Meeting a £45,000 Chinese van for the UK market: the Farizon SV

We get up close with the Farizon SV ahead of its entry into the UK market.

It’s official: the Farizon SV — or the ‘Far Horizon Supervan’ as its mother may call it — has landed on UK soil, with customer deliveries expected before the year’s midpoint.

A quick look back

Since its announcement late last year, we’ve had plenty of time to familiarise ourselves with the capabilities which the Farizon brings to the table. But, before we get into what’s new, here’s a speedy whistle-stop stat recap for those who are not yet acquainted with the SV.

What you’re looking at here is a purpose-built electric van, boasting five body variants ranging from L1 H1 all the way up to L3 H3, maxing out at a 13m³ capacity and 1,390 kg payload. Hauling this along is an all-electric powertrain consisting of either a 67 kwh, 83 kwh, or 106 kwh battery, hooked up to a 228 hp motor, giving a maximum range just shy of 250 miles. Pretty versatile, right? Impressively this flexibility puts the SV in a position to compete with everything in the UK market. From the VW ID. Buzz Cargo, to Ford’s E-Transit Custom and the larger E-Transit.

In the flesh

Ok, recap over. So, what’s new? Well, we fought through the crowds (yes, literally crowds) at Birmingham’s Commercial Vehicle Show 2025 to get up close and personal with the SV, to see exactly how it’s shaping up practically.

Under the reflection of Farizon’s stall’s colour-shifting light displays, the glossy paintwork catches the eye. But, don’t be fooled, under the pristine exterior, there is a commercial workhorse to be found here. That said, we will admit that it’s hard to imagine this shiny exterior won’t pick up a few dings and scrapes when thrown into the real world — but perhaps it is more scratch resistant than meets the eye.

However, upon hopping into the cabin, we discovered a satisfyingly sturdy feel to the tech-laden surfaces, all of which bring a certain heft and simplicity, which bodes well for life in the commercial world. This toughened finish even goes as far as the tough yet comfortable seating, easy-press tactile buttons, stocky steering wheel, chunky cubby units, and thick set door handles, all of which feel built to last. 

But like the shiny exterior, there is still a little pizzaz thrown in here. In addition to the large instrument cluster and infotainment screens, some tasteful flakey-speckled detailing is sprinkled across the orange trim elements — a little hint towards a van that is here for a long time and a good time?

More than meets the eye

Stepping around to the rear, things take a slightly more industrious turn. Here we find a stripped back cargo area in which no space is wasted, with only the necessary evil of internal wheel arches eating into the storage capacity. It’s simple, rugged, and accessible via the large sliding side door and dual-rear barndoors — all wins in our opinion. 

However, the eagle-eyed among you may have spotted the single feature breaking up this minimalist hold: the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system. And this 3.3 kw power source was not wasted during the van’s CV Show appearance, where a coffee machine was hooked up to energise the masses, scoring yet more points in our book. 

Once we had dragged ourselves away from the caffeine source, we discovered the refrigerated Farizon SV on display. Using an integrated GAH refrigeration unit, the frosty variant can maintain a constant 0° temperature without the aid of an external battery, further highlighting both the capabilities and the versatility which the model will offer the UK market. Maybe not as much of a draw as barista-made coffee, but arguably more impressive.

So, priced from £45,000, the Chinese-made Farizon SV ticks a lot of boxes required to succeed in the UK market. Combining a forward thinking and technology packed approach with built-to-last functional elements, it strikes a balance which could well lead to success. But what do you think?