If you pay attention to the new energy vehicle market, you will notice that pure electric products no longer enjoy the booming glory they once had in today's market. Although brands still insist on vigorously developing pure electric products, the market's increasingly strong demand for hybrid models has suddenly made extended-range and plug-in hybrid products highly sought after. Just like the Hongqi HS3 PHEV I test drove today, it is the latest plug-in hybrid model in the Hongqi HS3 series.
This is a compact SUV, and Hongqi intends to use it to win over more young customers interested in new energy products. It has an exterior design that combines the traditional philosophy of the Hongqi brand with the characteristics of modern hybrid models. The vertical waterfall-style grille and the flying-wing-shaped red brand logo trim are all very distinctive. Among the many Hongqi brand products that have always given people a sense of steadiness and grandeur, the Hongqi HS3 PHEV can definitely be considered one with considerable individuality.
The body dimensions of the Hongqi HS3 PHEV are not exaggerated, but its 2770mm wheelbase still opens up quite a spacious interior. Pull open the door and you see large areas wrapped in soft materials. Sitting inside, the front one-piece seats are not only highly attractive in style, but also offer a very good sense of support. On the vehicle configuration list, you can also see equipment such as a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and a BOSE sound system. These are clever means of catering to young customers.
The continuous development of new energy technology has not only provided people with more types of power forms, but also brought earth-shaking changes to vehicles in terms of intelligent technology. From mechanical performance to ride comfort, from human-machine interaction to intelligent assisted driving, today's car owners can already gain an increasingly rich ownership experience from new energy models. On the Hongqi HS3 PHEV, I saw an L2-level intelligent driving assistance system, which includes ACC adaptive cruise, LDW lane departure warning, FCW forward collision warning, and many other functions. Together with safety assistance functions such as automatic parking and a 360-degree panoramic camera, even a new driver who has just left driving school does not need to worry excessively about their inexperienced driving skills.
The focus of the smart cockpit system is concentrated on the human-machine interaction interface composed of a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel and a 12.6-inch touch central control screen, which is clear in display and easy to use. The continuous voice interaction function can control almost everything visible in the car, for example, voice control of the windows, sunroof, navigation, and so on. A particularly thoughtful design is the wireless phone charging pad in the central control area, with dual charging positions of 40W on the left and 15W on the right. Of course, these rich configurations also make this compact plug-in hybrid SUV, priced at 159,800 yuan (with an early adopter price of only 139,800 yuan), even more cost-effective.
The vehicle's power comes from a combination of a 1.5T engine and a permanent magnet synchronous drive motor. The former provides a maximum power of 124kW and a maximum torque of 258Nm, while the latter can output a maximum power of 140kW and 280Nm of torque. An 18.4kWh battery pack and a 55L fuel tank can jointly provide a range of 1100km when fully charged and fully fueled, and the vehicle's WLTC combined fuel consumption is only 1.3L/100km. If you can find a convenient charging spot near your home, you can also fully use this plug-in hybrid SUV's pure electric range of up to 115km (CLTC standard), achieving super money-saving daily commuting.
The likable driving and riding experience comes from driving smoothness and cabin quietness similar to that of a pure electric vehicle. The use of a large number of aluminum alloy parts in the subframe and suspension system, with the suspension setup being front MacPherson and rear multi-link, also gives this SUV, with a curb weight of nearly 2 tons, excellent high-speed driving stability, as well as unexpectedly clear road feedback and a driving experience more inclined toward a sporty style. As expected, it is once again a product setup aimed at young customers.
With youthful design, sporty chassis tuning, an intelligent car experience, and an all-new plug-in hybrid powertrain, Hongqi intends to use the HS3 PHEV to expand more market space for itself. To this end, Hongqi has even launched a number of strongly attractive promotional policies - for example, giving away a home charging pile, providing the first owner with lifetime free warranty including the three electric systems and four years or 100,000 kilometers of free maintenance, or offering an ultra-low down payment financing purchase plan. I wonder whether you well-informed young consumers will be tempted by this?
