Hongqi cars are a common car brand in China, and state leaders often choose a Hongqi sedan for travel. Recently, a friend was interested in a Hongqi H7 and asked me to accompany him to the store for a test drive. So, let's review this car.
Space: The car's dimensions are 5095/1875/1485mm with a wheelbase of 2970mm. At a height of 175cm, when I sit in the driver's seat, there's a fist's distance above my head and a fist and a half of space for my legs. When seated in the back, there's a fist's distance above the head and more than three fists of legroom, making it easy to cross legs comfortably. The rear seat legroom is indeed very comfortable, allowing for a very relaxed sitting posture. The trunk space can fit three 24-inch suitcases with some room to spare, which meets daily needs, although it may be a bit tight for long-distance self-driving trips.
Performance: The Hongqi H7 is equipped with a 1.8T engine that provides a maximum power of 188 horsepower and maximum torque of 260N.m, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During the test drive, the power experience was average, with mid-range acceleration being somewhat weak. The engine's power output is good, the acceleration feels good, and overall, the acceleration feels quite impressive. The gear shifting is frequent, with smooth up and down shifts, though there are mild jolts. Starting with gas is normal and not slow. There's no need to operate via the touchscreen, which is particularly convenient. The handling is average, not very smooth, with obvious insufficient steering response. The chassis is particularly solid, without any floaty feeling. The electronic throttle is moderate in strength, and braking is relatively stable.
In terms of drawbacks, the first issue noticed during the test drive is that the idling noise is a bit loud. There's shaking at idle, especially noticeable when starting a cold car, though not felt while driving. Also, music playback sometimes stutters, and the navigation version is outdated. Fuel consumption is slightly high, but it is acceptable on the highway. Maintenance in the future is somewhat troublesome, with few service centers available.
Purchase costs: The list price of the car we test-drove is 252,800 yuan, with a bare car price of 252,800 yuan. The purchase tax is approximately 22,372 yuan, commercial insurance is about 8,026 yuan, registration costs are 500 yuan, vehicle and vessel tax is 480 yuan, and mandatory liability insurance is 950 yuan, making the final on-road price about 285,128 yuan.
Summary: In conclusion, the Hongqi H7 offers excellent space performance, with decent power performance, making it a very good choice for household commuting or business discussions.
