Hongqi E-QM5 2025 610KM PLUS Vehicle Profile: 610km Range, 72kWh Battery, 2990mm Wheelbase

1. Verdict: Three Highlights and Three Caveats

Highlights

• Highlight 1 — 610km of range on a 72kWh battery sets the benchmark in this group. CLTC electric range is 610km from a 72kWh pack, ahead of the Toyota bZ3's 616km (65.3kWh), the Ora Lightning Cat's 555km (63.87kWh) and the Roewe D7 EV's 510km. At 12.6kWh/100km, consumption is also among the lowest here.
• Highlight 2 — A 2,990mm wheelbase delivers class-transcending rear space. At 5,040mm long with a 2,990mm wheelbase, both the longest in the group, rear legroom is distinctly a class above at this price. The dimensions already reach upper-mid-size territory, and the car is nearly 170mm longer than the Ora Lightning Cat.
• Highlight 3 — A double advantage on price and servicing. The guide price is CNY 201,800, and the estimated 60,000km servicing cost is just CNY 380, the lowest here (against CNY 3,026 for the bZ3 and CNY 714 for the Roewe D7 EV). Fewer service items and low energy costs are this car's core competitive strengths.

Caveats

• Caveat 1 — The weakest powertrain in the group. The motor produces 110kW (150PS) and 205N·m, clearly below the bZ3's 180kW (244PS), the Lightning Cat's 150kW (204PS) and the Roewe D7 EV's 145kW (197PS). Top speed is limited to 130km/h — the only car here capped at that figure.
• Caveat 2 — Driver assistance and active safety equipment is comparatively thin. From the configuration screenshots, blind spot assist, lane keeping and rear cross traffic alert are not explicitly marked on this trim, a gap against the standard fitment on the Ora Lightning Cat and Roewe D7 EV. The actual equipment list should be verified before purchase.
• Caveat 3 — Charging is quick but the charging window is narrow. A fast charge takes 32 minutes over 20-80%, where rivals mostly quote 30-80%. In practice that means less charge is added per session, so the real-world replenishment rate is not as strong as the headline time suggests.

2. Model Overview

• Background. The Hongqi E-QM5 is a mid-size battery electric sedan from Hongqi, first launched in 2021 and long one of the brand's biggest volume sellers. It targets both ride-hailing fleets and private buyers, built around a strategy of generous space, long range and strong value.
• 2025 model. Launched in May 2025 in four trims with guide prices from CNY 121,800 to CNY 201,800. The 610KM PLUS reviewed here is the long-range, high-spec version, using a 72kWh CATL (Sichuan Times) LFP pack with 610km of CLTC range.
• Body. A four-door five-seat three-box design measuring 5,040×1,910×1,569mm with a 2,990mm wheelbase. At 1,910mm wide it is the widest here, 75mm wider than the bZ3 at 1,835mm, giving it a clear edge in lateral space.
• Interior update. For 2025 the front end was refreshed, and the interior uses a dark grey and cocoa brown two-tone scheme with brushed silver trim on the dash and doors. The biggest change is the deletion of the conventional gear lever in favour of an electronic column shifter, freeing the centre console for twin cupholders — a marked practical improvement.
• Powertrain. A front-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous single motor producing 110kW (150PS) and 205N·m, driving the front wheels through a single-speed reduction gear. The chassis pairs MacPherson struts at the front with a multi-link rear, tuned for comfort.
• Market logic. The E-QM5 has long accounted for nearly a fifth of Hongqi's total sales, with a substantial share going to ride-hailing operators. That cuts both ways: it validates the car's durability and running costs, while also weighing on the brand's image ambitions.
• Full look at the car's exterior and interior design: https://youtu.be/LX-9gZqRni0

3. Basic Information

Maintenance costs and manufacturer service

• Servicing on a battery electric car centres on the cabin filter, brake fluid, reduction gear oil and routine checks, with no oil or filter changes — making each service markedly cheaper than for a combustion or plug-in hybrid car.
• The estimated 60,000km cost of CNY 380 is the lowest of the four here (the bZ3 is CNY 3,026, the Roewe D7 EV CNY 714, with no figure quoted for the Lightning Cat).
• Vehicle warranty is 4 years or 100,000km and the battery is covered for 8 years or 150,000km.

