Guys bought the world's cheapest SUV from China and tried taking it 100 miles off-road but it didn't exactly go to plan

  • North Idaho-based YouTube team bought the world’s cheapest SUV
  • They wanted to see if the ChangLi EV could drive off-road
  • However, from delivery, nothing went as planned

Published on Mar 06, 2025 at 8:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Last updated on Mar 06, 2025 at 9:56 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Tom Wood

North Idaho-based YouTube team Grind Hard Plumbing Co bought a ChangLi, the world’s cheapest SUV, to see if it could survive a 100-mile off-road challenge after modifications.

The electric SUV suffered ‘pre-worn damages’ after falling off a forklift during delivery and during testing.

Since the stock version wasn’t built for rugged terrain, the team upgraded it with several modifications.

However, despite their efforts they didn’t get far.

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ChangLi is world’s cheapest SUV

The mini electric SUV is a ‘fully capable electric mobile that allows you to pick up kids or get groceries without spending on expensive gasoline’.

Selling for $9,999.00 it has a range of 30 miles and a four-hour battery life with zero emissions.

After charging for 4-6 hours, the tiny 95”x48”x64” car has a max speed of 28mph making it perfect for a short commute or local errands.

But is it any good at off-roading?

The off-road attempt

Ethan and Edwin of Grind Hard Plumbing Co ‘build crazy cars and contraptions out of a small garage’.

Key modifications on this small car include welding the differential, adding off-road tires, and reinforcing the structure with plexiglass,

The inefficient built-in heater was also replaced with a diesel heater for better performance in freezing temperatures.

They welded the differential, making the ChangLi more capable of rough terrain.

They also installed two large ‘Raptor 2’ batteries, tripling the SUV’s range from their last challenge.

After making it ‘unstoppable’ it was time to set off.

Using OnX Offroad, they mapped out their 100-mile route while checking snow levels and terrain conditions.

Initial test drives proved rough, with the ChangLi getting stuck multiple times and requiring a Tesla for rescue.

However, the major setback occurred when a wheel fell off, damaging the hub and brakes and raising doubts about completing the challenge.

They made a decision on ‘no more testing’, realizing they were breaking the EV before the challenge even began.

“This thing is completely destroyed before it’s ever left the property,” they said of the Chinese car.

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All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”