SPEC SHOWDOWN: Jetour Ice Cream EV vs. BAW Pony Mini EV

Filipinos are gaining interest in electric vehicles (EV), mainly because these aren't the dinky, terrible cars they once were.

From zero import duties to exemptions from number coding, EVs are now more viable modes of transport than ever before, especially for those looking for a supermini.

Although mini EVs used to be distributed mainly by gray market dealers, two models have the backing of big dealer groups, along with legitimate warranties and stable parts supplies.

One is the Jetour Ice Cream EV, which officially debuted in the Philippines on April 2023 at the Manila International Auto Show. 

The other is the BAW Pony Mini EV, slated for launch as early as October 2023 and will be sold by EvoXterra, the official importer and distributor of Weltmeister and Hongqi in the Philippines.

Which is the one to go for? Here’s our Spec Showdown of these mini EVs!

Cutesy looks

Compared to a Toyota Wigo, the Jetour and the BAW are positively minuscule.

Both are three-door hatchbacks with huge side doors to make getting in and out of the back seats much easier.

Numbers-wise, the Pony is longer than the Ice Cream, which helps contribute to the longer wheelbase.

Looks-wise, both are little boxes with cute-as-a-button styling and attractive colors like pink and mint green. For once, it’s a tie between these two.

Pony nicer to be in

Comparing the cabins of the Jetour Ice Cream and the BAW Pony, you get space for four occupants and only a little else.

Cargo space is non-existent if you plan to use the back seats, so trips to the grocery store can only really be made with two people in the car. However, the larger Pony offers a precious bit more room.

Equipment-wise, both cars are identical. There’s air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, and an infotainment system.

However, I give the point to the Pony because of its slightly more attractive cabin and actual 7- or 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screens.

Identical performance

Mini EVs aren’t Teslas – you won’t get any rushes of adrenaline or a “Ludicrous Mode” that would send your Ice Cream or Pony into the stratosphere.

They will spend the rest of their lives driving around gridlocked city streets, often never going past 60 km/h. The advantage is that having such a tiny car makes urban driving and parking an absolute breeze, all while producing zero emissions.

There's hardly any difference between the Jetour Ice Cream and the BAW Pony. Both have identical power and torque figures, while the Pony with the larger battery pack will match the range of the Ice Cream.

Again, it’s a tie between these two electric urban warriors.

Better than nothing

Some people are scared of driving superminis because of safety concerns.

Can such a tiny car keep me and my loved ones safe? Can it prevent me from crashing in the first place?

The answers are yes and yes. Unlike the bad old days of the Kia Pride CD-5, the Jetour Ice Cream and BAW Pony have pretty good safety equipment that even some modern cars don’t have.

Both have a driver’s side airbag, three-point seatbelts for all occupants, ISOFIX anchors for child restraints, and anti-lock brakes to help you avoid a collision even in slippery conditions. Although, things like active-safety gear may take a few more years to trickle down into these mini EVs.

This time, a slight edge for the BAW Pony.

Worth a shot

The reason we focused so much on these two mini EVs is that these are being offered by mainstream distributors, which will likely provide better aftersales support than the gray market.

The Jetour Ice Cream EV is for sale right now for just ₱699,000. It also comes with an industry-leading six-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Meanwhile, the BAW Pony will be priced at ₱598,000 for the 120-km range variant and ₱678,000 for the 170-km one. However, EvoXterra is still mum about the warranty details as it intends to announce this closer to the Pony's official launch targetted for October 2023. Remember that the company has extensive experience selling purely EVs.

Whichever you pick, mini EVs are no longer just glorified children’s toys. So long as you use these as city shuttles, you get the ease of maintenance and lower running costs of an EV without paying the price of a Tesla.

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