Livan X3 Pro, your ideal car if what really matters to you is the price and not the brand

Technical sheet Livan X3 Pro

Engine: 4 cyl. GasolineDisplacement: 1,499 ccMaximum power: 103 hpTransmission: Man. 5 speed.Traction: FrontAcceleration 0-100 km/h: 13 secondsMaximum speed: 170 km/hCombined consumption: 7.2 liters (WLTP)CO2 emissions: 167 g/km (WLTP)DGT label: CLength/width/height: 400/176/157 cmBoot: 245-400 litersTank: 45 litersWeight: 1,180 kgWarranty: 5 years or 100,000 kmPrice: 14,995 euroslivanauto.esPhoto signature: DBC

There are very few cars on the market today for less than €15,000, and almost none in the trendy SUV format. Therefore, if you're looking for value at all costs, this could be an affordable mobility alternative to consider compared to its few competitors in its category (Citroën C3 and little else...).

This is the X3 Pro from the Chinese firm Livan , a modest urban model measuring 4 metres in length, with correct finishes, a naturally aspirated petrol engine without complications and the peace of mind of having a 5-year or 100,000 km warranty thanks to the solvency of Geely Auto Group, the giant to which firms such as Volvo, Lynk&Co or Polestar, among others, belong.

In a vehicle of its features and price—€16,995, which drops to €14,995 if you use the brand's finance company—you shouldn't expect a great deal of technology, sophisticated materials, or striking comfort features. However, this is evident in its exterior design, with graceful lines and a fairly modern and successful overall aesthetic.

It's a functional car designed for everyday use, with compact dimensions (4.00 meters long, 1.76 meters wide, 1.57 meters high, and only 1,180 kilos in weight), a reasonably spacious interior, and a trunk of 245 to 400 liters, which also houses a spare wheel, something few rivals offer anymore. It rides on 205 mm, 60-profile tires on 16" alloy wheels, and its brakes consist of discs at the front and rear.

Better appearance than reality

Its modest interior features eco-leather upholstered seats, a multifunction leather steering wheel, and an 8-inch touchscreen that provides access to a basic infotainment system with features and equipment such as a rearview camera for parking assistance, cruise control with speed limiter, tire pressure monitoring, and hill start assist.

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It's powered by a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder gasoline engine with MPI indirect injection, producing 103 hp and 140 Nm of torque; more than enough to maintain decent cruising speeds without much effort. It boasts an optimistic top speed of 170 km/h, as its mechanical comfort zone is clearly below it, although it can easily exceed legal limits.

Its "limitations" are more noticeable in acceleration—0 to 100 km in 13 seconds—and also in fuel consumption, as it doesn't offer particularly modest figures: it's approved for 7.2 l/100 km. High emissions of 167 g/km of CO2 (C label) also penalize it with the 9.75% vehicle registration tax, a factor that limits its competitiveness in a segment where every euro counts.

However, its lightness and 5-speed manual transmission contribute to a relatively agile handling, while in terms of sound quality and smoothness, it clearly outclasses the 3-cylinder engines found in most city cars it would compete with. Its Chinese origins are evident in aspects such as highly assisted steering, noticeable body roll, a somewhat rough feel from the gear lever, and sloppy finish details, as well as rough-looking plastics.

The Livan X3 Pro, imported to Spain by the Invicta Group, which markets brands such as DFSK, SERES, and Baic, among others, in our country, has another handicap in the limited network of official dealerships. The unit tested for the trial was provided by EUTRASA, in Les Franqueses del Vallès, one of only two centers in Catalonia among the twenty existing in Spain.