It’s the holidays, so I’m going to try and be more understanding and kind. But I just don’t understand the need for setups like the Uwell Hypercar 80W mod starter kit. I mean, it’s FINE, and does an adequate job… but I have no idea who this rig is for.

“Why does it have to be ‘for’ anyone, man?” Well, I’ll tell you why – because there are simply too many vape device options on store shelves for oddball setups like the Hypercar. Really good, dedicated mouth-to-lung (MTL) kits are spec’d and priced accordingly. Same goes for higher-wattage, cloud chucking monsters.

But what’s the current market for an 80-watt maximum, single-18650 vape mod that is nearly as big as a dual-battery device? What about a sub-ohm tank that claims to be good for both MTL and direct lung use? (Spoiler alert: it’s not.)

Once you add in slow, antiquated controls, poor ramp up time, and horrendous battery life, and you’ve got a device that really doesn’t have a niche today. But let’s dive in and see more about the Hypercar’s features.

When you open the box, the Hypercar makes a good first impression. It’s not the most-attractive mod you’ve ever seen, but the slanted fire key and ample vent ports speak to a comfortable, easy-to-use device. Then you pick it up…

There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said above but vaping the Hypercar was a thoroughly middling experience throughout. While the mod does hit a legitimate 80 watts without stuttering – at least, no stuttering beyond what’s caused by the fire button – the battery life drops precipitously after 50 watts.

Yes, in 2018, 50 watts is the cutoff point for serviceable battery life. I know the Hypercar is a single-cell vape mod, but I’ve seen mech Squonkers get longer lifespans from an 18650 battery. On a fully charged cell, I managed just 90 minutes of legitimate operating time, when vaping the MTL setup at 20-30 watts. When switching to the sub-ohm head and “cranking” it to 65 watts, the Hypercar turned into a conservative sedan performance-wise, and a gas-guzzler with efficiency.

I ran this cycle at least five times before conceding the battle – the Uwell Hypercar simply isn’t set up for all-day use. And with such mid-level specs, it really should be.

What can I say, except that I’m a little disappointed… I love Uwell products (like the upcoming review for the Uwell Crown 4), for the most part, and had high hopes for the Hypercar kit. I expected to test a solid, long-lasting single-18650 device I could stow in my pocket for stealth use and road trips. Instead, I got an oversized, heavy, power-draining mod with a limp tank to go with it.

I have no doubt that Uwell has the chops and market-savvy to right this ship and fill this spot in the market. But the Hypercar is too unfocused and underperforming to consider as a contender right now.

Score: C-