Government incentives by country

Source: IEA Global EV Policy Explorer (https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/global-ev-policy-explorer)

4. Ownership Costs and Service

Warranty and servicing

• Four years or 100,000km for the vehicle and 8 years or 150,000km for the battery.
• The estimated 60,000km servicing cost of CNY 380 is the lowest here, since a battery electric car has no oil, filters or spark plugs to change, leaving the cabin filter, brake fluid, reduction gear oil and high-voltage system checks.

Electricity costs (at 12.6kWh/100km and a global average residential price of about USD 0.16/kWh)

• Electricity costs about USD 2.02 per 100km.
• At an estimated 15,000km a year, annual electricity spend is about USD 303.
• That is the lowest energy cost of the four. For comparison, the bZ3 at 12.0kWh/100km works out at about USD 1.92, the Lightning Cat at 13.2kWh/100km about USD 2.11, and the Roewe D7 EV at 12.9kWh/100km about USD 2.06. Energy consumption is tightly bunched across the group, but the E-QM5's CNY 380 servicing cost and the lower charging frequency its 610km range allows will tell over a long ownership period.

Tax and policy comparison

Source: IEA Global EV Policy Explorer (https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/global-ev-policy-explorer)

5. Competitor Comparison

• Introduction. These four electric mid-size sedans each stand on something different — the E-QM5 on range and space, the bZ3 on consumption and brand, the Lightning Cat on styling and equipment, the Roewe D7 EV on price.
• Range forms a clear ladder. The E-QM5 at 610km and the bZ3 at 616km sit together, well ahead of the Lightning Cat's 555km and the Roewe D7 EV's 510km — a spread of up to 100km.
• Power runs in the opposite direction. The E-QM5's 110kW (150PS) is the weakest here, the bZ3's 180kW (244PS) the strongest, with the Lightning Cat at 150kW (204PS) and the Roewe D7 EV at 145kW (197PS) in between. The E-QM5's 130km/h top speed is a clear step below the rivals' 160-170km/h.
• Size and space. The E-QM5 is longest at 5,040mm with the longest 2,990mm wheelbase, while the Roewe D7 EV has the shortest wheelbase at 2,810mm but a 376L boot. The E-QM5's 433L boot is the largest.
• Battery and charging strategy. The E-QM5's 72kWh pack is the biggest (bZ3 65.3kWh, Lightning Cat 63.87kWh, Roewe D7 EV 59.2kWh), with a 32-minute fast charge in the middle of the group (bZ3 fastest at 27 minutes, Lightning Cat 30 minutes, Roewe D7 EV 35 minutes).
• Servicing costs diverge sharply. The E-QM5's CNY 380 is far below the bZ3's CNY 3,026 and the Roewe D7 EV's CNY 714 — the clearest illustration of platform and cell chemistry differences.
• Drag coefficient. The Lightning Cat leads at 0.22Cd, the bZ3 and Roewe D7 EV are both 0.23Cd, and the E-QM5 publishes no figure.

Note: The comparison tables below are compiled from the vehicle configuration screenshots provided, and are intended only as a cross-reference on specifications and equipment.

Specification Table (Part 1)

Equipment Table (Part 2)

Summary

• The buying logic across these four electric mid-size sedans is clear.
• Hongqi E-QM5 — range, space and running cost. 610km of range from the largest 72kWh pack, class-transcending rear space from a 5,040mm body and 2,990mm wheelbase, and a 60,000km servicing cost of CNY 380 that is one eighth of the bZ3's — at the price of 110kW and a 130km/h top speed.
• Toyota bZ3 — the most balanced of the four. 616km of range, 180kW (244PS), 0.23Cd, the fastest 27-minute charge and a 10-year/200,000km battery warranty, plus the most complete active safety and driver assistance package.
• Ora Lightning Cat — the styling and equipment route. The highest 340N·m torque, the best 0.22Cd, an 11-speaker Infinity system and seat massage — the richest equipment sheet here.
• Roewe D7 EV — the lowest entry point. 510km of range and a 2,810mm wheelbase, while its 197PS, genuine leather seats and 10 speakers are generous for the price.
• Which one wins depends on whether you put range and space, balance, equipment experience or price first.

