WEY 03: Massage, Muscle, and Smarts in One Package

While most automakers spend years in boardrooms hashing out new models, GWM seems to have solved it all with a potent espresso shot. The WEY 03 was born in China, emerging from a prototype series with coffee-inspired names that sound more like a Starbucks car collection. Seriously, this model was initially called Coffee 02. Will we see a Latte 04 or Cappuccino X next? Nothing’s off the table.

But behind the playful naming is a clear strategy. Great Wall Motors realized you cannot win European hearts with just affordable pickups and dusty SUVs. So, in 2016, they launched the WEY brand, named after founder Wei Jianjun.

The WEY 03 is the middle child of this luxury lineup—not too big, not too small, just right for city markets and karate practice drop-offs. It’s about 20 centimeters shorter than its larger sibling, the WEY 05.

Now, if you spot a new luxury SUV with "WEY" on the back, it's not a spelling mishap. It’s China delivering something that’s making even Europeans raise their eyebrows. No one was exactly waiting for it, but here it is—like a guest who arrives three hours early to a party and stays to help clean up.

The "03" doesn’t mean it’s their third attempt (at least we hope not), but rather it’s the smaller sibling to what was once code-named Coffee 01. Now that the coffee cup has turned into a serious plug-in hybrid, we’re calling it luxury.

What makes it all a bit surreal is how seriously GWM is taking the launch. There’s no "let’s see how it goes" attitude—right out of the gate, you get a five-year unlimited warranty, battery coverage, corrosion protection, and premium-brand marketing. The question isn’t whether Chinese cars will make it to Europe, but whether Europe is ready for them.

The WEY 03 doesn’t exactly turn heads in shock. There’s no massive, pedestrian-swallowing grille or wild design experiments better suited to an art biennale. It’s 4.66 meters long—so, not exactly a city runabout, but not a tank either, placing it squarely in the same class as the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC, where people raise eyebrows if you pump your own gas. The 2750 mm wheelbase suggests rear legroom that might outdo some new apartments.

The front features a bold, boxy grille and assertive air intakes at the corners, giving the car a confident stance. The hood sits high and flirts just enough with muscle, not flashy but enough to prompt, “Hmm, what brand is that?” Say "WEY" and you’ll likely get silence.

And then there’s the logo: pure minimalism—a single vertical line you’ll only understand if you’ve been on the brand’s Wikipedia page. It references the company headquarters’ tower. Will anyone buy a car for this? Probably not, but it’s a great pub fact.

From the side, the proportions are clean and practical: a high roofline, upright rear window, and wheel arches that perfectly cradle the 20-inch rims.

Design cues might seem familiar: the headlights nod to the Lexus RX, and the grille could get a wink from Range Rover. But the WEY 03 isn’t copying, it’s interpreting. The result is ideal for someone who wants to look progressive without driving around in a flashy orange crossover.

Step inside the WEY 03 and—wait, is this an Audi Q5? Forget the old jokes about cheap plastics and rattly switches. Everything inside is genuinely well done. Surprisingly so.

Everything you touch is soft. Everything you see is refined. Alcantara seats, smooth door panels, precise stitching, and not a plastics carnival in sight. Even the doors close with a satisfying thud that might have you reaching for a cigar and cognac.

The front seats are armchair-like, soft, and, at least in the Luxury trim, come with heating, ventilation, and massage. The downside? Some Europeans may find the cushions a bit too soft for long drives, with lumbar or thigh support slightly lacking.

Space is abundant. In the back, you feel like you’re in business class: plenty of legroom, a flat floor, and even three elbow-room-loving friends can coexist peacefully.

Tech-wise, the WEY 03 feels more futuristic than some sci-fi films. The central 14.6-inch touchscreen is supported by a smaller climate panel below—a unique setup. No endless menu diving just to boost the fan. Core functions are direct and logical, like old-school buttons but without any actual buttons. Climate purists will love it.

The digital dash is minimalist, a slim strip showing only what you need. Want more? There’s a heads-up display projecting not just speed and nav arrows, but in winter mode, blue-white graphics so info stands out against a snowy landscape. Someone clearly thought this through.

Infotainment brings everything a 2025 car should: Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB, Infinity audio, and e-SIM for traffic updates—if Charlie, the WEY 03’s voice assistant, gets your requests. Charlie isn’t exactly Einstein and responds best to English spoken with a Mandarin accent.

A real gem is the dedicated smartphone slot with a magnet and wireless charger. Your phone won’t fly off in corners, roam the dash, or tempt you to fiddle while driving.

There’s storage everywhere: door pockets, an armrest box, glove compartment, a "floating" center console with yet another bin underneath. The storage game is reminiscent of Lexus at its best. Ambient lighting? Yes. Wood or carbon-look trim? Your choice. At night, it feels more like a futuristic jazz club than a city SUV.

