When I held the keys to the Voyah FREE 318 AWD Explorer Edition in my hand, one question lingered in my mind: could this combination of “dual motors + 100mm adjustable air suspension” satisfy the practicality of a family SUV while breaking the preconceived notion that “family SUVs equate to poor handling”? To find the answer, I specifically planned three extremely challenging test drive routes—a busy city main road during rush hour, a suburban mountain road with many sharp bends, and a rural road full of gravel and potholes. After two days of in-depth experience, the dynamic performance of this mid-to-large SUV in different scenarios completely overturned my impression of new energy family SUVs.
Driving Experience: The “Precise Control” of Dual-Motor Four-Wheel Drive
1 . City morning rush hour: Smooth crawling, rapid start.
- On Monday morning rush hour, the city’s main roads are teeming with traffic, with distances often less than half a meter between vehicles. This condition is the ultimate test of a vehicle’s power delivery smoothness. The Voyah FREE 318 AWD Explorer Edition’s dual motors demonstrated exceptional tuning in this situation – when releasing the brake, there was no “jerkiness” common in traditional gasoline cars; the accelerator pedal’s feedback was as smooth as silk, providing power output with a light touch and a linear, seamless delivery. When following other vehicles, only minor adjustments to the pedal angle were needed to precisely control the speed; even after half an hour of continuous crawling, there was no ankle soreness from frequently switching between the accelerator and brake.
- When a vehicle ahead slows down to create space, the moment you press the accelerator hard, the powerful torque from the dual motors is instantly transmitted to all four wheels. Your body is firmly pressed against the seat back, and the streetlights and traffic outside the window rush past. Overtaking maneuvers are crisp and clean, without the slightest hesitation. Even more surprisingly, even when the battery level drops below 25%, the range extender starts with almost no noticeable vibration or noise. The smoothness of the power output is completely unaffected, and the dashboard only shows icon changes indicating the energy source switch.
2 . Mountain road curves: Accelerate with confidence and respond without delay.
- Leaving the city and entering the mountain roads on the outskirts, switching the driving mode to Sport mode instantly sharpened the “personality” of the Voyah FREE 318 AWD Explorer Edition. In the continuous S-shaped curves, each time the accelerator was pressed hard to exit a curve, the dual motors responded with astonishing speed and no delay whatsoever. The front of the car pointed precisely to the apex of the curve, and the rear-end responsiveness far surpassed that of other SUVs in its class, completely eliminating any sense of “cumbersomeness” despite its large size.
- On a long, straight stretch of road with excellent visibility, I specifically tested the acceleration capability from 100-120 km/h. Depressing the accelerator by a third, a surge of power immediately followed, and the car accelerated rapidly. When overtaking, there was no need to anticipate the power reserve; simply adjust the controls based on road conditions to easily complete the overtaking maneuver. This performance is in no way inferior to some performance-oriented sports sedans.
3 . Unpaved roads in the suburbs: Four-wheel drive provides stable grip and worry-free refueling.
The unpaved roads in the suburbs were covered with gravel and potholes of varying depths, significantly reducing road traction and posing a severe test to the performance of the four-wheel drive system. During the journey, when one wheel slightly slipped over a pothole, the electric four-wheel drive system reacted instantly, quickly distributing power to the wheels with better grip. The vehicle remained stable without any sideslip, and the steering remained precise, without any deviation due to road bumps.
At this time, the range extender is running at medium speed, continuously replenishing the battery. The instrument panel shows that the battery level is always kept within a reasonable range, so there is no need to worry about running out of power and “breaking down” in complex road conditions in the suburbs. This allows me to focus more on road condition judgment and driving operations.
Chassis feel: The “golden collaboration” between air suspension and main suspension.
1 . Low-speed vibration filtering: “Invisible” treatment for minor vibrations.
Speed bumps and manhole covers on city roads are the true litmus test for a chassis’s vibration damping performance. The Voyah FREE 318 AWD Explorer Edition’s front double wishbone suspension demonstrated exceptional resilience.
When going over speed bumps, the air springs gently absorbed most of the bumps, with only slight body roll. A passenger in the back seat remarked that “the water in my cup barely moved.”
This vibration damping effect isn’t simply achieved through a “soft suspension,” but rather by a perfect balance between compression and rebound. It effectively isolates minor road vibrations while clearly transmitting basic road conditions, allowing the driver to accurately assess the road.
2 . High-Speed Cornering: Excellent Roll Control and Agile Handling
On a series of sharp bends in the mountain road, the chassis’s support completely dispelled my concerns. When navigating a sharp bend at 65 km/h, body roll was minimal, and the seat side bolsters provided just the right amount of support, firmly holding my body in place without any feeling of being “thrown to the outside of the bend.”
This is thanks to the combined effect of the virtual kingpin structure of the front double wishbone suspension and the high lateral stiffness of the rear H-arm multi-link suspension. Even though this car is nearly five meters long, it exhibits the agile handling of a small car.
3 . Navigating Rough Roads: Adjustable Air Suspension “Overcomes Obstacles”
Switching the driving mode to “Outdoor Mode,” the air suspension quickly raises the vehicle, significantly increasing ground clearance. When slowly traversing potholes approximately 22cm deep, the suspension’s maximum travel is fully utilized, keeping the wheels firmly on the ground without any harsh impact sounds.
The lightweight advantage of the all-aluminum chassis is evident here; even after frequently driving over potholes, the body exhibits minimal swaying, and handling precision remains unaffected, easily navigating this section of road that even some hardcore off-road vehicles would find challenging.
Summary of suitable target groups: These three types of people are worth prioritizing
For driving enthusiasts
For users who crave responsive power and precise handling, while also needing the space and practicality of a family SUV, the Voyah FREE 318 AWD Explorer Edition’s “dual motor + air suspension” combination delivers a driving experience far exceeding its competitors, satisfying both daily commutes and weekend driving pleasures.
Multi-scenario users
Families that need to deal with urban traffic congestion every day, but also love to take their families camping and exploring in the suburbs on weekends, can easily cover a variety of scenarios such as urban commuting, mountain driving, and rough suburban roads with its powerful four-wheel drive performance, long range, and flexible space layout.
For pragmatic consumers who prioritize mechanical quality
This SUV is a benchmark in the 250,000 RMB price range for its mechanical performance. It doesn’t blindly pursue flashy but impractical smart features, but rather values the quality of the vehicle’s chassis, smooth power delivery, and reliability. It delivers a stable and high-quality driving experience.
In the 200,000-300,000 RMB new energy SUV market, the Voyah FREE 318 AWD Exploration Edition is undoubtedly an “all-rounder.” With its solid chassis tuning and powerful performance, it proves that new energy family SUVs can also have excellent driving dynamics, providing a brand-new option for consumers seeking a balance between practicality and driving pleasure.
