Yesterday afternoon, a friend messaged me privately after learning about Li Auto's new "trade-in plan," considering trading in their old Ford Focus for the Li Auto ONE. Since he had already taken a test drive, he wanted to know my honest thoughts as one of the first owners of the Li Auto ONE (I was the 260th owner in the country). Actually, I had already shared my thoughts in two videos after my Li Auto ONE reached 10.000 and 20.000 kilometers, respectively. But today, I'll add some more insights based on my experience driving the Li Auto ONE for over a year:
Many owners describe the Li Auto ONE as a "mobile home," as it becomes an essential part of family life, used by all members for various trips. My situation is a bit different: without children, I don't see the Li Auto ONE as a "dad's car"—most of the time, it's just me and my spouse in the car. However, I have to admit, even though we have a smaller second car at home, I always feel that, if possible, bigger is better when it comes to cars.
I remember during last year's post-pandemic recovery, I was driving over 100 kilometers a day to pick up and drop off my spouse at work. Such a long commute in a small electric car, stuck in traffic, can be mentally and physically exhausting. But switching to the Li Auto ONE made all the difference. This car has powerful acceleration, spacious seating, and a larger body with a broader view, so even in heavy traffic, it never feels cramped. I have to say, the Li Auto ONE greatly alleviated the fatigue that comes with long drives.
In fact, the spacious and comfortable cabin not only keeps me, the driver, in a good mood but also provides a pleasant experience for passengers:
This gray Li Auto ONE in our family often takes on the responsibility of transporting our elderly parents (my parents and in-laws). They were never too fond of my previous sedan, finding it difficult to get in and out (especially since it's hard for the elderly to rise from low seats). But after switching to the taller, wider Li Auto ONE, they’ve all become more willing to travel by car and even praised the second-row electric seats for their comfort! Of course, the original factory-installed running boards I added to the Li Auto ONE help as well.
Speaking of which, I was surprised to find that my parents also enjoy using the voice control in the Li Auto ONE. They often ask "Li Auto Assistant" about the weather or play a song while sitting in the back. Since there are dedicated microphones for each of the first four seats, it accurately recognizes each person's voice commands, no wonder my parents are so fond of it! (laughs)
Of course, the Li Auto ONE has also become the daily transport vehicle for my company: the six seats are perfect for taking the photographer and models between the studio and outdoor shooting locations. The spacious second row can even serve as a temporary changing room for models when needed (just cover the side windows with sunshades). When we have live broadcasts, I can fold down the third-row seats to load equipment like a director's station, monitors, tripods, light stands, and even the director's chair, all in one trip without needing to call a separate cargo vehicle, which saves a lot of time and increases work efficiency! Additionally, when I'm out alone or waiting for family to get in the car, I like to open the Li Auto ONE’s panoramic sunroof, activate the "nap mode," recline the seat, and take a short nap to the sound of soothing music—a luxury unimaginable in the era of fuel cars due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some might ask if a large SUV like the Li Auto ONE might be difficult for female drivers to handle. Initially, my wife was also concerned about managing such a big car, but she quickly changed her mind:
First, the Li Auto ONE, driven by pure electric power, feels light and responsive, with power that is easy to control—completely different from the expected "heaviness" or sluggishness. Secondly, although the car is large, the standard 360° view and the newly added "wheel hub mode" in the recent OTA update make parking effortless. In particular, she can now easily parallel park, a skill she wasn’t very confident in before, by precisely controlling the distance between the car and the curb, making the whole process feel "like a breeze." Lastly, she mentioned that driving the larger Li Auto ONE on highways with heavy traffic and fast speeds (which she encounters daily) gives her a greater sense of security!
My friend also asked about the Li Auto ONE’s smart driving assistance system, wondering if it’s reliable since its hardware isn't as advanced as that of some other models.
So far, I’ve driven my Li Auto ONE for 21.000 kilometers, with 6.800 of those using the driving assistance system. That means our Li Auto ONE has been in assisted driving mode for almost a third of the time! Admittedly, the driving assistance hardware in the Li Auto ONE isn't the most advanced, as it follows the "just enough" principle, but it has truly achieved Level 2 driving assistance—this has been validated by many professional automotive reviews.
In practice, the Li Auto ONE's lane keeping, adaptive cruise control (ACC), and automatic braking functions are impressively "steady" during everyday driving. Even in complex and congested traffic, it maintains a safe distance from the car ahead and smoothly adjusts speed. Whenever I drive on various expressways in Shanghai (like the Middle Ring Road, Outer Ring Road, and Hongmei South Road), I always activate the Li Auto ONE's driving assistance. After hearing the familiar "ding," the car smoothly travels in the center of the lane at my set speed.
According to my wife, the Li Auto ONE’s lane-keeping is better than mine: for instance, when driving in the leftmost lane next to the central divider on the North-South Elevated Road, the car tends to veer right towards the lane line. But with the driving assistance activated, the car stays firmly in the center of the lane, not pressuring vehicles in the adjacent lane—making assisted driving safer than manual driving!
Therefore, my assessment of the Li Auto ONE’s driving assistance is this: you don’t need to fully trust it, but there’s no need to doubt it either. As long as you follow safety guidelines (always keeping your hands on the wheel), using the Li Auto ONE's driving assistance can significantly reduce driving fatigue. I mentioned in my video that in the past, I had to rest after driving less than 200 kilometers to relieve fatigue, but with the Li Auto ONE's driving assistance, I can drive 300-400 kilometers without feeling tired. When I return from Hongqiao Airport late at night, the Li Auto ONE helps me wrap up my journey half an hour earlier, so I can return home feeling refreshed.
In conclusion, I fully support my friend’s idea of trading in his Focus for the Li Auto ONE! As I’ve often advised him, "If possible, a bigger car is better." Moving from the Focus to the Li Auto ONE, he'll enjoy a more comfortable and spacious vehicle, stronger and more direct power, and a smarter and more relaxed driving experience. In fact, I heard that after his test drive, he’s already been thinking about the Li Auto ONE—he just needs a little push to finalize the decision! (laughs)
Lastly, I want to share some thoughts on my expectations for the next generation of the Li Auto ONE:
Many people talk about the three-cylinder range extender and hope it will be replaced with a four-cylinder model in the future. Since I primarily drive in electric mode, I rarely use the range extender, so this isn’t a major concern for me. While it would be great if Li Auto could offer a more advanced range extender in future models, it’s not a dealbreaker for me. On the contrary, if the next generation of the Li Auto ONE comes with a larger battery pack with longer range, that would be more to my liking. Additionally, I expect the next Li Auto model to further improve its driving assistance hardware, possibly with more millimeter-wave radars and new lidar systems. I don’t expect it to achieve full Level 4 or Level 5 autonomous driving right away, but maybe Level 3 hands-free driving? Moreover, a more powerful sound system, an always-on yet energy-saving "sentry mode," and even softer and more comfortable seats are all features I’d love to see in the next Li Auto vehicle.
What? You say range extender/hybrid new energy vehicles won’t qualify for Shanghai's green license plates in 2023? Well, honestly, as long as Li Auto’s next vehicle (rumored to be a full-size range extender SUV) meets the criteria I mentioned above, I’d be more than willing to use my family’s blue license plate (for fuel vehicles) to buy it! I’m making this statement here as a commitment!
