Kaicene CX70

The cabin of the Kaicene CX70 is not too feature-packed or premium as one would like to see in a midsize SUV. However, there is a sense of simplicity that might be liked by a few people who like to have a no-nonsense cabin with minimal fuss.

The three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel with silver accents and three-part instrument console look dated for a modern SUV of this class. However, what adds some jazz to the cabin is the large portrait-style touchscreen infotainment system with vertical AC vents on its sides, all of which are placed in the centre console with gloss black surrounds. There is a fine layer of dark contrasting silver finish running across the lower width of the dashboard below the centre console. The cabin of the Kaicene CX70 might not be rich in features, but where it impresses is its seating layout with all three rows of seats offering a decent amount of space for its size.

The overall design of the Kaicene CX70 is a mixed bag of highlights of several SUVs, which strip off the sense of individuality from it. However, there is one good thing about the Kaicene CX70, and that is its sheer size, which gives it a strong road presence for a car of its price.

At the front, the Kaicene CX70 has a wide trapezoidal grille with chrome surrounds and a chrome studded design on the inside. This grille looks very much similar to what we have seen in Range Rovers for years. The angular and wide headlamps flanking the side edges of the grille come integrated with projector lights and L-shaped daytime running LEDs on their outer edges. The trapezoidal fog lamps surround and beefy body cladding on the front bumper add some muscle to the look of the Kaicene CX70.

Look at the Kaicene CX70 from the side, and one can easily find the influence of the design of Ford Explorer in its look. The floating C-pillar, upright stance and long wheelbase look very much inspired by the Ford SUV, but they do give the Kaicene CX70 a very likeable stance. The single sharp crease flowing from the front fender to the edge of the tail lamp gives the Kaicene CX70 a nice sense of continuity, while the flared wheel arches add some muscle to the design.

At the back, the Kaicene CX70 looks huge, though the tail lamp clusters with LED inserts look small for the size of the SUV. The SUV comes with nice chrome garnishes in the form of a sleek chrome line between the tail lamps and another chrome garnish below the boot lid on the rear bumper. Here too, the rear bumper comes with heavy black cladding with a long skid plate towards its lower portion.

The Kaicene CX70 has a very unique combination of ladder-on-frame chassis and rear-wheel-drive, which makes it the only SUV in premium midsize SUV to have this combination. While the ride quality is a bit bouncy, the Kaicene CX70 feels rock-solid over rougher terrains. The steering is quite light for an SUV of this size, which makes it easy to drive this large SUV in city traffic. However, the steering lacks the feedback that it should have at higher speeds.

The only powertrain option available in the Kaicene CX70 is a combination of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. This engine is the same unit that we have already seen in Changan CX75, with which it shares its platform. While the performance numbers of 147 bhp of maximum power and 230 Nm of maximum torque look impressive on paper, the real-world performance is not too impressive, with the Kaicene CX70 posting a slow acceleration time of 0-100 kmph in around 14 seconds.

The Kaicene CX70 is equipped with a decent number of safety features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, traction control, rear parking sensors and camera and ISOFIX mounts for child seats.

The Kaicene CX70 is priced even lower than some compact MPVS, which might make it look like a sweet deal for the price to package ratio it offers on paper. However, if you inspect this SUV closer, it feels like a half-hearted attempt, which could have been better with more focus on fit and finish and equipment levels. However, there is nothing that comes close to the sheer size and SUV-ish appeal of Kaicene CX70 at its price point.