Hongqi's E-HS9 electric SUV will go on sale in Australia from January 18, with a starting price below $150,000 before on-road costs, according to CarExpert. The large seven-seat SUV will be sold locally only in its most powerful form, pairing two motors and all-wheel drive with the biggest battery available.
Max Pang, Australian head of Hongqi parent company FAW, expects the E-HS9 to draw buyers away from established European luxury brands as well as from large electric SUVs such as the Kia EV9. At more than 5.2 metres long, the Hongqi is positioned as a flagship rather than a mainstream family hauler.
One drivetrain, one battery for Australia
Australian-delivered E-HS9s will produce a combined 405kW and 606Nm from two motors driving all four wheels. Energy comes from a 120kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery pack supplied by CATL, and Hongqi quotes a WLTP driving range of 548km for the variant.
The E-HS9 uses a 400V electrical architecture. AC charging is supported at up to 11kW, while DC fast charging peaks at 140kW. At 2636kg, the SUV is claimed to reach 100km/h from standstill in 5.5 seconds and to top out at 200km/h.
The WLTP figure is the cycle relevant to Australian buyers, and it should be read as a laboratory result rather than a real-world expectation. A 120kWh pack is large by any measure, but the 140kW DC ceiling is modest next to some newer large electric SUVs, so owners doing long distances should plan around longer charging stops than the class leaders demand.
Equipment list leans on the rear cabin
Hongqi has not published full specifications, but cars delivered locally will come with matrix LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, a panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control and a 16-speaker Bose sound system. The dashboard is built around two 15.6-inch 2K touchscreens, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mirroring supported.
Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, steering assist with lane centring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, speed sign recognition and parking assist.
All Australian cars will be six-seaters across three rows with captain's chairs in the middle row. The first two rows get electric adjustment, heating and ventilation, the front seats add a massage function, and the third row folds and raises electrically. Upholstery mixes leather and faux suede.
Buyers can choose from Alpine White, Midnight Black and Starry Lake Blue, with Alpine White available with a black roof. The E-HS9 measures 5209mm long, 2010mm wide and 1713mm tall on a 3110mm wheelbase. Boot space is quoted at 255L with the third row in use, rising to 1747L with that row folded and the middle row pushed fully forward.
The six-seat layout with powered, ventilated captain's chairs in row two is the detail that separates this from most large electric SUVs at the price. It points to chauffeur and family use rather than the seven-seat configuration many rivals offer, and buyers who need to carry seven will have to look elsewhere in the segment.
Pricing still to be finalised
The sub-$150,000 starting figure is a pre-on-road-costs number, and final pricing had not been confirmed at the time of the report. Hongqi has also yet to release the full specification list for Australian cars.
The E-HS9 lands in a growing field of large electric SUVs, and its pitch rests on size, cabin equipment and a low entry price relative to European luxury badges rather than on outright efficiency or rapid charging. Buyers comparing it with the Kia EV9 will be weighing that equipment list against a charging architecture that trails the newest rivals.
