Model Overview
The Changan UNI-V is the first sedan in Changan Auto's UNI series. Since its debut in March 2022, it has quickly carved out a niche in the compact sedan segment, thanks to its distinctive sporty styling and sharp appeal to younger buyers. As of May 2026, the core lineup on sale is the third-generation Changan UNI-V launched on 7 August 2025, offering four variants across two powertrains—1.5T and 2.0T—with official retail prices ranging from RM102,900 to RM119,900. With dealer discounts, starting prices can dip to as low as RM97,900, making it a formidable contender in the RM100,000-class sports fastback sedan segment. Its key rivals include fellow Chinese sports sedans like the Lynk & Co 03, GAC Trumpchi Empow, and Geely Preface.
Design Language
The third-generation UNI-V embraces what the brand calls "Future Avant-Garde Sports Aesthetics", boasting a lower, sleeker, and sharper profile than its predecessor. Up front, a near-closed grille design is paired with slim headlamps and triangular air vents, exuding an EV-like high-tech vibe. In profile, the car retains its fastback silhouette, complemented by frameless doors and semi-flush door handles, while sports variants further feature striking orange front four-piston brake calipers.
In terms of dimensions, the new car measures 4,740 mm long, 1,838 mm wide, and 1,430 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm—representing a 20 mm stretch in length over the pre-facelift model. Around the back, it retains signature cues such as the full-width LED tail light cluster, illuminated central emblem, and an active deployable rear spoiler. The aggressive rear bumper houses a prominent diffuser and genuine quad-exit exhaust pipes; at highway speeds, the deployable spoiler generates approximately 270 N of downforce.
The cabin adopts a clean, tech-focused layout with a heavily revised dashboard, featuring a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster paired with a 14.6-inch floating central infotainment touchscreen. The touchscreen's tilt angle has been revised from 7° to 13° to significantly curb sun glare. The centre console is fitted with a yacht-style electronic gear selector while retaining tactile physical buttons for core controls. Furthermore, the seats feature Changan's latest Pleasing Driving and Riding 2.0 ergonomic contours, with the driver's seat benefiting from built-in ventilation and heating functions.
Powertrain and Performance
The third-generation UNI-V offers two powertrain choices: 1.5T and 2.0T. The 1.5T model is powered by the new Blue Whale 500-bar ultra-high-pressure direct-injection engine producing 141 kW (approx. 192 PS) and 310 Nm of torque, mated to a new Blue Whale 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), returning an impressive WLTC combined fuel consumption of just 4.96 L/100 km. Compared to the pre-facelift iteration, both power delivery and fuel efficiency have seen noticeable gains. The 2.0T model packs the next-generation Blue Whale 2.0T powerplant churning out 180 kW (approx. 245 PS) and 400 Nm of torque, paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox to complete the 0-100 km/h century sprint in 6.3 seconds—a standout figure among petrol sports sedans in its class. For comparison, the previous 2024 2.0T High Energy Edition delivered 171 kW (233 PS), meaning the updated model brings bumps in both power and torque. The entire range has a top speed of 215 km/h and can run on RON 92 petrol, keeping daily running costs well controlled.
Chassis and Handling
Underneath, the Changan UNI-V rides on an all-round independent suspension setup comprising front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link setup—a rather premium chassis architecture for an RM100,000-class sedan. Compared to its predecessor, the third-generation model features revised suspension geometry that reduces the roll moment arm to 485 mm, effectively curbing body roll through corners. In addition, the front overhang has been trimmed by 25 mm to achieve a 46:54 front-to-rear weight distribution and a height-to-width ratio of 0.78, resulting in a lower centre of gravity and a planted, road-hugging stance.
On the dynamic front, Dynamic Torque Vectoring (DTV) comes standard across the range. By modulating drive torque between the inner and outer wheels during cornering, it mitigates the inherent understeer of front-wheel-drive platforms, enabling a moose test speed of 78 km/h. Higher-spec models are equipped with front four-piston calipers and 350 mm perforated brake discs, trimming the braking distance by 1.8 metres over standard variants while offering superior heat dissipation. The steering wheel also houses a dedicated "SUPER RACE 3.0" button; a single press raises the active spoiler and engages bespoke track-themed graphics, engine soundtrack, and ambient lighting for an immersive cockpit experience.
Cabin and Equipment
Digital tech is a key highlight of the third-generation UNI-V's interior. The cabin runs on Changan's Tianyu OS powered by a SuperFast smart chip, delivering slick animations and snappy response times. Voice control is integrated with the DeepSeek AI large language model, capable of understanding complex multi-intent conversational commands like "I'm feeling a bit cold, and please play some trending new tracks". The infotainment system supports three-finger swipe gestures to cast navigation maps directly to the instrument cluster, while smartphone integration includes Apple CarPlay and HUAWEI HiCar.
In terms of creature comforts, the car comes standard with a 540° HD camera system (with transparent chassis view). Upper trims add a 50W wireless smartphone charging pad, ventilated/heated driver's seat, and an optional 18-speaker Dolby Atmos premium sound system (priced at RM2,999). A 256-colour ambient lighting system is standard throughout, complete with music rhythm sync and drive mode integration.
Safety and Driver Assistance
On the passive safety front, the third-generation UNI-V is built on the "Ark Cage" high-strength energy-absorbing body structure, utilising ultra-high-strength steel rated up to 1,500 MPa in critical load paths, with 6 airbags (dual front, front side, and full-length side curtain airbags) fitted as standard across the range.
For active safety, the entire UNI-V range is equipped with a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), backed by a hardware suite of 5 external cameras, 4 ultrasonic sensors, and 2 millimetre-wave radars. Core features include Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Centring Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Rear Collision Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Door Open Warning (DOW). The 540° camera system with transparent underfloor view eliminates blind spots around the vehicle, enhancing confidence during daily parking manoeuvres and on complex road conditions. While it lacks high-level highway navigation pilot functions, having Level 2 ADAS standard across the board is thoroughly competitive for a petrol model at this price point.
Market Performance and Verdict
The Changan UNI-V has delivered solid cumulative sales figures since its launch, recording 119,190 units in 2023, 82,489 units in 2024, and 52,158 units in 2025. Moving into 2026, cumulative deliveries from January to March stood at 8,633 units, with March contributing roughly 2,864 units to rank 17th in the compact sedan category. This gradual downward sales trend reflects stiffening competition in the petrol sports sedan market and the rapid influx of similarly priced new energy vehicles (NEVs).
From an industry standpoint, the third-generation UNI-V maintains strong appeal in the RM100,000-class sports fastback segment thanks to generous standard kit such as the active rear spoiler, Level 2 ADAS, and available 18-speaker audio system. Following the launch of the third-generation model in August 2026, its overhauled product package positions it as a value benchmark among petrol-powered fastback sedans. Owners widely praise its head-turning design, taut chassis dynamics, and generous tech specs, though some note that the sloping fastback roofline compromises rear headroom and that second-hand resale values remain on the lower side. Even amidst the sweeping electrification wave, the Changan UNI-V continues to champion pure ICE driving engagement, retaining strong brand loyalty among its target consumer group.
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