Buick, a car brand under General Motors, has launched the Electra E7 for the Chinese market in three variants, whose price range is from 159,900 yuan to 199,900 yuan. It is a plug-in hybrid vehicle whose body type is a mid-size crossover SUV. It features a seating capacity of 5 people in a layout of 2-3.
It comes with a boot space of 650 litres, which can easily carry 4 big pieces of luggage. The rear seat is foldable; folding it down expands the boot space to 1798 litres, which helps with carrying bulky cargo. The dimensions are 4850 mm in length, 1910 mm in width, 1676 mm in height, and 2850 mm in wheelbase.
Exterior & Design
The Electra E7 features a ‘shark-nose’ front fascia, giving it a sporty and aggressive stance. It comes with a split headlight setup; the slim DRLs are placed above, and futuristic-looking headlamps are set lower, improving visibility. At the front-end, a closed-off grill is added for better aerodynamics.
On the sides, it gets clean and flowing body lines that reduce drag. The entry gates feature hidden door handles that give the car a modern feel. Its roofline is kept slightly coupe-like to add sportiness without losing too much headroom. The vehicle is equipped with alloy wheels to ensure better road grip.
The full-width LED lights are added on its back to make it look wider, and the tailgate has clean surfaces with fewer cuts that give modern appeal. The rear also has a subtle roof spoiler which adds a sporty touch and a sculpted bumper that enhances visual depth.
On the roof, there is a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, which works with ADAS to detect objects and also enables autonomous driving features. The car is available in 4 colour options that are Songyan Ink, Satin Silver, Golden Sand Beige and Distant Mountain Dai.
Interior & Features
The Electra E7’s cabin is equipped with an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, which shows all the driving data, including speed, battery, and navigation; a 15.6-inch central touchscreen for infotainment that acts as a control panel which can control media, navigation, climate, and car settings; and a 50-inch AR Head-Up Display that projects navigation and primary driving details so the driver keeps its focus on the road and drives safely.
The screens can be connected via Apple CarPlay, HiCar, and CarLink. All seats are available with ventilation and heating functions, meaning the seating is comfortable in all conditions of weather. The front seats are electronically adjustable and come with multi-point massage functions, and rear seats feature inclining from 115° to 125° to relax during the long journey.
The front passenger seat comes with zero-gravity, which is inspired by the Eames lounge design that includes leg support, multi-angle adjustments and dual 120° recline posture. For rear-seating passengers, there’s also a 15.6-inch screen for entertainment, a fold-out multifunction table for working and eating, and a smart ceiling light that is designed in a way that reduces eye strain.
The immersive sound experience inside the cabin gets a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos sound system with 20 speakers across the cabin. There’s also a mini refrigerator with temperatures of as low as 2°C and as high as 50°C. For safe driving, it features ADAS that is powered by Momenta’s R6 AI system, which enables smart navigation assistance, adaptive driving support and real-time road awareness.
Powertrain & Performance
The Electra E7 is available with two engine options; the first is a 1.5L turbo petrol engine for those who prefer performance, and the second is a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine for those who focus on efficiency. Both engine options for the car get an electric motor on the front axle, meaning its drivetrain is front-wheel drive, and both come with an e-CVT (Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox.
The turbo engine generates the power of 115 kW (154 hp), but the same for the NA engine is 72 kW (97 hp). The motor’s power output is 165 kW (221 hp). The first engine option’s combined power output is 280 kW (375 hp), and the latter’s is 237 kW (318 hp). Both feature a battery pack of 32.6 kWh, whose only electric CLTC range is 235 km. It supports fast charging, which charges the vehicle from 20-80% within 15 minutes.