Xiaomi SU7 test shock & Kia 12V breakdown + ID.3 GTX Performance | die Kilometerfresser #34

In episode 34 of the "die Kilometerfresser" podcast, hosts Jonas and Tarek take us back into the world of electromobility. After a brief musical introduction, they dive straight into the topics that move them and their listeners. This time, the focus is on current test vehicles such as the VW ID.3 GTX Performance and the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, exciting prospects for upcoming models and events, practical experience with commercial vehicles such as the Ford e-Transit Courier and explosive news from the world of electric cars. Special highlights include Jonas' controversial test drive with the hotly debated Xiaomi SU7 and Tarek's renewed problems with the 12-volt battery of his Kia EV6. The episode offers a mix of driving reports, technical discussions, market observations and personal anecdotes, relevant for anyone interested in electric cars, their suitability for everyday use and the future of mobility.

Key findings / key messages

• VW ID.3 GTX Performance convinces: The ID.3 GTX Performance offers more power (approx. 300 hp), a higher Vmax (200 km/h) and the adaptive DCC suspension for a small surcharge compared to the standard GTX, which makes it the more sensible choice according to Jonas. It's a lot of fun, but gets loud at high speeds.
• Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce inspires emotionally: Tarek is enraptured by the handling of the all-electric Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce (formerly Milano). The chassis with Thorsen differential and the look are impressive, but the high price and the relatively small battery cloud the picture.
• Xiaomi SU7 - fascination with safety flaws: Jonas was able to drive the Xiaomi SU7 through a German importer. The car is technically impressive (800V, 100 kWh, Taycan-level air suspension), but a crudely and dangerously patched tire on the test car prevented a full test and raises questions about the importer's professionalism. Tarek also criticizes the copied design.
• Free parking for e-cars in Bavaria: Since 1 April, vehicles with an e-license plate (including PHEVs) have been allowed to park free of charge for up to three hours in public parking spaces throughout Bavaria (parking disc required). Details on implementation and funding are still unclear.
• 12-volt battery remains problem child: Tarek once again experienced a failure of the 12-volt battery in his Kia EV6. Many comments under his video indicate that this is a common problem with electric cars of various brands, often caused by software, control units or deep discharge.
• Ford e-Transit Courier surprises positively: The small electric van based on the Ford Puma platform proved to be efficient in the test and with well thought-out features (one-pedal driving, good route planning), which raises hopes for the upcoming Puma Gen E.
• Chinese manufacturers are increasing the pressure: The discussion surrounding the Xiaomi SU7 and other models such as those from BYD or Nio underlines the growing challenge for established European manufacturers from technologically advanced and (in China) aggressively priced competitors.

Current test vehicles: sporty and practical (ID.3 GTX, Alfa Junior, Seal U, EV6)

The episode starts with an overview of the presenters' current test cars. Jonas is currently driving the Kia EV6 (rear-wheel drive), the BYD Seal U and his personal highlight: the VW ID.3 GTX in the performance version. He emphasizes the advantages of the performance version over the standard GTX: for only around 1500 euros more, you not only get around 20 kW more power and an increase in top speed from 180 to 200 km/h, but also the adaptive DCC suspension (which costs around 1200 euros as an option on the standard GTX). The surcharge for power and Vmax is therefore effectively only a few hundred euros, which according to Jonas makes the Performance the clearly better choice. Driving at 200 km/h in the ID.3 is a new experience, but the wind and rolling noises become very present from around 170 km/h. Both GTX versions use the APP550 rear motor and the 79 kWh battery. Tarek agrees that the standard GTX was already a lot of fun to drive. This contrasts with the general assessment that there will hardly be any "bad" cars left in 2025. Jonas partially disagrees and cites the chassis of the BYD Seal (saloon) from an earlier test as an example of less convincing, spongy handling. He is all the more excited about the BYD Seal U (SUV version) that has now been tested. Tarek raves about his test car, the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce (which was briefly called the Milano) in his favorite color, red. As a long-time Alfa fan, he is enthusiastic about the design and especially the handling. According to Tarek, the suspension, which has been lowered by 25 mm, the sports brakes, 20-inch rims and, above all, the mechanical Thorsen limited slip differential on the front axle ensure impressive cornering that feels "like it's on rails" and redistributes the torque at lightning speed. The top speed is 206 km/h. However, the high price (over 52,000 euros fully equipped) and the relatively small 54 kWh battery (approx. 51 kWh net) of the Stellantis platform are points of criticism. The optional Sabelt bucket seats offer plenty of support but, together with the chassis, make the car less comfortable.

