Lixiang L6 in-depth experience: is it a good value at $30,000 out the door?

In the highly competitive new energy vehicle market, the Lixiang L6 has become the sales benchmark in the mid-size SUV market with its ‘hexagonal warrior’-like all-round performance, with cumulative deliveries exceeding 220,000 units since its launch in 2024. This model not only continues the design language of the Ideal family, but also sets new standards in intelligent driving, safety performance and family practicality. The following is a comprehensive report from a multi-dimensional test drive experience.

I. Design: Family genes and detail innovation

The Lixiang L6 continues the Lixiang family's signature through-the-star LED light strip and floating daytime running light design, but the narrowing of the lower grille of the front surround and the optimisation of the wind resistance coefficient (lower wind resistance coefficient) make it more recognisable. The car measures 4925/1960/1735mm, with a wheelbase of 2920mm, and adopts a 2+3 five-seat layout, with plenty of legroom for rear passengers, and a 180cm-tall experiencer can be seated with ease, and with the panoramic sunroof, the permeability performance is excellent.

The Max version is equipped with 128-line LIDAR on the roof, together with six 8-megapixel cameras and four 3-megapixel cameras, providing the hardware foundation for the high-level Smart Driving System.

Second, the cockpit: Intelligence and comfort pull full circle

Entering the car, the cockpit of Lixiang L6 is centred on dual 15.7-inch connecting screens, equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, the car is in the first tier in terms of smoothness and feature-richness. The passenger entertainment screen supports a variety of third-party applications, while the 13.35-inch HUD head-up display system dynamically adjusts the display area through line-of-sight tracking technology, taking into account the sense of technology and humanisation.

The seating configuration is luxurious: the entire car is wrapped in Nappa leather, the front row supports heating, ventilation and ten-point massage, and the second row also provides heating and ventilation functions, with three-zone air conditioning and the exclusive 8.8-litre on-board refrigerator of the Max version, further enhancing the comfort of family travel.

Smart Driving: ‘Old Driver’ Performance in City and Night Scenes

Lixiang L6 Max Edition is equipped with AD Max system, adopting NVIDIA DRIVE Orin-X dual chips (508TOPS of arithmetic power), and supporting urban NOA (navigation-assisted driving without a map) and high-speed navigation functions. In the actual experience, the vehicle performs stably in automatic lane changing, bypassing obstacles and coping with congestion scenarios, and can also accurately identify complex road conditions in the night test, and the AEB system responds quickly in the intersection and child target object scenarios.

However, there is still room for improvement in the aggressiveness of multi-lane lane-changing, and it needs to be manually taken over at intersections with heavy traffic. Nevertheless, its lifetime free NOA service is still regarded as a ‘smart driving pass’ by users.

Safety: C-NCAP five-star certification of hard core strength

In the 2024 version of C-NCAP test, Lixiang L6 set a new record with a comprehensive score of 90.5%, especially in the 56km/h high-speed frontal collision to keep the A-pillar intact, the survival space of the passenger compartment is maximised. The stability of the B-pillar in the side collision test and the efficient collision avoidance ability of AEB for pedestrians and two-wheelers further confirm the reliability of its full-stack self-research AD Max system.

V. Performance and Range: Efficient Balance of Extended Range Power

The Lixiang L6 is equipped with a 1.5T range extender + dual-motor four-wheel drive system, with a maximum power of 300kW and a 100km acceleration of only 5.4 sec. It has a pure electric range of 182km under WLTC conditions, and a combined range of 1,160km (1,390km under CLTC standards), and it supports a 400V fast charging, which can complete the 20-80% replenishment of energy in 30 minutes. Despite the high fuel consumption in extended range mode (0.72L/100km), its range can still meet the needs of long-distance travel.

Market Feedback and Controversy

Lixiang L6 enters the market with an affordable pricing starting from 249,800 RMB, the Pro version already covers the needs of most families, while the price difference of 30,000 RMB for the Max version is in exchange for LIDAR, advanced intelligent driving and luxury features, which is regarded as ‘value for money’ by users. Despite previous rumours of a recall, Li AUTO has clearly refuted the rumours, stressing the reliability of the product.

The success of Lixiang L6 is not by chance, as its precise family positioning, superior intelligent configuration and solid safety performance together constitute its competitiveness in the market. With the continuous iteration of intelligent driving technology, this model may become the ‘key man’ for Li AUTO to further consolidate its market position. Lixiang L6 is undoubtedly a rational and emotional choice for family users who pursue technology and practicality.