The electric crossover segment is set to get just a little more crowded with the inclusion of its latest entrant – the Neta X.

The Chinese automaker, officially distributed by Evology Automobile in Singapore, was first founded 2014, and currently serves three other markets in the region – Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. They happen to also have plants in the former two nations.

But with so many options for an electric crossover at its price point, what does the Neta X offer that its closest, and more established, competitors lack? And is it really a compelling enough alternative to sway car buyers away from going with the established brands?

That’s what we are here to find out.

Drawing Inspiration

For starters, I’d have to give credit to the Neta designers. The X isn’t a bad looking car at all, though you can clearly tell that they’ve drawn inspiration from several other global car models. And the X didn’t start out its life as an ‘X’ – in its native China, it was initially launched as the ‘U’.

It seems like its 2023 facelift was comprehensive enough that Neta felt the need to badge it as a completely new car. Which is a tactic used not only by the Chinese, but by some German automakers too.

Neta has steered clear from any controversial styling decisions, choosing instead to prioritise classiness and simplicity in their design ethos. No requirements for engine cooling means no provisions for a large front grille, with surfacing that is very reminiscent to that of a Tesla.

The profile and shoulder line are bold, though there are hints of a Nissan Note in them. The rear light bar looks good and is distinctive, but there’s no doubt that there are cues of a Mitsubishi and Lynk & Co/Zeekr in them. Still, everything gels very well together, and creates a truly premium-looking crossover.

Surprisingly Well Thought Out Cabin

Chinese automakers tend to flounder when it comes to designing interiors. The vast majority of Chinese cars have overly fussy interiors riddled with gimmicks, questionable design/colour choices and unstandardised fonts across their infotainment and drive screens.

But that isn’t the case with the Neta X. For a Chinese car the interior is surprisingly restrained. Local buyers can choose between this tanned material, or an all-black cabin should they prefer that instead. The design is uncomplicated overall, with Neta choosing to focus on optimising cabin space and comfort instead.

At the time of our road test, the X did not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but it is a feature that would be activated via an OTA update at a later date. The stereo system isn’t anything to write home about, but then again it is also far from being a shoddy system.

Of course, being longer than its closest rivals, the X actually has copious amounts of legroom in the rear. The overall straight roofline means headroom is great too. A panoramic moonroof creates even greater levels of perceived space, and a built-in motorised sun shade allows you to block out the harsh UV rays in the middle of the day.

A Sense of Waftiness

It may be electric, but the Neta X sure doesn’t feel extremely urgent when you put your foot down. Being Category A COE friendly means it only has 100 kW of power (or 134 bhp if you prefer animal-based units of measurement), and a long throttle pedal makes it feel like it has been set up for comfort.

Which seems to be a recurring theme. The steering is very heavily power assisted, and the suspension is actually quite soft. NVH levels are also actually very decent, with the X managing to filter out the vast majority of road and wind noises on the move.

This sense of peace means there’s little to actually egg you on to drive in a spirited fashion. And that’s a good thing too, for the car doesn’t reward you for driving quickly – the suspension has detectable levels of bodyroll, and the numb steering rack means you can’t really accurately place the car on the road.

I spent most of the three-day test drive using it like a normal driver. And in doing so, it averaged 5.3 km/kWh, or a real-world range of about 330 kilometres. However, do keep in mind that this is an early car (the one pedal mode wasn’t fully functional), so expect customer cars to have efficiency improvements as Neta sorts out the driving firmware.

The New Kid on the Electric Block

The Neta X joins its Chinese compatriots, the BYD Atto 3 and the Omoda E5, as cars occupying the mainstream electric crossover segment. And it has a steep mountain to climb, if it wants to dethrone the former as the undisputed Chinese electric crossover top dog.

Early signs are good – the car has more room, less controversial styling, and is priced fairly competitively. It is a genuinely decent car, and one that’d definitely get better as the OTA updates are installed!

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