The controversial Zotye Damai X5 SUV has been launched on the Chinese car market. Price starts at 79.800 yuan and ends at 108.900 yuan. The Zotye Damai X5 is controversial because it looks a tad too much like the outgoing Volkswagen Tiguan.

This photo comes from a Zotye media event for the Damai X5. The slide shows a Volkswagen Tiguan. The text says, best translated: “the Damai X5 uses the Volkswagen Tiguan as mark”. This was later explained as a ‘mark’ for quality, not for design. But by putting up such a slide the company at least acknowledges they were inspired by the Tiguan, without admitting they copied it.

Damai X5.

Zotye T600.

The Damai X5 has a different logo than all the other Zotye cars, which go with a Z. That is because ‘Damai’ will become a new brand. Like Haval within Great Wall Motors. Chinese car companies just can’t stop creating new brands.

The Damai X5 is thus the first car of the Damai brand. Fuzzily, it is similar sized and priced as the exiting Zotye T600 SUV, and it has the same engine too: a 1.5 turbo with 150hp, although the X5 has 195nm and the T600 215. Gearbox Damai X5: five-speed manual or CVT. T600: five-speed manual only. Both cars are FWD.

Size Damai X5: 4527/1836/1682, and wheelbase is 2680.
Size T600: 4631/1893/1694, and wheelbase is 2807.

The differences indicate the Damai X5 stands on a slightly smaller platform, or a smaller variant of the platform that underpins the T600. Price for the T600 starts at 79.800 yuan and ends at 98.800 yuan.

Same price, same engine, almost the same size, but a half-different kinda brand. Make sense? In the wider world; no. In China; sure does.

Very much Tiguan from the side. Usable roof rails, and size of the wheels seems about right.

That’s better than the Tiguan! A truly interesting interior with black leather with red stitches, a very hip instrument binnacle, a large touch screen, and good looking materials all over.

Touch screen is 8 inch. The infotainment system comes with sat nav, telephone, the internet, e-mail, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, and a sound system. The pictured white car is the top spec version, which has a lot of kit: panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, reverse image camera, and heated front seats.

They even made in instrument binnacle look rather nice. Revs to 6500. Red stitching on the wheel very sporty. But!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a sedan! How hard can it be to get a picture of a SUV there? This is just wrong, stupid, and extremely annoying. If they can’t get this simply shit right, than what about the rest of the car..? Bad!

All a bit black in here, but quality seems good enough. Red stitching is nice, and floor mats look comfortable.

Trendy taillights in Audi style, tailpipes low in the bumper, and a tiny skid pad in between. Nice sedan.