Landwind launched the Xiaoyao in the Chinese market
last year but for some inexplicable reason it quickly gained the nickname
“Chinese GLA”. All kidding aside, the Xiaoyao is not an exact clone of the GLA as it
adopts its own front fascia and slightly different rear end but we must say we
had to take a second look to confirm that this wasn’t the compact Mercedes SUV.
Landwind’s compact crossover is currently on display at the Shanghai Auto Show.
The Chinese car maker is no stranger when it comes
to “borrowing” the styling of popular Western models, with the Evoque-lookalike
Landwind X7 being one of their worst offenses in the business. Last month
Jaguar Land Rover won the case against them in a Chinese court, forcing
Landwind to cease production and sales immediately.
The interior of the new Landwind Xiaoyao features a
flat-bottom steering wheel, a tablet-style touchscreen 8-inch display for the
infotainment system, a wide center console and a leather effect for the upper
part of the dashboard.
Power comes from two different turbocharged
1.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engines, with 150 hp and 163 hp respectively.
There’s no all-wheel drive option available but there is one for an automatic
transmission.
Among the display cars was a two-tone bright
green/pale blue example on chrome wheels and a beige interior, showcasing most
likely how you can personalize your Xiaoyao when you have a complete lack of
taste.
