Why is the reputation of the Hongqi H9 so poor?
4 Answers
The poor reputation of the Hongqi H9 is due to some car owners having overly high expectations, as the Hongqi H9 performs quite well in terms of power, appearance, and configuration. Below is relevant information about the Hongqi H9: 1. Transmission: The Hongqi H9 is equipped with the DCT400 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is the first domestically produced high-end longitudinal automatic transmission. Automatic transmission vehicles automatically select the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions, eliminating the need for manual gear shifting. Generally, automatic transmission cars have six gear positions: P, R, N, D, S, and L. 2. Versions: The Hongqi H9 has two two-tone versions and five single-tone versions. The two two-tone versions are Akarin Gentian Purple and Champagne Gold Amber Brown; the five single-tone versions are Legendary Black, Quicksand Gold, Glory Blue, Amber Brown, and Gentian Purple.
During the time I've been driving the Hongqi H9, many people have asked me why this car doesn't get high ratings. Honestly, it's not as amazing as advertised. The commercials claimed its luxury level rivals Rolls-Royce, but when driving it myself, the suspension feels stiff and bumpy over speed bumps. Within three months of purchase, I encountered a frozen infotainment system where the navigation completely froze, requiring three trips to the dealership to fix it. Fuel consumption is another issue, easily reaching 13L/100km in city driving. The most annoying part is the interior rattles—the sunroof creaks constantly on rough roads like a symphony. Truthfully, spending over 300,000 yuan on this car isn't as worry-free as adding a bit more for an Audi A6L.
I usually pay close attention to the development of domestic cars, but the Hongqi H9 is truly disappointing. The Hongqi brand carries too much national sentiment, yet the product details fail to meet expectations. People spend over 300,000 yuan on a car for a premium experience, but the actual vehicle's details are lacking. A friend who bought one found that the door panel gaps were wide enough to fit a finger, and the trunk latch got stuck on the first use. The most embarrassing moment was when driving it to receive clients, only to find the sound insulation foam had fallen off. From the CA770 to the H9, spanning half a century, people were hoping to see a truly competitive luxury car, but the quality control can't even match an Accord. This sense of disparity is the main reason for the brand's reputation collapse.
I saw someone complaining about the plummeting resale value of the Hongqi H9 in my social feed, so I checked the data and found its residual value barely exceeds 40% in the second year. The Cadillac CT6 in the same price range can still fetch 60% in the used car market—it's like a death sentence for this model. Who wouldn't consider depreciation when buying a car at this price point? Maintenance is another headache—replacing a pair of OEM headlights costs 8,000 RMB, even BMW, Benz, and Audi aren’t this ruthless. Not to mention the hybrid version’s battery degrades quickly, with older models now suffering severe range loss. Business clients prioritize prestige, but driving this car to meetings just invites questions like ‘Why not get a BBA?’—a stigma that’s impossible to shake off.