Preview: Exclusive Audi and Electric Festival

Jonas makes Tarek envious with the announcement of his next test car: an Audi RS e-tron GT Performance in the limited "Audi Exclusive Launch Edition" (only 299 units). He will be driving this vehicle to the "Electrified Horizon Festival" at the Sachsenring on April 26. The festival, organized by fellow YouTubers and partners such as Michelin, is dedicated to the topic of electric cars on the racetrack. Jonas is looking forward to the event and the opportunity to meet the audience. One of the highlights there will be a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with a Weissach package. Tarek counters with his excitement about the upcoming test of the new Audi S6 e-tron Avant.

Commercial vehicle surprise and compact SUV outlook (Ford e-Transit/Puma, VinFast VF6)

Tarek reports on his test of the Ford e-Transit Courier. Surprisingly, this small panel van is not based on a pure commercial vehicle platform, but shares the technology (including the approx. 43 kWh usable battery) with the upcoming Ford Puma Gen E. Both are built in Romania. Tarek was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the panel van, even during a test drive in Spain with 240 kg of ballast in the cargo area. The vehicle also offers useful features such as optional one-pedal driving and good route planning with load planning. This experience makes him optimistic about the test of the more aerodynamic Puma Gen E, which he and Jonas will drive together in Barcelona. The e-Transit Courier will also be offered as a passenger car version (Tourneo Courier) for families. Tarek then reports on his short drive with the VinFast VF6 in Oberhausen. The Vietnamese manufacturer, which had a difficult start in 2022 with battery problems (then Panasonic, now another NMC manufacturer) and recalled vehicles, is now trying to re-enter the market. The VF6 is a compact SUV (approx. 4.23 m long) in the class of the Ford Puma, equipped with a 60 kWh battery (NMC). The driving experience is good, without any outstanding features, but the price-performance ratio is good. However, Tarek is critical of the still very thin sales and service network (currently only six locations in Germany, expansion planned) and the software, which offers wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and charging planning with preconditioning, but still has room for improvement in terms of operation and navigation filters. VinFast offers long warranties (7 years/160,000 km on the vehicle, 8 years/unlimited km on the battery).

Mobility news & bureaucracy: parking in Bavaria and travel traps

A bigger topic is the new regulation in Bavaria: since April 1, 2024, electric cars and plug-in hybrids with an e-license plate can park for free for up to three hours in all public parking spaces that normally require a parking ticket. A parking disk is still required to document the time of arrival. This regulation, which is an extension of previous practice in Munich, is intended to promote electromobility and potentially improve air quality in city centers. However, there are uncertainties regarding financing (compensation for local authorities?) and implementation in zones with shorter maximum parking times. The discussion extends to the general bureaucracy associated with international electromobility. Jonas reports on a French vehicle in Munich with a special blue sticker, which is apparently mandatory for foreign e-cars in Germany for charging at public charging points - an example of German regulatory frenzy. Tarek adds that many French cities with more than 150,000 inhabitants require an environmental sticker ("Crit'Air"), including for e-cars, which must be applied for online and renewed annually. Jonas cites Norway as another example, where foreign e-cars have to be registered online to avoid having to pay the highest (diesel) tariff when entering toll zones such as Oslo. Conclusion: traveling by e-car increasingly requires advance research into local regulations and stickers.

