electric controls in champagne finish on the seat base sides. The front passenger seat also includes leg rest/ottoman and massage functions. The rear seats are spacious, soft, and comfortable with a flat floor for extra legroom, rear air vents, and elegant gold rings as decoration.
The frameless doors emphasize a sporty look. The AVATR Sound system features premium metal speaker covers with spiral/wave patterns and the AVATR logo throughout the cabin, including the A-pillars. The power door release uses digital push buttons with ambient orange/red lighting tracing the door edges.
The stereo system is a high-end Meridian collaboration with Huawei’s audio architecture, featuring 25 high-quality speakers around the cabin, including speakers embedded in the front headrests. The amplifier delivers up to 2,016 watts power in a 7.1.4-channel surround sound setup with roof speakers and subwoofers for deep bass. The speaker grilles are finely crafted metal with wave patterns and brand logos, enhancing luxury and sound dispersion.
Audio features include headrest speakers in the front seats with private mode, allowing the driver to hear navigation or calls clearly without disturbing other passengers’ music. Sound algorithms offer multiple modes like Soundstage, Concert Hall, and Vocal Enhancement. The cabin uses acoustic double-glazed glass and noise reduction systems for a peaceful environment with deep bass, clear mids, and crisp highs.
The minimalist, highly digital cabin maximizes spaciousness and connectivity, creating a luxurious atmosphere. The highlight is the 35.4-inch 4K panoramic screen stretching along the dashboard base under the windshield, reminiscent of BMW’s panoramic display in the iX3 but a traditional display rather than projection-based. A 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen with NFC module allows seamless smartphone integration. The interior combines rich colors, large supportive wing-type headrest seats with 8-point massage, Meridian surround sound at 2,016 watts, 7.1.4 channels, 25 speakers, and subtle ambient lighting. The cabin offers generous headroom (1,037 mm front and rear) and rear legroom (965 mm).
At 173 cm tall, stepping into the AVATR 07’s front seat is easy and comfortable. The driver’s seat provides good lumbar and thigh support with about 6.5 inches of head clearance. Front and side visibility are clear, while rear visibility is slightly restricted. Exiting is simple as the driver’s seat moves back automatically upon unlocking. Rear seat entry is straightforward with ample legroom and about 5 inches of head clearance. Rear seats have heating, reclining backs, and winged headrests that offer good head support. The foldable center armrest includes dual cup holders and a touch panel for seat heating, reclining, and comfort controls. Rear passengers also have two air vents and a small storage box behind the front console.
The single electric motor in the Max RWD model produces 343 horsepower, which is more than enough for everyday use unless competing in races. The torque propels the vehicle to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The accelerator pedal is tuned for smooth, gentle response rather than aggressive bursts like some Chinese EVs. The Max RWD model accelerates steadily—not slow, but not abrupt—maintaining the premium feel. The steering and brakes are generally smooth, though sometimes feel a bit numb due to the vehicle's weight requiring cautious braking (2.3 tons).
The top Ultra AWD model with dual motors offers acceleration comparable to a high-performance Porsche coupe and upgrades to air suspension with intelligent adaptive dampers. However, due to speed limits, urban safety, and the vehicle’s design, it’s unclear if it’s significantly more thrilling to drive than the Max model.
The essence of the AVATR is focused on driving comfort, especially on long trips. The cabin is exceptionally quiet, surpassing typical EV standards. The double wishbone suspension, springs, and shocks tuned by European experts absorb road imperfections smoothly and calmly. The massage seats encourage slower, relaxed driving. If compared to combustion-engine cars, the AVATR 07 feels closer to Lexus or Mercedes in character rather than BMW or Audi.
The rear cabin space isn't as vast as expected compared to the long wheelbase typical of EVs, but it remains generously spacious. Adjustable reclining seats compensate well. Under the flat floor lies an 82.16 kWh LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery, allowing full 100% charges without long-term degradation worries. The maximum range is 575 km, with real-world results around 470 km on a slower outbound and faster return trip (Nakhon Nayok - Khao Yai). If a 420 kW DC fast charger is available, it can add about 240 km range in just 10 minutes. Energy consumption averages about 15.7 kWh/100 km at steady speeds and 19.8 kWh/100 km at higher speeds.
The specs are competitive with rivals, but AVATR’s real advantage is its price. For the same budget, European German brands offer smaller, less powerful cars with fewer options and less luxurious interiors. The AVATR 07’s elegant design outshines established luxury competitors, though beauty is subjective and open to debate.
The one thing this car cannot yet provide is the prestige and badge recognition of German brands. For some buyers, it will take time for AVATR’s blend of premium interior quality, advanced technology, and value to overcome the pride built by legendary luxury brands over a century. Sometimes, beauty and allure depend on how the badge on the steering wheel reflects the driver's identity.