Geely Panda Knight: A Mini Electric Marvel or Just a Grown-Up Golf Cart?
Oh, have a gander at this! The motoring world has presented us with yet another electric marvel – or have they? Drumroll, please… introducing the Geely Panda Knight! Priced at a modest $7,410 USD (53,900 yuan), this little fella is the newest all-electric off-road mini EV to hit the market! And when I say mini, I mean, it’s like comparing a Chihuahua to a Great Dane!
Picture this: a vehicle that looks like it could be a grown-up 4x4 but in reality, is no bigger than a golf cart. Imagine trotting down to the local grocery store in what appears to be a rugged off-roader, only to find it’s as if a Jeep Wrangler and a golf cart had a baby. Yep, that’s the Panda Knight for ya! And isn’t it just adorably amusing?
Measuring a cute 123 inches long, 61.6 inches wide, and 65 inches tall (3135/1565/1655mm), with a 79.3 inches (2015mm) wheelbase, it’s got me pondering – should we all be scaling down to embrace these pint-sized electric chariots? Do we really need those gigantic 7-seaters that could practically fit a small village? Ah, who am I kidding, more power, more room, and more fun is always the correct answer!
Powered by a 17.03 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, the Panda Knight boasts a range of up to 124 miles (200 km). It’s driven by a 30 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, dishing out a peak torque of 81 lb-ft (110 Nm), and according to Geely, this motor is an efficiency monster at 96.5%! Well, well, that’s quite the achievement for such a little warrior! And don’t worry about the long waits; you can fast charge this baby from 30% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Not too shabby!
Now, let’s talk aesthetics. The Panda Knight is available in three charming exterior colors – white and two shades of forest green. It sports large, round headlights and an aggressive suspended grille, giving it a distinctive and recognizable appearance. I must say, it’s quite the fashionable statement for such a compact package! Inside, you’ll be greeted by a green or white cockpit, a 9.2-inch instrument panel, and an 8-inch central control screen – it's like the Knight is wearing a tuxedo!
Did I mention it comes with a ladder on the side, dual-color luggage racks, blackened wheel arches, and 14-inch aluminum alloy rims? It’s like this little guy is trying to play dress-up in its bigger siblings’ wardrobe! And just in case you find yourself in a pickle, there are two tow hooks on the armor bumper – tiny but mighty, I say!
The Panda Knight is equipped with an anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, and a battery management system. In terms of storage, fold down the rear row, and voila! You get a whopping 28 cubic feet (800L) of trunk space, enough to fit two 28-inch and two 20-inch suitcases.
Panda Knight, oh you tiny marvel, you’ve got me intrigued yet skeptical. It’s like watching a toddler don boxing gloves – amusing yet oddly endearing. It’s compact, it’s electric, it’s affordable, but is it the answer to our oversized vehicular appetites?
So, dear readers, will you be swapping your mammoth gas-guzzlers for this compact electric knight in shining armor? Ah, the motoring world never ceases to amuse and bemuse!