The Xiaomi SU7: fascination, controversy and market threat

Jonas reports in detail on his test drive with the Xiaomi SU7, which was made possible by the German importer "Auto China". The car itself leaves an ambivalent impression. Technically, it is impressive: 800-volt system, up to 100 kWh battery (CATL Qilin), over 670 hp in the top version, an air suspension that Jonas sees at the level of the Porsche Taycan Active Ride (only this is even better), and a high-quality look and feel in the interior, comparable to Nio. The price in China is extremely low at the equivalent of around 30,000 to 38,000 euros. However, a massive safety problem overshadows the test: a rear tire on the sidewall (!) of the test car was patched with a makeshift resin plug - a condition that was already discovered in the JP Performance video. Despite the obvious danger and the importer's announcement that the tire would be changed, the same defective tire was still fitted during Jonas' test drive and during drives by other journalists (including Auto Motor und Sport). Jonas refused to test higher speeds or freeway driving with this tire for safety reasons and sharply criticized the importer's unprofessionalism. Tarek is also critical, but above all criticizes the design of the SU7 as too obvious a copy of various other models (Porsche Taycan, McLaren headlights, etc.), which lacks independence. He personally finds the car "ugly" and emphasizes that the look is decisive for him. The import price to Germany of around 70,000 euros (via the used car trick to avoid punitive tariffs) also puts the price advantage into perspective considerably. Nevertheless, the SU7 shows the immense potential of Chinese manufacturers to also build cars with sophisticated driving dynamics.

Technical pitfalls: preconditioning, updates and the 12-volt battery

When talking about the Kia EV3 and its preconditioning, it turns out that manual activation at a low charge level (SoC) is apparently prevented by the system. Jonas was unable to start it at 21%, Tarek observed that it stopped automatically at 20% with the small battery. However, on models with a larger battery (EV9, EV6), preconditioning seems to work up to around 12-13% SoC. This suggests that Kia may be defining an absolute amount of remaining energy (in kWh) rather than a percentage value as a threshold, which the moderators think makes little sense, especially if route planning leads to charging stops with lower SoC. Another topic is software updates. The Kia EV9 is now receiving the new CNCC system update, which should enable YouTube streaming, among other things. Jonas reports that Kia is charging after two free over-the-air (OTA) updates. However, this is not a fee for the update itself, but for the use of the vehicle's mobile data. Updates via USB stick or at the dealer remain free of charge. Tarek mentions that the Fiat 500e also recently received an OTA update. However, Tarek's renewed problem with the 12-volt battery of his Kia EV6 takes up the most space. After the battery was completely flat and he could only start the car by bridging it with a power bank, he took it to the garage. His video received almost 1000 comments, showing that this problem occurs with electric cars from many manufacturers (VW, Audi, Renault, Toyota, even PHEVs). There are many possible causes: defective control units (such as the well-known ICCU problem with Hyundai/Kia), software errors that prevent recharging (especially when the main battery SoC is low), silent consumers, deep discharge (which permanently damages lead-acid batteries), frequent "waking up" by third-party apps or even accessories such as dashcams in parking mode. The original 12V batteries often only seem to last around two years and only have this warranty period. Tarek will report on the results of the workshop diagnosis in a follow-up video.

Market analysis: The challenge posed by Chinese manufacturers

The experience with the Xiaomi SU7 and the pricing of models such as the BYD Dolphin or Seal U lead to a discussion about the threat posed to established European manufacturers by Chinese competition. Chinese brands score points with rapid development, advanced technology (often as "computers on wheels", but increasingly also in terms of driving dynamics) and - at least on the domestic market, strongly supported by government subsidies - very aggressive prices. This is putting pressure on German premium manufacturers such as Porsche, Audi, BMW and Mercedes, whose sales in China are already suffering. European manufacturers need to find ways to emphasize their own brand identity and technological strengths ("DNA") while remaining competitive, possibly by focusing more on the European market or specific models for China, but this could dilute brand identity. However, the long-term stability of Chinese pricing and subsidies remains to be seen.

Conclusion and outlook

The 34th episode of the "Kilometerfresser" impressively illuminates the dynamics and also the pitfalls of current electric mobility. While new models such as the ID.3 GTX Performance or the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce promise driving pleasure and technological advances such as the Xiaomi SU7 are fascinating, the controversy surrounding its safety and the recurring problems with 12-volt technology show the challenges in detail. The new parking regulations in Bavaria are a local ray of hope, while bureaucracy is increasing for international trips. Growing pressure from Chinese manufacturers is forcing established brands to act. Listeners can look forward to upcoming videos on the vehicles discussed, including the S6 e-tron Avant, Alfa Junior, Ford Puma Gen E, Renault 5, a used car test of the first Audi e-tron and an interview with the winning CEO.