Skywell BE11 Review 2025

Manufacturing electric cars is a complex business but relative to producing those propelled by combustion engines, it’s a simpler undertaking. Together with an abundance of the raw materials required for battery production on their doorstep, this has encouraged a number of new Chinese companies to diversify into EV production. One of the most recent to arrive on the British market is the Skywell BE11.

With its first model sold here, Skywell seems to be trying something different from other still-fresh Chinese brands that have sought to catch British car buyers’ collective attention. While BYD majors on advanced technology, GWM went with bold styling for its Ora 03 and Leapmotor’s championing value for money, other than being an electric, family-sized SUV, the BE11 seems... ordinary.

That’s far from a criticism of Skywell’s approach — after all, new tech, whacky designs and low prices can each be off-putting to car buyers, the majority of whom have inherently conservative tastes. So long as a car’s reliable, safe, inexpensive to run and easily connects with their phone, most people are happy. Granted, it’s hardly stuff upon which aspirations are made, but they could prove to be attributes that help the BE11 gain a market foothold.

Nevertheless, the array of alternative electric SUVs of a similar size to the Skywell BE11 seemingly becomes broader by the month with the well-regarded ones including — but not limited to — the super-practical Renault Scenic E-Tech, the functional excellence of the Skoda Elroq and the intriguingly Tesla-like new XPeng G6.

Appearance-wise the Skywell BE11 isn’t especially distinctive, with a few visual cues that might remind you of that car here or this car there. It’s the kind of generic look that you tend to see on those brandless cars used in insurance adverts on telly. Overall, it’s fine and the BE11’s bluff, grille-less nose hints at it electrical power in a manner similar to other, more established marques do.

It’s a similar story inside this five-seater SUV — what the Skywell lacks in design flair, it makes up for with sensibly-sited controls, including a smattering of physical buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel spokes, although most of the nuanced settings for the climate control are located within the 12.8-inch multimedia touchscreen display.

Perhaps the only interior feature that many could find objectional are the expanses of fake wood panelling across the width of the dashboard as well as all four passenger doors. Try and consider it a positive as it evidently reduced the temptation to grace those areas with glossy black plastic surfaces that would soon be harbour more fingerprints than a crime scene investigator’s lab.

As there’s just a solitary, nameless, Skywell BE11 trim level the trick timber’s your only choice, as is the black faux suede and leather seat upholstery. In fact, the only personalisation on offer is which of the four paint options — from a selection of solid white and metallic black, blue and grey — you prefer, with no cost difference between them.

Where a more fundamental degree of choice for Skywell BE11 fanciers lies is between the 72kWh and 86kWh battery sizes. According to the WLTP Combined cycle tests, the smaller option provides a range of 248 miles, the larger capacity increasing that to 304 miles.

When using a DC rapid charger, the BE11’s on-board charger limits the energy flow to a disappointing maximum of 80kW, so although the recharging times of 36 minutes for the 72kWh battery and 45 minutes for the 86kWh version don’t sound too bad, note that’s only for elevating the state of charge from 20-70%.

Skywell quotes AC domestic wallbox recharging times of 4.5 and 5.5 hours respectively, but again they’re for 20-70% and for an 11kW connection which most people’s homes don’t have. Times aren’t provided for the far more common 7kW domestic hook-up, but something in the order of 12 hours for a flat to full recharge of the smaller battery would be in the right ballpark.

Regardless of which of the battery choices you decide upon, Skywell’s slimline model mix means there’s only one drive option. It’s a 204PS electric motor driving the front wheels via a single-speed transmission, with its 320Nm of torque sufficient for a 0-62mph time of 9.6 seconds for both versions, despite the 86kWh BE11 being 50kg heavier.

Order books for the Skywell BE11 opened in October 2024 with the first cars in customers’ hands already. The Standard Range 72kWh version costs £36,995 with the Long Range 86kWh version setting you back a further £3000.

Keep this page bookmarked for updated news on this electric SUV and to read our comprehensive Skywell BE11 review in the months ahead.