2025 Bestune NAT E05 Review

Cars come in all shapes, body styles, sizes, and purposes. Sports cars, SUVs, crossovers, and sedans are all cars built with a specific purpose in mind. Like humans with a natural calling, each type of car is built with distinct attributes suited to its role. 

Now, here in the Philippines, taxis and ride-sharing services are what we can think of as a job for cars. However, unlike the UK and Japan, where they have specific cars for that role, taxis in our country are repurposed passenger cars. 

So, what if you built a car for the sole purpose of being a taxi? The result is the Bestune NAT E05. On the spec sheet alone, the NAT E05 has the makings of a great taxi, but we wonder if that can also translate to life as a private vehicle. That’s the question we’re aiming to answer today in this review.

The NAT E05’s looks are sleek, clean, and quirky. The front fascia features the Bestune logo, which, underneath, sits a light bar connecting the headlights. From the sides, the NAT looks like a typical MPV until you reach the rear, where the end and door curve forward before sloping back down again, forming a subtle chevron shape. The NAT rides on 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, giving it a manageable 180 mm of ground clearance. The quirkiness doesn’t end in the rear because when you get to the passenger doors, the left side is a standard car door on hinges, but the one on the right side is a powered-sliding door. This arrangement is perfect for tight parking lots where there isn’t much space to swing a door open, or for senior citizens who need extra room to get in and out of the car comfortably.

Before we continue, we do have to note that if you think the NAT’s taxi-ish looks can be improved upon with a color change, we’re sad to report that the NAT can only be had in one paint color, white. Despite this, we think the NAT’s sleek and quirky looks can be considered a breath of fresh air in the monotonous world of taxis. We’re sure it will turn heads, just not for the reasons you think.

As we said earlier, the Bestune NAT is an EV, but unlike other EVs in the market, which use the Type 2 charging standard, the NAT uses GB/T. To use the charging stations in the Philippines, a GB/T to Type 2 charger is required. However, most charging stations in the Philippines restrict the usage of adapters for safety reasons. This is not an issue if you have your own charging box at home or if you plan on utilizing the NAT E05 as a fleet vehicle, having an equally large fleet of charging stations at your garage.

Before moving to the interior, let’s take a look at the cargo bay. It offers 379 liters of space, enough for a few coolers, overnight luggage, and more. The high roof and wide opening can even accommodate a wheelchair with room to spare. If you need extra space, the second row folds to nearly double the cargo capacity. Unfortunately, the seats don’t fold flat, which limits total space and makes loading bulky items a bit tricky. On the bright side, the low loading lip makes lifting heavier items much easier.

In the words of our host Caco, as he describes the NAT’s spacious interior: “If there were a rideshare app that could guarantee I’d get an NAT, I’d delete all the others and just use that one.” Inside, it’s easy to see why he said that because the second row of the NAT feels exceptionally roomy.

Legroom and headroom in the second row are very generous; we expect taller people to fit in the second row easily. The bench seats are also quite comfortable with their leather upholstery. Features in the second row you’ll find are the fold-out cupholders with the added extra of two USB charging ports, grab handles on the B-pillar, plus a thoughtful touch of a handy convex mirror on the pillar, just so you don’t accidentally door passing pedestrians or bikers. Another quirky feature in the interior is the variations in the interior trim colors, with the interior varying from orange accents to white and black. 

Moving to the business end of the NAT, up front drivers get a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth. Sadly, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. As a consolation, the driver does get a ventilated seat with an armrest, cruise control, a 12 V charger, and a USB charger.. Cubby holes and shelves can be found throughout the front passenger area, providing lots of places to hide and store vital documents or kit. 

Despite the NAT E05 being the passenger-focused vehicle that it is, we’re glad to report that the driver won’t feel left out in the equation. 

The driving dynamics of the NAT E05, much like its only available color, are quite vanilla. Vanilla, meaning, it’s not gonna knock your socks off, but it’s not terribly bad either. The steering feel is dull, and body roll is noticeable when you take bends at high speeds, but then again, that’s par for the course for an MPV. Ferrying passengers to and from destinations is not an exciting task; likewise, driving the NAT E05 feels very mundane. 

Despite the very normal driving feel, that’s not to say the NAT E05 is a slow car. It’s an EV with 160 hp and 260 Nm of torque, small numbers it may seem, but give the accelerator a push and it comes at you instantly. The instant torque from the motors means the NAT E05 has no trouble going uphill or overtaking.

The ride quality, like the driving dynamics, feels average. Road noise seeps in from the tires, and ruts and bumps are still noticeable. On smoother roads, though, the comfortable rear bench and ventilated driver’s seat help make up for it. And if you’re stuck in traffic, where taxis usually spend most of their time, a comfortable seat matters more than ride quality in those scenarios anyway.

All in all, it’s hard to fault the NAT E05 as a point-A-to-point-B vehicle. It makes no pretensions of being a luxurious ride and doesn’t hide its identity as a purpose-built taxi. It’s a good car for what its makers set out for it to do, and that’s what matters.

The NAT E05 is a versatile car with a very specific purpose in mind when it was built, and it shows. As a vehicle, it has its drawbacks, including quirks and charging compatibility issues, but these are offset by the MPV’s friendly price. At P1,288,000, the NAT offers an affordable entry point for fleet owners looking to switch to EVs or for individuals wanting to enter the ride-sharing market.

Even if you’re not among those buyers and simply want a car to ferry the family around, the NAT E05 is a great option that seniors, kids, and other family members can easily get used to.

If you’re thinking about buying the NAT E05, check it out on the Bestune Car Guide on AutoDeal.com.ph.