[Car Media | Test Drive] Will the six-seat version of the Li L9 be the car choice for new-generation families? Today, as the wave of new energy and intelligentization sweeps across the automotive industry, the Li L9, as a flagship SUV focused on family scenarios, continues to maintain market popularity with its "refrigerator, color TV, large sofa" label and precise positioning. Recently, the author conducted an in-depth test drive of this model, experiencing it one by one from design, space, intelligence to power, attempting to analyze the product logic behind its hot sales and discuss whether it can truly become the "ultimate choice" for family users.
At first glance, the Li L9's design language focuses on minimalism and a sense of the future. The front face adopts a closed grille and a through-type star ring LED light strip, paired with split-type headlights, which not only reduces the drag coefficient (the drag coefficient is only 0.27Cd) but also enhances recognizability. The body side lines are smooth, and the hidden door handles and blackened window trim further strengthen the technological feel, while the through-type taillight at the rear echoes the front face, forming a coordinated overall visual language. Although some users consider the design lacking in breakthrough, the originality of the L9 is still worthy of recognition - its integrated star ring headlights and fully electric front face design have already inspired many automakers to imitate.
Entering the interior, the Li L9's cabin design can be called a "textbook for family scenarios." The wraparound center console is paired with large areas of soft materials and Nappa leather wrapping, offering a delicate touch. The front-row 15.7-inch OLED dual screens (central control + front passenger entertainment screen) and the rear-row 15.7-inch ceiling-mounted screen form a "three-screen linkage," and with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip, the operation smoothness is close to that of a flagship smartphone. The innovative layout of the front passenger screen solves the hidden danger of airbag deployment and has become an industry benchmark design.
After coming into contact with this car, the summarized highlights are as follows:
Refrigerator: A compressor refrigerator is standard under the center console, supporting both cooling and heating modes, and can hold 10 bottles of beverages;
Seat functions: All 6 seats in the vehicle are equipped with heating/ventilation/massage functions, and the second-row "queen seat" has an electric leg rest;
Voice interaction: The voice assistant "Li Xiang Tong Xue" supports four-zone recognition, with excellent response speed and accuracy.
However, some users report that the interior smell of the new car is relatively strong and requires prolonged ventilation to alleviate.
The Li L9 has body dimensions of 5218×1998×1800mm, a wheelbase of 3105mm, and adopts a 2+2+2 six-seat layout. In actual testing, the second-row seats support electric adjustment and fore-aft sliding, with ample legroom; although the third-row seats are slightly compact, adults can ride short distances without pressure. All seats in the vehicle are softly padded, and with "Maybach-style headrests," long-distance ride comfort is comparable to that of an MPV.
Of course, this car also has some shortcomings. For example, when fully loaded with 6 people, the trunk volume is only 332L, so large luggage needs to be planned reasonably; the air suspension shows obvious body roll in corners under comfort mode, and it is recommended to switch to sport mode to improve support.
The Li L9 is equipped with a 1.5T four-cylinder range extender + dual-motor system, with a combined power of 330kW and a 0-100 km/h acceleration of 5.3 seconds. In actual driving, the power output is linear and smooth, and noise control when the range extender intervenes is better than that of the previous generation. Under CLTC conditions, the pure electric range is 280km, and the combined range reaches 1412km. With 30-minute fast charging (30%-80% battery), range anxiety is completely eliminated.
The chassis adopts magic carpet air suspension, supporting height/softness adjustment. In sport mode, road bumps are filtered crisply; comfort mode focuses more on shock absorption, but continuous undulating sections easily produce a "boat-like feel," so it is recommended to adjust flexibly according to road conditions.
The L9 is equipped with dual NVIDIA Orin-X chips + a 128-line lidar, supporting L2+ functions such as map-free urban NOA and automatic parking. During the test drive, lane keeping and adaptive cruise performed stably, but the system reacted somewhat hesitantly when occasionally encountering construction barriers. Recently exposed intelligent driving accidents (such as failure to recognize a truck ahead) remind users: assisted driving still requires maintaining focus and should not be overly relied upon. Compared with the Huawei ADS 3.0 system in the AITO M9, the L9 is slightly inferior in perception accuracy and handling of irregular obstacles, but it is still at the industry's first-tier level.
The Li L9 enters the 500,000-yuan-class market with a starting price of 459,800 yuan, precisely targeting the need for "family travel." Compared with the AITO M9 (starting at 469,800 yuan), its advantages lie in original design, a lower threshold, and optimization for family scenarios; while the AITO attracts users pursuing a sense of technology through Huawei intelligent driving and brand premium. In addition, the "dad car" niche track pioneered by the L9 successfully combines range-extended technology with a six-seat layout, becoming an object of imitation for latecomers.
Editor's comment: The Li L9 is not perfect - issues such as the need for cautious use of intelligent driving, limited trunk space, and luxury details still to be improved objectively exist. But with family needs as the core, through the ultimate experience of "refrigerator, color TV, large sofa," it has successfully created differentiated competitiveness. For large families, it may currently be the all-around SUV in the 500,000-yuan-class market that best understands family travel. If pursuing cost-effectiveness and practicality, the L9 is worth prioritizing; if valuing intelligent driving and brand premium more, then competitors such as the AITO M9 can be considered.
**One-sentence recommendation**: If you need a car that can carry the happiness of the whole family, the Li L9 may be the answer.