6. Expert Test Drive: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Pro 1 — Solid real-world range and charging economy. With 610km of CLTC range, measured data shows about 440km in summer with the air conditioning running, and 85-90% range retention in spring and autumn urban driving (roughly 510-550km). At 12.6kWh/100km the per-kilometre energy cost is under CNY 0.1, so one charge a week covers most commuting.
• Pro 2 — Rear space is a class above. With a 2,990mm wheelbase and a 1,910mm body width, rear passengers can sit with legs fully stretched, and three abreast is not cramped. This is the core reason the E-QM5 works in both ride-hailing and private use.
• Pro 3 — Exceptionally low running costs. The estimated 60,000km servicing cost of CNY 380 and annual electricity spend of about USD 303 at 15,000km a year are both the lowest here. Low maintenance needs from the electric drivetrain, plus an 8-year/150,000km battery warranty, give a clear long-term ownership advantage.

Areas for improvement

• Improvement 1 — Power reserves are clearly insufficient. At 110kW (150PS) and 205N·m this is the weakest in the group, with a 130km/h top speed. High-speed overtaking and long-distance cruising are less relaxed than rivals at the same price, placing it closer to urban commuting and fleet duty than open-road touring.
• Improvement 2 — Driver assistance and active safety equipment is sparse. The range does not offer L2 driver assistance, and blind spot assist, lane keeping and autonomous emergency braking are not explicitly marked in the configuration screenshots — a clear gap against the standard fitment on the bZ3 and Lightning Cat, and one of the most frequently raised shortcomings in owner feedback.
• Improvement 3 — Highway noise isolation and infotainment could improve. Test drives note pronounced wind and tyre noise at highway speed with room for better sound insulation, while the interior design is relatively plain and the infotainment feature set limited.

Test scenario

• Measured range data. In a -20°C winter environment, real-world range drops to about 370km (roughly a 40% reduction), and about 440km in summer with air conditioning. (Source: independent testing and owner feedback.) This matters especially for northern buyers, who need to build in extra margin in winter.

7. Real Owner Reviews

• Space — Summary: Space is the standout item in E-QM5 feedback, rated above 81% of its class.

  "The rear is extremely roomy — you can stretch your legs fully, and three people don't feel squeezed."

• Range and charging — Summary: Range retention varies notably by conditions, best in spring and autumn, with margin needed in winter.

  "In spring and autumn the range normally goes past 500km. In winter you need more margin — on the highway it's around 350km."

• Running costs — Summary: Low energy consumption and low servicing costs are the most common praise, and the main reason fleet drivers choose this car.

  "Servicing costs almost nothing, and electricity saves a fortune compared with petrol. If you drive a lot you save a lot each year."

• Powertrain and driving — Summary: Adequate rather than abundant power, with a clear urban commuting and comfort orientation.

  "Pull-away is brisk and it's completely fine around town. On the highway you just need to plan overtakes a bit earlier."

• Interior and infotainment — Summary: Interior and infotainment are among the weaker areas in feedback, with third-party scoring placing the interior below 61% of its class.

  "The interior design is fairly plain and the infotainment isn't richly featured. Practical, but not very high-tech."

8. References

• Global Petrol Prices (2025). World Average Electricity Prices, USD / kWh. Retrieved from https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/electricity_prices/
• IEA. Global EV Policy Explorer. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/global-ev-policy-explorer
• Sohu Auto. Hongqi E-QM5 owner reviews and ratings. Retrieved from https://db.auto.sohu.com/model_6398/dianping
• Autohome. Hongqi E-QM5 specifications and reviews. Retrieved from https://car.autohome.com.cn/config/spec/72244.html
• Bitauto. Hongqi E-QM5 model wiki (measured range and chassis data). Retrieved from https://www.bitauto.my/zh/wiki/%E7%BA%A2%E6%97%97E-QM5
• Hongqi Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.hongqi-auto.com/