Huawei is a name most people know for smartphones, network equipment and smart wearables. However, a while back, the tech giant decided it wanted to rule the world of electric cars as well. To do this, they teamed up with a car maker Chery to create a new brand – Luxeed.
Their first big swing at the EV market was a sedan named the Luxeed S7. This car aims to be a high-end choice for people who want a mix of luxury and smart technology. It entered a crowded market of EVs, but it brings some unique tricks to the table. And we had an opportunity to take a closer look at it – here are our findings.
The futuristic yet restrained looks
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
When you first see the Luxeed S7, it looks like one smooth, continuous shape. It does not look like a boxy car from the past, nor does it look extremely futuristic. It’s almost restrained in its looks as if Huawei and Chery were playing a safe game here.
The car is quite large, stretching about 197 inches in length. The front end stays simple with sleek headlights that house individual square lights. It looks mean and fast, especially if you pick the matte paint option. However, the designers made one very strange choice. They did not put a physical button on the trunk to open it. If you want to put your groceries in the 420-liter trunk, you have to run to the front seat or use your phone. For a car that costs between $35,000 and $50,000, that feels like a bit of a prank.
The interior
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
Inside the cabin, the technology takes center stage. A massive 15.6-inch screen sits right in the middle. It runs on Huawei’s “HarmonyOS.” The system reacts quickly and the menus make sense. Above the steering wheel, there is another 12.3-inch screen. It sits high up on the dashboard, almost like a heads-up display. This makes the interior feel very open and airy. You also get two wireless charging pads for your phones, and they are powerful 50W chargers. Most electric cars only give you one, so this is a nice bonus.
The Luxeed S7 offers plenty of room for passengers because it has a long 116.1 inches wheelbase. In the back seat, even tall people will have a lot of legroom. If you are 5.74 ft tall, you will find about three fingers of space above your head.
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
The materials inside feel mostly nice, with lots of soft surfaces on the doors. Surprisingly, some plastic parts on the back of the seats look a bit cheap for a luxury car. Same goes for the front, and the fit and finish aren’t really that impressive. The leather seats feel quite plasticky and the material stretches a lot. The car we had access to sat in a showroom for just over a month, and the seats were already showing signs of use – not ideal for a luxury vehicle that is supposed to be used for many years to come.
If you want to keep your kids busy, you can even plug Huawei tablets into the back of the front seats. There are also 66-watt fast-charging ports in the back to keep those tablets alive.
Performance
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
Speed is one thing electric cars do very well and the S7 does not disappoint here. It comes with two different power setups – the basic version has one motor in the back that makes 215 kW. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.4 seconds. If you want more power, you can get the dual-motor version with 365 kW. That model is a rocket, hitting 62 mph in 3.3 seconds. Even the slower version feels very quick when you step on the gas – it moves with a silent force that makes passing other cars on the highway very easy.
During a very short drive, the Luxeed S7 felt more about comfort than racing around corners. It uses a double-wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link setup in the back. This helps the car soak up bumps and potholes like they are not even there. It feels very stable and calm on the road.
Because it is a big car, it does not feel very light or “zippy” when you turn the wheel sharply. It is a car made for long trips on the highway rather than speeding down a curvy mountain path. It behaves like a large, heavy lounge on wheels – which it exactly is.
Range and technology
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
One of the best things about the Luxeed S7 is how far it can go on a full charge. You can choose between an 82 kWh battery or a larger 100 kWh pack. If you pick the single motor with the big battery, the car can travel up to claimed 531 miles. That is a huge distance for most EVs – it means you can spend more time driving and less time waiting at a charger.
We couldn’t verify the range, and that headline number is courtesy of the Chinese CLTC test, which is very optimistic. A quick conversation with a few owners suggests that the actual range is closer to 435 miles – still mighty impressive. When you do need to charge, the car handles high speeds well thanks to its 800V architecture. You can add about 134 miles in 5 minutes or as much as 267 miles in 15 minutes of charging, so you won’t be stuck for long.
The self-driving technology is where Huawei really shows off. The Luxeed S7 uses a system called ADS, which uses a LiDAR sensor on the roof to see the world. It drives very naturally – it brakes and turns smoothly just like a human would. Huawei claims it is one of the best systems in the world of electric cars today, and we see why they would.
Luxeed S7 – source: ArenaEV
But we found out the system can be a little too relaxed. It doesn’t nag you enough to keep your eyes on the road. You can look away for quite a while before it starts to beep at you. It was quite unnerving how long it took to notice the driver wasn’t looking ahead. Technology is great, but drivers still need to pay attention.
Who is it for?
In the end, the Luxeed S7 is a solid choice for someone who wants a high-tech sedan – as long as they live in China. It offers a great range, a very smart interior, and enough speed to satisfy most people. Sure, some of the interior buttons are hard to see in the sun, and the trunk situation is annoying, but the overall package is strong.
Huawei and Chery built a car that competes quite well with other famous EVs. It might not be the most exciting car to drive, but it is a very comfortable way to move into the future. In the busy Chinese EV market, Luxeed went for a very conservative middle ground and created something solid, unremarkable, almost forgettable. And that’s exactly what many customers want – a car that does its job quietly.