Lifan X50

Lifan X50 at a glance

The X50 is the smallest crossover in Lifan's range, positioned below the Lifan X60. Lifan created it the classic budget way: it took the platform of the compact Lifan Celliya (530) saloon, cut off the boot to make a hatchback, raised the ride height and added plastic wheel-arch and sill protection. The result is a city car with an SUV look rather than an off-roader.

In China the X50 cost 59,800 to 82,800 yuan at launch. It was assembled in Chongqing and, under licence, in Iran (2015–2018), Uruguay and other markets. The story of the company is told in the history of Lifan.

Design and interior

The X50 has a rounded front with large headlights, a raised bonnet line and black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and sills. At the back, the tailgate has soft lines and a compact window, and a spare wheel sits under the raised boot floor.

Inside, the dashboard is simple, with analogue dials and a central screen on better-equipped versions. A Uruguayan road test in 2016 praised ride comfort, equipment and value, but criticised the fit of some trim parts, limited front seat space and rear headroom, wind and road noise, the one-piece rear seatback and the lack of a centre rear headrest.

Engine and transmissions

The 1.5 engine is a conventional naturally aspirated unit with variable valve timing. It feels responsive at speed according to owners, but it has to work hard with a full load. Some sources also list a 1.3-litre version for certain markets. There was no four-wheel drive, so the X50's 208 mm ground clearance helps with kerbs and poor surfaces rather than real off-road driving.

Lifan quoted combined consumption of 6.3 L/100 km (37.3 mpg US) for the manual, and about 6.5 L/100 km with the CVT. The 2016 road test measured 8.4 L/100 km in town, 6.6 L/100 km on the open road and 7.5 L/100 km overall.

Lifan X50 specifications

Boot capacity with the seats up is quoted very differently, from 280 litres in the road test to 570–650 litres in earlier Lifan material, depending on how the space under the floor is counted.

Lifan X50 safety

The X50 came with two front airbags, ABS, brake-force distribution and brake assist, a brake override system, tyre pressure monitoring, ISOFIX and Top Tether anchors and three-point belts for all five seats. It has no published Euro NCAP or C-NCAP crash test result, so its crash protection is unknown.

Lifan X50 strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

• Low purchase price and a long warranty in some markets (five years or 100,000 km in Uruguay).
• Comfortable ride and useful ground clearance for poor roads.
• Simple, economical 1.5 petrol engine.

Weaknesses:

• Limited interior space and a short cabin.
• Road and wind noise, sensitivity to crosswinds.
• Uncertain parts supply and low resale value.

Rivals: how the Lifan X50 compares

The X50 competed with budget crossovers and raised hatchbacks such as the Haima M3, Geely models and, in some markets, the Dacia Sandero Stepway and Renault Sandero. Lifan's own Solano saloon and the larger X70 shared engines and parts. More models are listed among Chinese cars.