Basking in luxury
Hongqi is China’s state-owned luxury car manufacturer under the FAW Group. They build Chinese President Xi Jin Ping’s state limousine, the Hongqi L5, and more recently, the Hongqi N701.
But those aren’t the only cars fit for heads of state: I recently had the chance to sample the top-spec Hongqi eHS9, the brand’s flagship fully-electric crossover SUV.
The e-HS9 is Hongqi Philippine’s best selling vehicle in their line-up which is quite surprising given its premium price. The e-HS9 is a favorite among mainland Chinese businessmen in the Philippines, often as a third or fourth car according to the distributor’s market research.
Stately, imposing, commanding. These three adjectives best describe the massive SUV that seems to occupy the same rarefied field as the Rolls Royce Cullinan and the Bentley Bentayga. I say ‘seems’ with some trepidation, because the Hongqi is nowhere near the price (nor pedigree) of the two European aristocrats. But to the untrained eye, it has the same regal and authoritative presence.
You know Hongqi got this right. Driving around Metro Manila, and even posh BGC and Makati, many cars, and many luxury vehicles at that, would stop and let us through at intersections and narrow entrances and exits. It has an air of aristocracy that even many established brands lack.
It’s also overflowing with technology. The e-HS9 in flagship variant has dual electric motors outputting 160kw up front and 245kw at the rear. Total system output is 405kw, or a massive 543hp, mated with a combined 750 Newton-Meters of torque. The massive 99 kwh battery endows the eHS9 with a decent range of just over 440 kilometers per full charge but independent tests abroad have gone further.
For my driving style, 350-380km range seems doable. And despite weighing in at a colossal 2,705kg, the eHS9 accelerates to 100kmh from rest in under five seconds. That’s fast in anybody’s book. With seven driving modes available, you can tailor your driving style to your mood and preferences easily.
As befits its flagship status, the e-HS9 has a commanding 3-row, 2+2+2 seating layout with captain’s chairs in the middle row. The two front rows feature luxurious Nappa leather and Alcantara trim, complete with white piping and diamond stitching on the upper half of the seat backs.
A large panoramic glass roof gives amazing ambient lighting, but the multi-zone climate control keeps the cabin cool despite the intense summer heat the Philippines experienced this year. There are four large LCD screens dominating the dash for the main instrument cluster, the infotainment system, the climate controls and a separate screen for the front passenger so he or she can enjoy fiddling with the entertainment settings.
The e-HS9 comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so seamless integration with your mobile phone apps like Waze and Spotify are a breeze. And thankfully, it plays my favorite classical music (O Fortuna by Carmina Burata, Lacrimosa by Mozart and Antonio Vivaldi’s Summer and Winter from the Four Seasons among others) very clearly through the 12-speaker surround sound system.
Roomy and comfy inside, with excellent NVH isolation despite riding on massive 265/45R21 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Thanks to the adjustable air suspension, fitted as standard on the Flagship variant for the smooth and supple ride.
There are five levels of damping adjustment, and there’s even an off-road mode that allows you to do some light trails as you inspect your new property acquisition in the boonies. There’s a maximum 260mm ground clearance or around 10.2 inches at its raised ride height, but can drop down to a low 170mm or 6.7 inch height for easy entry and exit plus a more aerodynamic and dynamic stance on the highway.
The e-HS9 drives serenely and confidently on the highway, helped by its immense weight and size, keeping it planted on the road. Combined with the excellent NVH isolation, it’s easy to go well past the 100kmh speed limit on the highway because you feel so cocooned from the outside world.
Despite its size, braking is excellent, the regenerative braking no doubt being a significant factor to slowing down the eHS9 while recouping charge. Body control is excellent too given its heft and size; there’s noticeable roll but it feels predictable and smooth.
On humpy country roads, in its softest, most pliant suspension setting, you barely feel the bumps save the largest ones, as the e-HS9 glides over the road imperfections. You do get a tad nervous navigating it through tight inner roads in provincial municipalities but the cameras all-around make tight navigation a breeze; you just need to slow down and be mindful of your surroundings. As a weekend getaway car, it’s perfect!
As with any flagship vehicle, the eHS9 comes complete with safety equipment. Eight airbags are standard, as are ABS brakes, traction and stability control and a full ADAS suite such as lane keeping assist, collision warning, and crossroad reverse warning, among others.
Stately, opulent, and commanding. What more do you expect from a car company that makes cars for the head of one of the world’s most powerful and populous nations? It proudly carries the flagship status of the Hongqi brand in the Philippines.
