2027 Hongqi E-HS9: Luxury electric SUV to start below $150k, arriving in January

The Hongqi E-HS9 (or HQ E-HS9, as it's sometimes also branded in Australia) electric SUV will arrive in Australia from January 18 with a starting price below $150,000 before on-road costs.

With the E-HS9 measuring over 5.2m long, Max Pang, the Australian head of FAW, Hongqi's parent company, thinks the E-HS9 will entice buyers from established European luxury brands, as well as those considering large electric SUVs, like the Kia EV9.

For the Australian market, the E-HS9 will be available solely with the most powerful drivetrain and largest battery combination.

With two motors driving all four wheels, local E-HS9 models have a total system output of 405kW and 606Nm. Fed by a 120kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack from CATL, it has a WLTP driving range of 548km.

Weighing a hefty 2636kg, the E-HS9 is capable of completing the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds, and hitting a top speed of 200km/h.

The car uses a 400V electrical architecture, and supports AC charging up to 11kW, while DC fast charging maxes out at 140kW.

While full specifications have yet to be revealed, locally delivered versions of the E-HS9 will be equipped with matrix LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control, and a 16-speaker Bose sound system.

The dashboard is dominated by a large rectangular display area featuring two 15.6-inch 2K touchscreens. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, steering assist with lane centring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, speed sign recognition, and parking assist.

All Aussie models will feature six seats across three rows, with captain's chairs in the middle row. Seats in the first two rows will all feature electric adjustment, heating and ventilation.

The driver and front passenger seats include a massaging function, while the third row can be folded and raised electrically. All seats are upholstered in a mixture of leather and faux suede.

The E-HS9 will be available in three colours: Alpine White, Midnight Black, and Starry Lake Blue. Alpine White vehicles can be specified with a black roof.

The electric SUV measures 5209mm long, 2010mm wide, 1713mm tall, and has a 3110mm wheelbase. Boot space ranges between 255L with the third row up, and 1747L with the third row down and the middle row seats pushed all the way forward.

Final pricing has yet to be announced, but HQ says the E-HS9 will be priced below $150,000 before on-road costs.

The E-HS9 comes with a seven-year, 200,000km warranty, and a year of free charging at the dealership. There's also a 10-year, million-kilometre battery warranty for the car's first owner.

To sweeten the deal further, there's a cashback offer for vehicles ordered by January 18, 2027. The size of the cashback depends on the deposit.

A $20,000 deposit earns a $10,000 cashback, a $10,000 deposit is eligible for a $5000 cashback, and a $5000 deposit gets you a $1250 cashback. Those who put down a $2000 deposit will get an unspecified delivery gift.

MORE: Explore the HQ E-HS9 showroom