Hongqi, a subsidiary of Chinese manufacturer FAW, is setting its sights on the top tier of the global automotive scene. With the Hongqi EHS7 electric SUV, the brand aims to challenge models like the Audi Q6 e-tron and Mercedes EQE SUV. Can the premium push pay off?
“Hongqi is determined to offer global customers a new level of luxury,” says Hongtao Liu, head of international operations, “and we will cooperate with fashion brands to achieve this.” China’s “Red Flag,” as Hongqi is known in English, wants to outshine Europe’s luxury heavyweights. Whether we’ll ever see a Hongqi model with Louis Vuitton-inspired interiors remains to be seen. But their ambitions are crystal clear.
First Impressions: A Bold Palette
At first glance, the EHS7’s design doesn’t immediately dazzle. It’s a familiar pattern: split-level headlamps, a continuous LED bar at the rear, and a classic SUV profile that, while handsome, may not turn every head. But Hongqi knows how to steal the show.
Take our test car’s paint job: a vibrant shade of hyacinth purple that demands attention. If that’s too much for your tastes, no problem – Hongqi offers tamer colors. After all, not everyone wants to stand out in neon hues when German customers still prefer the restrained elegance of silver, gray, or black.
Luxury Inside and Bold Colors Everywhere
Step inside the Hongqi EHS7 and things calm down, at least a bit. The cabin pairs light leather with a subtle lavender undertone that might raise some eyebrows among traditionalists. But tastes differ, and Hongqi’s clientele might appreciate such daring contrasts. A full LED ambient lighting system with up to 256 colors sets the mood, while the materials – soft-touch plastics, leather, and solid build quality – meet the brand’s lofty standards. Features like massaging front seats, a panoramic roof, and a household power outlet (Vehicle-to-Load/V2L) support both comfort and utility. Need a trailer hitch? That’s available too, enabling the EHS7 to pull up to 1,500 kilograms – and there’s even a dedicated towing mode.
Like the EH7 sedan, the EHS7 uses Hongqi’s Tiangong platform. Inside, you’ll find an unusual but functional infotainment layout: a 15.5-inch central touchscreen and a 6-inch instrument display, flanked by haptic touch surfaces for lights and other controls. Our test unit also had a head-up display, with augmented reality features slated to arrive via a future software update. For now, it only shows speed and remaining range – an underuse of AR potential. Still, the large projection field (63 inches, claims Hongqi) hints at capabilities yet to come.
Touch Controls and Tech Gadgets
Physical buttons are scarce, replaced by haptic pads that, while modern, quickly show fingerprints. We’d appreciate a knob or two, especially for audio volume. On the plus side, there’s a wireless phone charger beneath the center screen – capable of delivering a whopping 40 watts.
To avoid overheating your phone, the area is even cooled. Smartphone integration is smooth, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available. The touchscreen’s interface, with a left-side shortcut bar and a main menu on the right, is easy to navigate.
Performance and Range of the Hongqi EHS7
The EHS7 comes with two battery sizes: 85 kWh or 111 kWh, each in rear- or all-wheel-drive configurations. The entry-level rear-drive model offers 344 PS and 450 Nm, while the top version tested here – the EHS7 4WD Pro – boasts a combined 619 PS and 756 Nm of torque, thanks to a second motor on the front axle.
Despite a hefty curb weight over two metric tons, Hongqi claims a 0–100 km/h sprint in a brisk 3.9 seconds for the AWD Pro and around 540 km of range. The rear-wheel-drive model with the larger battery nudges that up by another 60 km. An 800-volt architecture supports DC fast charging at up to 250 kW, filling 10–80% in about 25 minutes. That’s decent but not best-in-class, given rivals like Audi and Porsche offer even faster rates.
Smooth Ride, Quiet Cabin
Adaptive dampers and a typical Chinese comfort-oriented suspension strike a balance between softness and composure. With seven driving modes – Economy, Comfort, Sport, Urban, Cross Country, Snow, and Custom – drivers can fine-tune their experience. In Sport mode, the Hongqi EHS7 unleashes its full punch, while in tougher off-road or snowy conditions, additional grip and control modes come into play. Steering and braking feel a bit synthetic, but it’s early days, and software updates might refine the experience.
Hongqi’s pricing for Europe isn’t final yet, but in France, the base model starts at 53,990 euros and the top trim at 68,990 euros. Add the EH7 sedan and future models, and Hongqi’s offensive is far from over. Liu promises more than ten new Hongqi models in the next five years, each aiming to shake up Europe’s premium EV sector. They’re playing for keeps, and with the EHS7, the first shots have been fired.
