The latest EVs launched in the Chinese market were test-driven locally to coincide with the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. The hands-on autonomous driving performance of Chinese domestic-brand models, including the Nissan NX8 and Toyota bZ7, was experienced in urban driving.
A test-drive event featuring the latest Chinese EVs was held to coincide with the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, offering participants the chance to drive the vehicles in urban areas and experience hands-on autonomous driving. The event compared how each automaker’s autonomous-driving software and sensor controls were implemented.
The test-drive lineup included the Nissan NX8, Toyota bZ7, Nissan Frontier Pro, Jetour G700, Volkswagen ID.UNYX 0 and iCAR V27, among others. The event also covered the combination of BEVs and EREVs, PHEV specifications and indicative price ranges. The bZ7 was highlighted as a pure-electric sedan with 277 horsepower, while the NX8 is offered as both a BEV and an EV with a range extender, and the Frontier Pro features a high-output PHEV powertrain.
Other models from Chinese domestic manufacturers included the Dongfeng 007, Leapmotor Lafa 5, BYD Yangwang U7, Fangchengbao Tai 7 and iCAR V27. Their respective performance and hands-on autonomous-driving characteristics were described. The Lafa 5 is being developed with expansion into Europe in mind, the U7 is offered with high-output BEV and PHEV powertrains, and the Tai 7 is said to offer a BEV producing around 690 horsepower and a PHEV with approximately 800 N·m of torque.
The test-drive feature covered not only vehicle performance but also usability features such as the return of physical buttons, interior quality and the implementation of autonomous-driving technology, including LiDAR, providing specific on-the-ground assessments of each model. The article was reconstructed from a feature in CARトップ magazine and provides insight into market and technology trends in the latest EVs.