Despite the year-end price war bringing the prices of mid-sized sedans from joint venture brands down to the 150.000-180.000 RMB range, a closer look reveals that their power, energy consumption, and configurations always seem lacking. They rarely meet expectations, especially in terms of smart cockpit and intelligent driving experience. Given the money spent, why not go all out? Why not buy a larger sedan that offers more comfort, better power, lower energy consumption, and more advanced intelligent features? There is indeed a new energy sedan from a Chinese brand that fits this description—it's the Changan Qiyuan A07 extended range version that I am currently driving.
I've had the car for about a month now, and after spending so much time with it, my review boils down to two words—comfort. This applies not just to its space and configurations but also to its range and driving experience.
Riding Comfort: Large Sedan Space with Class-Exclusive SPA Massage
The Changan Qiyuan A07 is a large sedan with dimensions of 4905/1910/1480mm and a wheelbase of 2900mm, which is 60-70mm longer than the wheelbases of joint venture mid-sized sedans like the Passat, Accord, and Camry. This gives the Changan Qiyuan A07 a majestic appearance and a very expansive side view. Additionally, the entire series uses frameless doors, and the Max version I bought also has electric suction doors, combining fashion and a sense of premium quality.
The large size also translates to ample seating space. I'm 180cm tall, and with the driver's seat adjusted to a comfortable position, there's still a three-fist gap for my legs in the second row, providing plenty of room. Whether crossing my legs or reclining slightly, it's very comfortable.
The seat comfort deserves special mention. The Changan Qiyuan A07 is equipped with first-class comfortable seats that use three layers of cushioning material, providing a soft touch and very comfortable sitting experience. As someone who drives often, I especially appreciate the front seats, which have large 3D side wings for strong support, holding you firmly even when driving fast. Additionally, from the Pro version onwards, the front seats come with ventilation and heating functions.
The Max version I bought also has a luxurious first-class SPA massage function, with an 8-point pneumatic massage system offering five massage modes. This level of specification is unimaginable in joint venture mid-sized sedans. Even among new energy sedans of the same class and price, the Changan Qiyuan A07 is the only one with an SPA seat massage function.
A simple command, "Xiao An, I'd like to rest," will recline the front seat automatically, activating the SPA massage, air purification, and music. Accompanied by soothing music and a faint fragrance in the car, one quickly feels relaxed. Every time I'm tired after work or a long drive, I lie down in the car for a while, and it feels very comfortable.
Visual and Audio Comfort: A Mobile Concert Hall with Theater-Grade Audio-Visual Enjoyment
Young people today love listening to music, watching shows, and browsing videos in the car, and the Changan Qiyuan A07's intelligent cockpit really pleases me.
The "Emotion Island" interior design is clean and fresh, with light-colored interiors adding a touch of sophistication. The 15.4-inch 2.5K high-definition central control screen has ultra-narrow bezels and a floating design, providing clear and delicate display for navigation, videos, and games. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8155 chip, the car's system runs smoothly and voice responses are quick, with a wide range of built-in app functionalities.
What I use the most and am most satisfied with is the sound system, which is definitely top-notch at the 180.000 RMB level. The car has 16 high-quality speakers with a total output of 720W, comparable to the Burmester sound system in Mercedes and the Harman Kardon in BMW. The sound system uses active three-way technology, with high, mid, and low frequencies played through independent channels and speakers, delivering a more detailed and layered audio experience. Additionally, the front seats are equipped with two overhead speakers, achieving 5.1.2 surround sound effects, ensuring an immersive listening experience for every seat in the car.
The front seats also feature intelligent headrest speakers, which are definitely high-end configurations. This allows for customizable switching between headrest speakers and the car's main speakers. For example, during a road trip, I can use navigation while my wife listens to music or watches shows, and our child sleeps without disturbance. Comfort during travel lies in these small details.
Driving Comfort: Electric Car Quality with Executive-Level Chassis Tuning
The Changan Qiyuan A07 extended range version is equipped with a 1.5L high compression ratio Atkinson cycle range extender. The engine is directly connected to the generator, solely for generating electricity and not for driving. Power comes from a high-performance intelligent electric drive system, with a maximum power of 190kW and a peak torque of 320Nm, achieving a 95% electric drive efficiency. Thus, driving this car feels like a purely electric experience, with smooth power output and a very quiet cabin, almost eliminating the presence of the range extender.
If you're worried about reduced power due to low battery, there's no need. Its intelligent energy management system can control the range extender's operation based on real-time road conditions, ensuring the battery is always in optimal state. The range extender starts working when the battery drops below 30%, charging the battery.
The Changan Qiyuan A07 offers seven driving modes, including electric priority, hybrid, and fuel priority modes, as well as four manual modes: economy, normal, sport, and custom. The first three modes are generally sufficient, but if you want to showcase your driving style, the latter four modes can be freely adjusted.
With a rear motor layout and rear-wheel drive, the Changan Qiyuan A07 provides the fun of a rear-wheel-drive car. Additionally, it has a 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, ensuring stability during sudden acceleration, deceleration, and cornering. The car's chassis quality is comparable to that of an executive sedan, focusing on comfort. It smoothly absorbs major impacts and effortlessly handles minor bumps.
Recently, I drove to the countryside, mostly on muddy roads. I was worried about not making it through, but the Changan Qiyuan A07 handled it smoothly. The chassis' ability to absorb shocks is truly impressive. Moreover, the Hankook tires are quite durable. Initially, I didn't notice much, but after that trip, I believe they are customized tires.
Range Comfort: Weekly Charging for Short Trips, 1200km with Full Charge and Tank
Range and recharging are key for new energy vehicles, which is also why I recommend the Changan Qiyuan A07 extended range version. If you have to charge every two days, how comfortable is that? Especially if you don't have a home charging station, coming home exhausted, who wants to go out and charge?
The Changan Qiyuan A07 extended range version offers a pure electric range of 200km for the entire series. For daily commuting, assuming 30km per day, you can charge it once a week. The extra nearly 100km of range is a very practical comfort in my opinion.
Driving the Changan Qiyuan A07 extended range version on long trips is definitely more economical than a fuel car and more reassuring than a pure electric car. It comes with a 28.4 kWh battery pack and a 45L fuel tank, offering a maximum range of 1200km with a full charge and tank. The car's energy efficiency is truly impressive, with a fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km when the battery is low, which can be even lower with steady driving. Additionally, the car's regenerative braking efficiency is quite high. On slightly longer downhill slopes, the battery level rises significantly, often pleasantly surprising me.
In Conclusion
From any perspective, the Changan Qiyuan A07 is definitely a value-for-money choice. For 150.000 RMB, you get an all-round comfortable new energy sedan, perfect for family use.
Currently, Changan Qiyuan A07 offers car purchase benefits. Buying the Changan Qiyuan A07 before December 31st grants you 1.999 RMB off a 10.000 RMB purchase and an additional 6.000 RMB cash subsidy. Including the 14.000 RMB discount, the entry-level extended range 200Air drops to 141.900 RMB, the extended range 200Pro to 150.900 RMB, and the top-end extended range 200Max version I bought is under 170.000 RMB. So, the conclusion is "For a 150.000 RMB budget, go for the Changan Qiyuan A07."
