Kaiyi E5 Overview: Generations, Specs and Which Version to Buy
Kaiyi E5 specs at a glance: a front-wheel-drive sedan built since 2021, with a 156 hp 1.5-litre turbo engine and CVT or manual gearboxes.
The Kaiyi E5 is a front-wheel-drive sedan produced from 2021 to the present. Every version delivers 156 hp, so anyone comparing Kaiyi E5 specs will find a single power output across the range, offered with either a CVT or a manual gearbox. It suits drivers who want a straightforward modern sedan with one engine choice and a simple trim structure.
Kaiyi E5 generations
1 generation (2021–present)
The first and so far only generation of the Kaiyi E5 has been in production since 2021 and is available exclusively as a sedan. The lineup counts 2 modifications, all rated at 156 hp and all driving the front wheels. Buyers choose between two transmissions: a CVT and a manual. The core engine is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit with a displacement of 1498 cc. The Kaiyi E5 1.5 i T CVT (1 generation) is the mass-market version of the range, pairing the 156 hp engine with the CVT and front-wheel drive.
Which Kaiyi E5 to buy
- 1.5 i T CVT (1 generation): the mass-market choice, with 156 hp from its 1498 cc turbocharged engine and a CVT driving the front wheels.
On the used market the picture is simple: with production starting only in 2021 and a single generation on sale, every Kaiyi E5 is a relatively recent car, and there are no older generations or discontinued body styles to sort through. The main decision comes down to transmission — CVT or manual — since power and drivetrain are identical across the range.
Kaiyi E5 at a glance
The Kaiyi E5 range is unusually uniform. All versions share the same 156 hp output, the same 1498 cc turbocharged engine and the same front-wheel-drive layout, and the body style is limited to the sedan. With just 2 modifications in the 1 generation, the model avoids the trim sprawl common in larger lineups. The manual version appeals to drivers who prefer full control over gear changes, while the Kaiyi E5 1.5 i T CVT (1 generation) covers buyers who want two-pedal driving; both sit in the same 2021–present production window, so equipment differences between them come down to transmission rather than model year or generation.