First Drive: Neta X – Surprisingly Spacious Yet Quite Affordable

We recently tested the soon-to-be-launched Neta X. Could this be the new king of affordable EV SUVs in our market?

It is not often that we get the chance to test out a new model prior to its official launch. And that's exactly what Neta Malaysia gave us last week, as we got to test the soon-to-be-launched Neta X EV SUV.

Initially, our one-day drive was supposed to take place from Shah Alam to Genting Highlands, where we’d be given the opportunity to max out the Neta X’s capabilities around Genting's infamous twisty hillclimb road. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, we were instead tasked with driving the Neta X around the Klang Valley area only.

With that being said, the one-day drive has fortunately given just enough time to gauge this new affordable EV SUV, and here are our thoughts on Neta Malaysia’s second all-electric model, the Neta X.

First Things First, The Design

Unlike the Neta V, the Neta X boasts a more proper SUV body style, featuring some distinctive design features that set it apart from its aforementioned sibling.

At the front, the X sports a typical grill-less EV look, with two slim LED DRLs sitting above them while being flanked by the actual LED headlights at the lower part. Looking at the side, however, you’ll notice that the X comes with conventional door handles instead of the fancy flushed ones we saw on many EVs, while at the same time riding on 18-inch wheels shod in 225/60/R18 tyres.

Completing the exterior tour on the Neta X is its sporty rear end, featuring slim LED taillights with a full-width LED bar, mated with a roof-mounted spoiler, and a clean tailgate design. Speaking of the tailgate, hidden beneath here is a sizable boot space that measures 508 litres, which can be expanded to 1,388 litres once you fold down the rear seats.

How’s The Cabin Inside?

For the morning driving session, we were being driven inside the Neta X 500 Luxury variant from our starting point in Glenmarie to the rendezvous point in Setia Alam.

Taking this as a perfect opportunity to test out the Neta X’s rear passenger cabin, it turns out this EV SUV boasts pretty ample legroom and headroom. So much that even a sub-six-footer can sit comfortably in the rear seats.

Part-and-parcel of the X’s spacious cabin is due to its segment-leading wheelbase that measures 2,770 MM long. Other than ample space, the X’s rear space is also equipped with some amenities, such as the dedicated air conditioning vents and the two USB charging ports. Not to mention, the seats are quite plush and comfortable too, with all five of them wrapped in the same dark-hued upholstery with contrasting red stitches.

Moving on to the front part, the Neta X gets a host of modern tech amenities, with the highlight being its massive 15.6-inch infotainment screen that not only supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay but also comes with Neta AI voice assistance. Also present here are several USB charging ports, a wireless charging pad, as well as a slew of storage areas located above and under its floating central console stack.

All in all, the Neta X boasts a surprisingly roomy cabin that is equipped with all the essential tech amenities you expect to find in a modern SUV. Coupled with its aforementioned ample cargo space, the Neta X makes a good case for being the most practical model in its market segment.

How Does It Drive?

Before we get to the nitty-gritty, we’d reckon it’s good for us to acclimate ourselves to the car first. For our market, the Neta X will arrive in three variants, namely the 400 Comfort, 400 Luxury, and 500 Luxury.

For both the 400 Comfort and 400 Luxury variants, the Neta X comes with a smaller 52.49-kWh battery pack that grants it a maximum EV range of 401 KM, according to the NEDC standards. Meanwhile, the range-topping Neta X 500 Luxury gets a bigger 61.14-kWh battery pack, granting it a higher EV range of 480 KM (NEDC).

Regardless of variants, all Malaysian-bound Neta Xs are powered by the same front-mounted (FWD) electric motor rated at 160 HP and 210 NM. This allows the Neta X to accelerate from 0-100 KM/H in 9.5 seconds, en route to its limited V-Max of 150 KM/H. Drivers will be given three selectable driving modes to choose from (Eco, Sport, and Comfort), including a dedicated one-pedal driving mode.

As for the advanced safety features, the Neta X features several ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control (ACC), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance (LKA), traffic sign recognition (TSR), and many more.

As for the driving, we got the opportunity to be behind the wheels of the Neta X 400 Comfort variant. Driving on normal roads and some highway stretches, we noticed that the Neta X drives rather smoothly and comfortably.

Even when we’re speeding beyond the highway speed limits, the Neta X still retains both its smoothness and comfort level. To make things more impressive, the Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) level is also quite decent, with minimal tyre roars and wind noises spotted even when driving at higher speeds.

While some may complain about the X’s somewhat lacklustre powertrain setup, we find the single-motor setup to be just good enough for your daily usage. Due to its relatively ‘low’ power output compared to its direct rivals, this also makes the Neta X somewhat easier for ICE car owners to transition to EVs, as the bulk of them are notoriously known for their sheer torque outputs.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Neta X truly exceeds our expectations, given how spacious and comfortable the car is. With Neta planning to price the car at a price range between RM120,000 and RM140,000, this will surely make the Neta X one of the best-value affordable EVs you can buy in the market today.

The all-new Neta X is slated to make its official Malaysian market entry later this year, on July 25. By then, we can expect to learn more about this surprisingly spacious EV SUV…