KATHMANDU: Once limited to sports and luxury cars, the rear-wheel drive (RWD) system has now made its way into budget-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) as well. Customers in Nepal can now buy RWD SUVs in the price range of Rs 4-6 million.
In RWD vehicles, the weight distribution is balanced 50:50, which gives the car excellent torque output. Compared to front-wheel drive (FWD), RWD vehicles are considered superior in both acceleration and braking.
In countries like Nepal, where road conditions are often poor, RWD vehicles perform better than FWD. While FWD cars can struggle on muddy, slippery or gravel roads, RWD cars generally deliver stronger performance.
Another advantage of RWD cars is the towing capacity. Since FWD vehicles deliver all power and torque to the front wheels, they tend to slip sideways under hard acceleration. RWD cars avoid this issue as power goes to the rear wheels.
Cars with RWD systems are also considered more durable. Likewise, they have lower lifetime maintenance costs compared to FWD cars.
Here are some of the most affordable RWD electric SUVs currently available in the Nepali market:
Jaecoo J6
The Jaecoo J6 SUV is available in Nepal for Rs 6.59 million. Marketed as a lifestyle product, the J6 is offered in a single variant with a 135 kW rear-wheel motor and a 65.69 kWh LFP battery. The car delivers a range of up to 400 km when fully charged, according to SPG Automobiles, the authorized Jaecoo/Omoda distributor in Nepal.
Leapmotor B10
Launched during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo, the B10 RWD crossover comes in two battery variants of 56 kWh and 67 kWh. Shangrila Motors, which represents Leapmotor in Nepal, has priced the car with a 56 kWh battery at Rs 4.99 million and the one with a 67 kWh battery at Rs 5.69 million. The top variant offers a claimed driving range of 460 km when fully charged.
Deepal S05
Deepal’s compact SUV S05, which was launched just last month, also features a rear-wheel drive system. Available in two variants – Plus and Max, the S05 comes with a 56.1 kWh battery pack and a 99 kW rear motor. The car offers a range of 400 km when fully charged, according to MAW Vriddhi, the authorized Deepal distributor in Nepal.
MG S5
The MG S5 is currently the most affordable RWD SUV with independent suspension in the Nepali market. With a rear-mounted motor and multi-link suspension, it promises strong handling and performance, according to Paramount Motors which represents MG in Nepal. Available in three variants, the Comfort version is priced at Rs 4.39 million after a discount of Rs 100,000 currently offered by the company. The S5 comes with a 99 kW motor paired with a 49 kWh battery, and delivers a range of 340 km when fully charged.
In addition to these models, the MG4 EV, Deepal S07, BYD Sealion 7, IM6, Zeekr X, XPeng G6 and Avatr 11 are also available in Nepal with RWD configurations.
