Hozon Auto has officially debuted the facelifted Neta V, which now carries a new name – Aya. Available in a total of four variants, prices for the EV SUV start from RMB73,800 (approx. RM46,898) for the base 318 variant, which is now more affordable than its predecessor by RMB15,000 (approx. RM9,529). The highest spec 401 variant, on the other hand, tops the Aya’s price chart at RMB88,800 (approx. RM56,430).
On the outside, the Neta Aya pretty much carries a similar design to the Neta V, especially at the front, albeit with some minor changes. This includes a new lower intake design, which now features chrome pins, alongside artificial inlets at both corners, aiding in “completing” the Neta Aya’s front fascia.
Round the back, the Aya’s rear bumper has now been tidied up, as compared to the outgoing Neta V. It is also fitted with a new LED rear light design that extends across the width of the car.
Alongside new alloy wheel designs, which measure 15 inches for the more affordable 318 Lite and 318 variants, and 16 inches for the higher-end 401 Lite and 401 variants, all variants of the Neta Aya are fitted with LED daytime running lights (DRLs) as standard.
LED headlights have also been added to the Neta Aya’s kit. However, it is not a standard feature, as only the 318 and 401 variants get it. The Lite versions of 318 and 401 variants get halogen headlights instead.
RELATED: Neta V makes Malaysia debut – budget-oriented compact EV SUV from RM99,800
Powering the Neta Aya are two different front-mounted motors. The motor that powers the 318 variants makes 54 hp and 110 Nm, while the 401 variants are powered by a more powerful motor that produces 94 hp and 150 Nm. This results in a 0-50 km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds for the more affordable 318 models, while the 401 variants can do the same faster at just 4.1 seconds.
Supplying power to the Neta Aya’s various front motors are three different types of batteries. This includes the 31.15 kWh Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and 31 kWh Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) units that respectively power the 318 variants.
The more powerful 401 variants on the other hand feature a larger 38.5 kWh NMC unit instead. This translates into a CLTC-rated range of, well, 318 km for the 318 variants, and 401 km for the 401 variants.
Upon opening the Neta Aya’s doors, you will find an interior which looks pretty much similar to the outgoing Neta V. Standard features available here include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, a 14.6-inch central screen that is powered by an 8-core MediaTek Dimensity Auto system-on-chip (SoC), and an electronic parking brake (EPB) with auto brake hold function.
In addition, the higher-end 401 variants also get heated front seats, while the non-lite 318 and 401 variants get phone wireless chargers too. To appear more youthful, the Neta Aya’s interior is available in different colour themes too.
Safety-wise, depending on the variants chosen, the Neta Aya is equipped with Level-2 Autonomous Driving. Among the safety features included are adaptive cruise control (ACC), front collision warning (FCW), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot detection system (BSD), lane keep assist (LKA), and lane departure warning (LDW), and the list goes on.
In Malaysia, the Neta V is offered in a sole variant only and is priced at RM99,800, on-the-road, without insurance. Price point-wise, its current biggest competitor is the freshly launched BYD Dolphin, which prices start from RM100,530, on-the-road, without insurance.
If Hozon Auto is to bring the Neta Aya to Malaysia, can we expect its price to be lower than the current Neta V too? We’ll have to wait and see.
RELATED: 2023 BYD Dolphin launched in Malaysia, from RM101k – up to 427km range, 2 variants
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