Huge Chinese EV SUV is good enough for Europe.

China might become a source of cheap EVs, but that hasn’t stopped them from developing luxury battery vehicles.

Product planners at Chinese brands have observed the German and American EV strategy, combing battery power with large platforms, lots of luxury – and very premium pricing.

Chinese vehicles have struggled to access Europe. It remains the most demanding market for any brand, with its combination of stringent safety and emissions regulations.

Hongqi, a Chinese brand with uncanny legacy, dates back to 1959. Nowadays, it forms part of the FAW group and has managed to fulfil all European regulatory requirements and is shipping its huge E-HS9 SUVs, to Norway. Yes, Norway, where Tesla found its initial European success.

An enormous vehicle, measuring 5.2m in length, the E-HS9 is Land Cruiser 300 sized. The design is a blend of large non-functional grille, with thin horizontal LED headlights.

The cabin architecture appears to have all the luxury bits you’d expect from a seven-seater touring SUV, and a 16.5-inch infotainment screen.

But what about the performance? Hongqi is offering two versions of the E-HS9. These Chinese seven-seater luxury SUVs are all-wheel drive, with a motor powering each axle.

The base version draws energy from an 84 kWh battery pack and its two electric motors product 162 kW and 300 Nm each. Hongqi claims a range of 396 km on a single charge, and if you are in a hurry, the base E-HS9 is good for 0-100 kph in only 6.5 seconds.

There is a slightly more potent version, too, with a larger 99 kWh battery pack and a more powerful rear axle motor.

With the rear wheels being driven by a 248 kW motor, with 450 Nm of instantaneous torque, this higher-specification E-HS9 is hot-hatch fast. It will go from 0-100 kph in 4.9 seconds and, if driven sedately, will cover 465 km on a single charge.

As with all Chinese vehicles, the pricing equation is very competitive. The Hongqi E-HS9 range starts at a cheaper price than Mercedes-Benz’s EQC.

Related content

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro (2021) Review

Haval H6 Review – The SUV Turning the SA Market Upside Down