Practicality includes a generous trunk: 517 liters with seats up, 1289 liters folded. Not class-leading, but definitely not small. The loading lip is a bit high, so your ski bag will fit, but not without a mild curse. Payload is 459 kg, meaning with five passengers and luggage, best leave the dog at home.

You might expect everything to open and close itself, but not quite. The powered tailgate works, but slowly—enough time to eat half a sandwich. And forget waving your foot to open the trunk—WEY isn’t playing that game yet.

While most plug-in hybrids use up their electric range quickly, the WEY 03 goes all in: a 34 kWh battery and 130–140 km of electric range. This is nearly a full electric car, with a gas engine for backup.

Two powertrains: front-wheel drive with 367 hp, and all-wheel drive with 442 hp. Both use a 2.0-liter turbo four backed by electric motors. The AWD version delivers 685 Nm of torque and does 0–100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.

Driving is smooth and luxurious. The car prefers electric power whenever possible and can reach up to 130 km/h without using gasoline. The switch between electric and gas is seamless unless you intervene manually. Top speed is 230 km/h—more than most EVs. Not that you’ll need it, but it’s nice to know you could.

The 9-speed dual-clutch transmission is discreet, like a well-trained butler. Floor the accelerator, and there’s a slight pause, but no drama.

The suspension is soft and forgiving, meant for relaxed cruising, not corner carving. Take a bend at Nürburgring speeds and it will remind you it’s a near-2-ton luxury SUV, not a hot hatch. But on the highway, it’s calm as a content retriever: stable, quiet, wind and tire noise muted, and even at 200 km/h, conversation is easy.

With charging at home and moderate driving, you can keep fuel use below 2 liters per 100 km. Charging at home with an 11 kW charger takes about 3 hours, or with a DC fast charger at 43 kW, about 38 minutes to 80 percent. That’s rare for plug-in hybrids.

And it tows up to 2 tons—a real trailer, not just a grocery cart. Thanks to the instant torque of the electric motors, the car doesn’t struggle with heavy loads.

Safety gets no compromises. The result is five Euro NCAP stars, meaning it can protect you, your children, your in-laws, and your laptop in a crash. And the focus isn’t just crash strength, but on systems designed to prevent accidents in the first place.

Standard kit includes a suite of electronic aids: adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking, 360-degree cameras, cross-traffic alert, and more. If your last car beeped only when you undid your seatbelt, the WEY 03 will beep if you blink too much. At first, it’s annoying, then you get used to it, but you’ll need to study the manual for total peace of mind.

Enter the infamous driver monitoring camera: a small black eye on the A-pillar that watches your gaze more intently than a mother-in-law. Look away, even to chat about pizza toppings, and you’ll be told, "Please concentrate on driving," in a German accent. And there’s a beep, just in case. Sometimes the system is a bit too eager, interpreting excessive climate panel gestures as dangerous waving. It repeats "Please concentrate on driving" as often as a Frenchman says "impossible."

Thankfully, these systems are software-adjustable. GWM promises softer settings in the future, and soon, the car will remember your preferences. For now, you’ll need to disable the persistent aids at every start—unless you like your car acting as a nanny. The next step might be the car reporting your driving to the police if pulled over.

But stepping back, the WEY 03 offers an impressive level of safety. It’s not just the sensors and cameras—the body is built from high-strength steel and aluminum, there are nine airbags, and the structure is designed to redirect crash forces away from you. Whether you’re hit by a distracted SUV driver, an electric scooter, or a deer, WEY does everything to keep you safe.

Special mention goes to the parking assistant and 360-degree camera, showing how many centimeters you are from the curb and making city maneuvering a breeze. It’s like having a private drone overhead.

If anyone still claims "Chinese cars are cheap plastic," show them the WEY 03 and watch them silently sip their coffee. WEY is a serious contender, stepping into the European market like an ambitious young chef eager to take over a Michelin kitchen.

What do you get when you buy this car? Electric range that other plug-in hybrids can only dream of, a wealth of features, and an interior that has you wondering if you’re in a Mercedes or Audi. Massage, HUD, Infinity audio, and more, usually reserved for premium brands after multiple option packs and loans.

And it costs about the same as a Tiguan eHybrid. Yes, that German SUV with half the battery and a similar price tag. But let’s pause: this is a newcomer, already offering things the established players can’t or won’t. That’s the WEY 03’s strength—it’s eager to please.

So, if you want a city SUV with unbeatable electric range, real towing ability, massage seats, and a car that whispers "just refuel once a month," the WEY 03 deserves a test drive. It’s new, has something to prove, and honestly, it’s making a convincing case.