New £30k Seres 3 SUV is the latest bargain EV from China

• Priced from £29,995
• Electric only with a 54kWh battery
• Claimed range of 205 miles

The Chinese EV revolution is well and truly underway, and the Seres 3 is the latest electric SUV to make the transcontinental leap to our shores. Following in the footsteps of BYD, GWM ORA and modern-day MG, Seres hopes its Chinese-built EV will find plenty of UK buyers with an enticing starting price of £29,995.

If you haven’t heard of Seres, don’t worry – this is the first time the brand has appeared in the UK. The Seres 3 has been sold in its home country as the Fengon 500 since 2019, although that car is offered with both a traditional combustion engine and an electric powertrain. Elsewhere in Europe, the Seres 3 has been available since 2020, but only now has EV-importer IA Electric Vehicles confirmed that it will bring it to the UK this spring.

What is the Seres 3?

The Seres 3 is a mid-size SUV, comparable in size to the Nissan Qashqai. Unlike the Nissan, UK buyers only get one choice of powertrain – a 161bhp electric motor, powered by a 54kWh battery. The system has enough juice to propel the Seres 3 from 0-62mph in under nine seconds and achieve an official range of 205 miles, while a 20 to 80% recharge is possible in 30 minutes.

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Those specs fall closely in line with MG’s ZS EV SUV, which currently starts from £30,495. However, the Seres 3 will undercut the MG by £500, claiming the title of the UK’s cheapest electric SUV when it reaches dealerships later this year.

The Seres 3 will be offered in two trim levels, the entry-level ‘Active’ model just sneaking under the £30,000 mark. The equipment list appears reasonably long, with keyless entry, rear parking sensors, air conditioning, a reversing camera and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen included with all models. For £31,995, buyers can opt for the Seres 3 ‘Spirit’ which adds heated seats, wireless phone charging, cruise control, front parking sensors and a panoramic sunroof.

Seres will not sell the 3 directly to UK customers; instead, sales will be handled by the independent UK-based firm, IA Electric Vehicles, who specialise in the import of electric vehicles.

See what the Seres 3 will be up against by reading our list of the top 10 best electric SUVs…