Chinese carmaker Skywell has given its BE11 electric SUV an overhaul just a year after the Renault Scenic and Škoda Enyaq rival launched in the UK as the brand’s first model.

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Key changes among the upgrades include a £5,000-plus price reduction that brings the starting price down from £31,990, compared to £36,995 previously for the Standard Range 72kWh model. The Long Range 86kWh also gets the same price cut, dropping to £34,990 now, compared to £39,995 before.

Skywell – a joint venture between Skyworth Group and the Nanjing Golden Dragon Bus Company that’s imported into the UK by Innovation Automotive – said the new pricing ensures the BE11 is £3,500-£14,000 less than similarly sized C-segment eSUVs, and “even better value than many smaller hybrid models”.

And the midsize e-SUV also gets technical upgrades, new tech features and improved driver comfort to deliver greater value for money. This includes a UK-developed package of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in response to feedback from customers and journalists (see our original test here).

The updated BE11 26MY now adds adaptive cruise control (in lieu of cruise control) along with blind spot detection, drowsy driver alert warning, forward collision warning system, intelligent cruise assist, lane keep assist, lane departure warning system, traffic sign recognition, steering wheel hands-off detection and rear cross traffic alert.

Skywell also stressed the new safety features have been calibrated to UK roads; technologies such as lane keep assist, lane departure warning and blind spot detection have been specifically developed in the UK by its engineering team. This includes thousands of miles of on-road testing during development, across rural and urban scenarios, with varying terrain, road types and weather conditions.

The new safety additions join existing features such as an overspeed reminder, driver fatigue reminder, front/side/curtain airbags, hill decent control and 360-degree around view monitor. Skywell says the BE11 now has over 25 safety features.

Inside, the cabin of the BE11 also receives additional comfort-focused upgrades that include front seat heating and ventilation, with electric front seats, in a perforated black leather style and Alcantara finish, driver’s seat electronic lumbar adjustment, driver’s seat memory settings, and driver’s seat comfort entry/exit.

There’s also a raft of extra interior additions to boost appeal. The latest BE11 now adds 128-colour ambient lighting across the dash, complementing lighting on front and rear doors, cabin air particulate monitoring, a revised UK- and EU-compatible 220V vehicle-to-load (V2L) 3-pin plug socket, an additional front-mounted USB charging port to join the existing port, plus an extra USB-C charging port added to the rear. Drivers can also now opt for a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, in lieu of the 12.8-inch standard feature.

Exterior design remains unchanged with just the addition of new BE11 tailgate badging.

The BE11 26MY also carries over the existing two specifications, differing only by battery size. The BE11 Standard Range features a 72kWh NMC-battery that gives a WLTP combined range of 248 miles, while the BE11 Long Range upgrades to a 86kWh NMC-battery for a WLTP range of 303 miles. Both models are powered by a single 204hp BYD-sourced motor, powering the front wheels.

The brand’s seven-year/100,000-mile manufacturer warranty remains, along with the existing eight-year/155,000-mile battery warranty, with roadside assistance offered free of charge for up to 10 years, available when customers return to a Skywell Dealer for their annual servicing.

The revamped BE11 is available to order now, with deliveries starting this month.

Skywell has previously set out plans to follow the BE11 launch with the all-electric Skywell Q, an all-new C-segment hatchback, and the Skyhome D-segment all-electric saloon, along with the large panel van already previewed that introduces the brand into the UK commercial vehicle market.