Crown

Make
Toyota
Segment
Sedan

China has been on a roll lately with electric vehicles. Just this year we've seen a new Chinese electric pickup truck called the Radar RD6 and the resurrection of the MG brand with the MG4 Electric. Keeping with the exciting EV reveals, a Chinese company called Changan Automobile has just shown off a new luxury crossover called the Avatr 11, which was first teased back in 2021. The car was developed in a joint venture project with CATL (a battery producer) and Huawei (a technology corporation and budget smartphone maker).

The Avatr 11 is about two inches shorter in length than a Porsche Cayenne and about three inches lower. It's powered by two electric motors (265 hp in the front and 313 hp in the rear) combining to deliver a healthy 578 hp and 479 lb-ft. The sprint from 0-62 mph takes just under four seconds, and top speed is 124 mph.

Buyers in China can select from two battery sizes, a 90.38-kWh or 116.79-kWh pack. The former will travel around 345 miles on a charge, while the latter can go a whopping 422 miles. Those range estimates sound great, but keep in mind the China light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC) is highly optimistic even compared to Europe's WLTP standard, which typically yields higher numbers than the EPA cycle. The Avatr is pretty quick to charge too, with 240-kW peak speeds enabling 124 miles of added range in 10 minutes.

Inside, the Avatr 11 is properly luxurious. The dashboard houses a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch passenger display, almost like a Mercedes-Benz EQS. All of the screens run Huawei software as part of the joint venture.

The technology here is rather impressive. There are 34 different sensors, including 3 LiDARS that enable semi-autonomous driving. A 14-speaker audio system is standard with with active noise cancelation to create a quieter cabin experience. Because it's Chinese, pricing isn't bad either.

The Avatr 11 starts at 349,900 RMB (around $51,800) or 409,900 RMB (around $60,700) for the larger battery. A special edition Avatr 011 MMW model tops the lineup at 600,000 RMB (around $88,900). Buyers can choose a four- or five-seat layout, with the former getting a large center console in the second row. It may be shaped like an SUV, but the Avatr 11 has a conventional trunk, much like the Toyota Crown.

If it came to the US, would you consider it over the Toyota? Or what about a Tesla?