Hongqi H5 2017 – premium sedan to the masses

The new Chinese premium sedan Hongqi H5 has expanded the FAW (First Automobile Plant) lineup in 2017-2018 for ordinary car enthusiasts from China. In our review of the Hongqi H5 – photos, price, equipment and specifications of a new sedan from China. Start of sales of new products in China, equipped with 178 hp petrol. with. The 1.8 turbo engine from the company, with 6 automatic transmission is scheduled for the 3rd quarter of 2017 at a price of 188900 yuan (1542 thousand conditional units).

Until recently, Hongqi's ‘premium' brand (literally translated as ‘red flag') was exclusively dedicated to the production of premium large sedan and limousines for Chinese executives at various levels. But everything in life changes. China's auto market is growing, with wealthy car enthusiasts buying foreign-made premium cars and luxury levels. This situation will not go unnoticed by the management of the state FAA. In the end, they decided to expand the line with the premium Hongqi brand and the free sale of a car with a red flag on the hood of ordinary Chinese citizens. Plans for the first auto work on the introduction of a new sedan is a very ambitious goal – by the end of 2018 to sell 200,000 copies of the new arrival!!!

For the first time, the H5 Hongqi sedan was officially shown to the public as part of the Shanghai Motor Show 2017. And now, two months after the premiere, the manufacturer announced the start of production of a new model, developed, by the way, on the platform of the Japanese Mazda 6 business class sedan. Interestingly, the Chinese specialists, creating their new sedan, quite seriously changed the appearance and interior of the Japanese donor.

In the end, the appearance of the Hongqi H5 turned out to be attractive, but, alas, it will not be organic and stylish, like the Mazda 6. You can even say that the huge radiator grille with a lot of vertical chrome slats, extra front and rear bumper, 18-inch wheels spoil picture.

To be honest, the headlights and taillights also do not shine with style against the backdrop of Japanese original optics. One joy – in the direction of the body, the Chinese sedan looks simply amazing if we do not have a sedan, but a sports four-door coupe. In the presence of a long hood, a perfect roof dome with a strong slope of the front and rear roof pillars, solid doors with a high sill and compact glass.

• The external dimensions of the body of the Hongqi H5 2017-2018 are 4935 mm long, 1840 mm wide and 1470 mm high, wheelbase 2870 mm.

The Chinese premium sedan is 65mm longer than its Japanese platform and the increase in body length is achieved mainly by increasing the 40mm axle spacing, and 25mm bumpers have been added.

• Standard car comes with 18″ alloy wheels with 225/55 R18 tires, larger 19″ alloy wheels with 225/45 ZR19 tires are optionally available.

Interestingly, the interior of the new Chinese premium sedan Hongqi H5 happened to be perhaps even more interesting than the Japanese Mazda 6 sedan. A TFT-screen on-board computer, a modern front panel architecture, topped by a separate 12.3-inch touch screen multimedia system and a center console with a touch panel, is responsible for controlling climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and other auxiliary functions.

The console smoothly parrots in the wide plane of the central tunnel, its main wear-resistant and durable attribute is a convenient automatic transmission control knob, around which there are a lot of buttons for electronic assistants and assistants: engine start / stop button, keys, electric parking brake and automatic hold system, keys respond for activating the auto attendant and surround view system.

In the presence of comfortable and comfortable seats for the driver and front passenger electric adjustment, welcoming second row with an enviable margin of legroom. There are high quality materials (genuine and artificial leather, aluminum, wood).

Salon-quality, stylish, comfortable, ergonomic, with a rich set of modern equipment – in short, the dream of a European car enthusiast, but not a Chinese buyer. Chinese luxury is a lot of gold, bright colors, large pieces of wood or even marble. It is interesting that the manufacturer is able to satisfy almost any wishes of the buyer and create in the salon to order.

Specifications Hongqi H5 2017-2018. The new Chinese premium sedan is based on the Mazda 6 platform. Thus, the Hongqi brand H5 sedan has a fully independent suspension with MacPherson struts front and rear multi-link, front-wheel drive, all-wheel disc brakes with ABC, EBD, BAS systems and stabilization system.
From the very beginning of sales the car is available for order with one gasoline turbocharged four-cylinder engine with stock FAW is 1.8 turbo (178 hp 250 Nm), the default transmission is 6-speed automatic.
Perhaps later, the new sedan will receive more powerful engines: a four-cylinder 2.0 Turbo and a tinted 3.0-liter V6.