4 strong points that make the Hongqi H9 a premium car candidate

Even as sports utility vehicles (SUV) or crossovers have become the car to get for most buyers, sedans still have a place in the local market. Hongqi understands the aforementioned sentiment, so it brought in the H9 model last year. 

The H9, however, isn’t an ordinary ride. It commands a starting price of P5.15 million, which gives a clue as to what its adopters are getting into. 

So, the question now is: what can buyers expect from the Hongqi H9? Let’s find out. 

Exterior means business

As mentioned above, the H9 is classed as a sedan. But it isn’t just a mere four-door compact ride. In fact, it is a full-size model that rivals the road presence of many SUV models thanks to its 5,137-millimeter (mm) length and width of 1,904 mm. 

Per usual for four-door sedans, it gets a slick and low ride height of 1,493-mm. Its wheelbase, however, stretches up to 3,060-mm, which makes it slightly longer than the equally gargantuan Chrysler 300C. 

Adding to the H9’s commanding appearance is a square-shaped front fascia adorned with a large rectangular hood. The said part is also flanked by squinty LED headlamp clusters and is topped off by a subtly sculpted hood. 

From the side and rear, the Hongqi model bears a more elegant stance. It received a sloping roofline, which tapers down to its stately-looking rear end.

The rear, though, does get some visual impact thanks to its large LED taillights and LED bar. Plus, it was also kitted out with a dual-tip exhaust setup for a dash of sportiness. 

Other notable exterior features of the H9 include flush door handles, a panoramic tilting and sliding sunroof, automatic levels and on/off for the headlamps, heated and power-folding side mirrors, and plenty of sound-deadening acoustic glass. 

Premium comfort

Inside the H9 is a luxurious cabin filled to the brim with comfort-oriented features. Almost all surfaces inside, including the seats, are clad in soft leather, while the ones that are not were given silver-colored decorative finishing. 

All seats of the Hongqi sedan (Flagship variant) come with ventilation, electronic adjustability, and a massage function. A four-zone automatic climate control system likewise ensures freshness and coolness of the interior. 

Notably, the occupants of the rear seats get a dedicated control surface for most of the vehicle’s creature comforts. It even has a button that can automatically change the seat to a lying down position. 

Just like the usual upscale sedan models in the market right now, the H9 comes with a tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel, an ambient lighting system, electronic parking brakes, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a push-to-start button, among others. 

Dominating the vehicle’s dashboard, meanwhile, is a 12.3-inch infotainment display that’s seamlessly linked to a similarly-sized digital gauge cluster.

Sound, on the other hand, is outputted by a 12-piece Bose speaker system. More screens, specifically two 10.1-inch display units, are also available for the rear cabin. 

Brimming with safety tech

Apart from having an opulent interior, the H9 also gets a wide array of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS).

Its ADAS kit includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, a driver monitoring system, front collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. 

The said features are supported by a multiple number of airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree view camera, anti-lock braking, stability control, and traction control, among others. 

Beefy power

Under the hood of the full-size sedan is a 2.0-liter or 3.0-liter engine, depending on the trim. The 2.0-liter version can produce up to 241 horsepower (hp) and 380 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The larger mill, on the other hand, can produce 268 hp and 400 Nm of torque. 

To note, the larger engine for the top-spec Flagship variation is a V6 unit. Both trims, however, use a McPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Stopping power is provided by a four-wheel disc brake setup. 

Pricing

• H9 Deluxe 45TD: P5.15 million
• H9 Flagship 50TD: P8.08 million

Final thoughts

In summary, Hongqi shaped the H9 as a model suitable for ferrying around important executives, crucial guests, or any other high-level level, very important person (VIP). The aforementioned is made apparent with the sheer amount of creature comforts it received. 

Regardless of the H9 being a top-end luxury car, prospective buyers of the model should still give it a test drive. Doing so will result in a more informed purchase in the end, after all. 

Model	H9 45TD	H9 50TD
Exterior
Dimensions (mm)	5,137x1,904x1,493
Wheelbase (mm)	3,060
Wheel size	19-inches	20-inches
Lighting system	LED
Interior
Material	Nappa Leather	Nappa Leather
Amenities	Sunroof Acoustic glass Power-adjustable seating Heated and ventilated seating Front seat massage function 4-zone automatic climate control 10.1-inch rear entertainment displays Ambient lighting Keyless starting 12-piece Bose speaker set Heads-up display Wireless smartphone charger	Sunroof Acoustic glass Power-adjustable seating Heated and ventilated seating Front seat massage function Automatic lying position rear seat 4-zone automatic climate control 10.1-inch rear entertainment displays Ambient lighting Keyless starting 12-piece Bose speaker set Heads-up display Wireless smartphone charger
Instrument cluster	12.3-inch digital cluster
Infotainment system	12.3-inch touchscreen
Seating Capacity	5	4
Powertrain
Engine	2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4	3.0-liter turbocharged V6
Fuel type	Gasoline
Transmission	Seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox
Horsepower	241	268
Torque	380 Newton-meters	400 Newton-meters
Brakes	Front and rear discs
Technologies
ADAS	Automatic parking Front collision warning Automatic emergency braking Blind-spot detection Lane departure warning Driver monitoring Adaptive cruise control
Safety	8 airbags Anti-lock braking 360-degree view camera Front and rear parking sensors Event data recorder Traction control Stability control

 

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