At the point of publishing, the JMEV Elight is the most affordable fully-electric saloon on sale in Singapore today – but only just. It isn’t the most affordable EV on sale right now (that accolade goes to the Omoda E5), though in all fairness it isn’t really that far off.

And a low barrier of entry isn’t necessarily always a bad thing. Cars at this end of the price spectrum are typically functionality-centric machines, forgoing all of the fluff and gadgets that take away from the driving experience.

This stripped-down nature actually makes each drive more engaging, and is the reason why many of our favourite new models are those that have been built with simplicity in mind. But we’d hesitate to call the way the Elight drives as ‘engaging’.

It is clear from the moment you set off in the Elight that it wasn’t a car built to be rewarding on a twisty road. Rather, it has been envisioned as an ultra-practical daily driver suitable for transporting a family of four. Albeit one that is a little bland.

It Looks Like a Car

There’s a sense of function-over-form in the styling of the Elight – but with a twist. Nothing on the outside of the Elight has been put there just for the sake of aesthetics.

Still, that isn’t to say that it is a bad-looking car. A little forgettable perhaps, but far from what we’d call “bad-looking”. But again there’s really nothing wrong with this approach. Afterall, many owners are really only looking for a dependable set of wheels – elaborate styling isn’t very high on their priority list.

The Elight’s design is angular and aggressive in front, which then gradually transitions into smooth and simplistic surfaces round the back of the car. Like most of its competitors, the Elight doesn’t have, or need, a large front grille, so you wouldn’t find one here.

The fang-like DRL profile is a styling touch that is uncommon in cars sold here, and so too is JMEV’s decision to not run a rear lightbar. Flush door handles are nice-to-have at its price point.

Cheap But Cheerful?

It may be a car on the lower end of the food chain, but that hasn’t stopped JMEV for at least trying to liven the cabin of the Elight. Unlike a lot of its budget-oriented rivals, it does away with swathes of hard dark plastics.

Instead, JMEV liberally uses cream-coloured vinyl and plastics throughout the cabin, with piano-black trim panels and dark blue vinyl pieces as contrast. It really helps to lift the overall interior experience.

Cabin space is also brilliant. Leg and knee room is great even in the rear, and being a saloon, headroom isn’t compromised. However, the footwell is a little shallow, meaning your thighs may not get the support needed on a long trip.

The instrument cluster does a good job in displaying all of the information you need, when you need it. However, some additional configurability would be welcomed. Also, whilst it does have smartphone mirroring capabilities, you’ll need to pair your phone to both the screen and to the respective Android Auto/Apple CarPlay for it to work properly.

No Rush on the Go

When you first start driving the Elight, you’ll notice that it has been tuned for comfort and efficiency, though admittedly, too much so. It has really softly-sprung suspension, meaning it soaks up bumps really well.

However, the struts could do with some stiffening, as oscillations are noticeable when you do strike the odd larger pothole. Still, great for comfort overall, but not so for handling.

This focus on comfort and efficiency continues through to the way the steering has been set up. With very heavily boosted power steering, you don’t get a whole load of feedback through the wheel – the upside being it makes manoeuvrability a doodle in tight spaces.

There’s also a delay in the throttle pedal – power comes on about a second or two after the pedal has been depressed. JMEV claims the Elight will do up to 600 kilometres on a single charge – we clocked an estimated total range of 380 kilometres throughout our three day test drive.

Truly Back-To-Basics

The Elight fulfills the crucial needs of the modern EV buyer – think comfortable ride, practical space at a palatable price point. That being said, it has some flaws which some car buyers may not be able to stomach.

It is a car you buy with your head and not your heart. Low running costs and comprehensive warranty (5-year/100,000km vehicle warranty, a 10-year/250,000km battery warranty) make it tempting for those who use their cars heavily, though the lack of drive refinement and features/gimmicks may be a deal breaker for some.

Still, considering its pricetag, there’s little to go wrong should you decide to buy an Elight. It is a sensible all-round package that will suit the daily commute needs of the average Singaporean. Afterall, do you really need huge power, range and a whole suite of gimmicks on your daily?

Generating summary…

Here’s another sensible affordable EV – Dongfeng BOX!