LiXiang L9 Test Drive: Luxury Hybrid SUV vs. German Rivals

LiXiang L9 Overview & Market Position

• 💡 The LiXiang L9 is presented as a large, premium Chinese SUV, measuring 5.2 meters long and 2 meters wide.
• 🎯 It directly competes with luxury German SUVs like the BMW X7, Mercedes GLS, and Audi Q7, often being larger than them.
• 💰 A significant advantage is its lower price point, costing around 8 million compared to 14 million for a new BMW X7, offering a strong price-to-quality ratio.

Advanced Technology & Interior Comfort

• ⚡ The L9 features advanced technology, including multiple cameras (three front, three rear) and a roof-mounted lidar system for comprehensive road scanning.
• 🛋️ The interior boasts captain's seats in the second row, a soft and comfortable S-Class-like headrest, a foldable table, and a refrigerator with cooling and heating functions.
• 📺 It includes a multi-screen entertainment system with three large displays (driver, front passenger, rear passenger), and the rear screen can access the internet and play YouTube.

Driving Dynamics & Performance

• 🕹️ The steering and pedals are described as feeling artificial or "toy-like," with the steering always remaining soft and lacking resistance.
• ⚠️ At speeds around 120-130 km/h, the car exhibits instability, shaking and vibrating, feeling "wobbly like a ship," and is not suited for sharp turns or aggressive driving.
• 📉 While the air suspension automatically lowers at high speeds for stability, it is primarily designed for smoothness and struggles with high-speed maneuvers, sometimes feeling "not fully tuned."

Practical Features & Noted Issues

• ✅ Useful features include real-time animation of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, a built-in internet connection, and a turn signal-activated camera view projected onto the display.
• 🥶 The L9 faces cold weather challenges, such as door handles freezing and not fully retracting, and retractable running boards that get dirty and can soil clothes; it also lacks a heated windshield.
• 🔋 The vehicle offers electric, gasoline, and hybrid driving modes, with the gasoline mode capable of charging the battery up to 80% through regenerative braking.

Overall Value & Use Case

• 💲 The L9 offers excellent value for money due to its luxurious features and comfort at a significantly lower price than its German counterparts.
• 🛣️ It is best suited for comfortable, relaxed driving at moderate speeds, particularly in urban environments or for long, unhurried journeys, rather than high-speed performance.
• 🏠 The reviewer suggests it is an ideal second car, especially for winter conditions, providing warmth, comfort, and advanced features, despite some minor glitches and performance limitations at speed.