The Li Mega has a strange futuristic presence. It's a head-turner. Questions remain if the high price will turn consumers away in the long run.
This review is done by ChinaDriven, which creates content about Chinese EVs on YouTube & X.
Li Auto has finally launched its premium MPV, which split online EV fans with its divisive styling.
Li Auto, a company known for its Extended Range EVs, a type of hybrid, promised the Li Mega would lead the EV market in fast charging times, claiming a staggering 500 km in 11minutes. Big claims for its first pure EV.
Price
The Li Mega was launched with a single trim level, with no optional extras. It sits at the top of their product line up as their flagship EV, carrying a premium price of RMB 559,800.
Furthermore, Li Auto aims to sell 8,000 Megas monthly, beating the current sales leader over RMB 600,000, the BMW X5.
Exterior
The Li Mega is a brand-new design, on a brand-new platform. The opinion splitting styling a result of Li Auto's Aerodynamic and Design teams working together to push the limits.
Aerodynamics were a leading factor in its styling, and the Li Mega has a drag coefficient of just 0.215 cd.
To put it in perspective, a Porsche Taycan has a higher 0.22 cd and the Xpeng X9 0.227 cd. The Li Mega's aerodynamics are truly a marvel for a vehicle of its size.
The front-end water drop like design incorporates Li Auto's Halo 2.0 daylight running light, a steep smooth rake from nose to roof, rising all the way until the b-pillar before falling to the trunk.
The windows and pillars are flush, and the rear end boat tails, being narrow in the rear than the front. All aspect of the design guiding air smoothly over the Li Mega before meeting the Aeroblade.
The Aeroblade is a flat section on the rear of the Li Mega that “cuts” the air reducing the turbulence behind the car. It has created a striking exterior look. Personally, I think it's a very sci-fi creation, but others online have likened it to a coffin or hearse.
The trunk lid opens with a gullwing design, trying to optimize space as the roof line falls to the rear. Even with the third row up, the Li Mega has 1,054 L of space and can fit four 28-in suitcases and two carry-on suitcases, beating the Xpeng X9's 755 L.
But if you fold the third-row seat completely forwards in the Li Mega you have 1,800 L of space, which is less than the Xpeng X9's maximum 2,544 L.
It rides on 18-inch aero style wheels with low-rolling resistance tires. Large tire sidewalls help to absorb some larger bumps on road.
Interior
The interior front cockpit is very familiar, almost an exact copy of the Li Auto L9.
Interior materials are of a high level, Napa leather everywhere. There is still a large, fully animated Heads Up Display, now with blind spot camera feed, dual upgraded 15.8 inch 4th Gen 3K OLED infotainment screens up front, with a third larger 17 inch screen in the rear, all with Dolby Vision and all powered by the new Snapdragon 8295 High Performance CPU.
The front passenger gets a Queen seat that is able to lie fully flat without having to move the seat backwards. Seat massage for the first two rows has been upgrade from 10-point to 16-point SPA massage, adding 6-points to the seat base.
The second-row gain captains seats with 95 degrees of recline and 270 degree surround heating, where in addition to the seat back and base being heated, the arm rest and calf rest are also heated.
The Li Mega has dual cooled 50 W wireless chargers and 50 W USB charging in the second row. Heat, ventilation and massage in the first two rows, and heat in the third row. A fridge capable of cooling things between 0-7 Celsius and warm between 35-50 Celsius.
The Li Mega has a 21 speaker, 2160 W Dolby Atmos spatial audio surround sound system, notably using the same audio supplier as Burmiester.
The Li Mega is a massive vehicle, 5.3 meters long with a 3.3 meter wheelbase. That means interior space is fantastic. The second-row legroom rivals that of a BMW 7-series long wheelbase, but the true star of legroom is the third row with BMW 5-seris long wheelbase legroom. Sitting the third row it was mind blowing just how much legroom there is.
Range, Battery and Charging
Li Mega claims a range of 710 km, thanks in part to its low drag design and efficient EV power train returning 15.9 kWh/100 km. Equipped with a 102.7-kWh CATL Qilin pack the Li Auto Mega is able to recharge in market leading times.
With the launch of the Li Mega, Li Auto has begun it's roll out of “5C fast charging” with the Li Mega able to pull a staggering peak of 520 kW at the charger. Even at 60 percent SoC the Li Mega is still pulling 350 kW.
This means the Li Mega claims it can add 500km in 11-12 minutes. And we saw under 10 percent to around 80 percent in 10 minutes!
ADAS
The Li Mega has an array of cameras and sensors, including a roof mounted Lidar, meaning it will come standard with Li Auto's AD Max. AD Max is Li Autos ADAS suite including highway and city NOA features, at no extra cost.
The Li Mega was running the latest version of AD Max, with some improvements in auto self-parking and city NOA. On the day driving with AD Max the system was confidence inspiring, reacting to traffic situations and changing lanes in good time.
Li Auto's AD max City NOA seems to be a legitimate competitor in the ADAS race here in China.
Driving and Performance
In terms of power, the Li Auto Mega is dual motor, with a combined 400 kW and 542 Nm. Acceleration from a standstill to 100 kph is dispatched in 5.5 seconds, which is more than quick enough for a family MPV. Top speed is rated at 180 kph.
Being a premium EV MPV comfort is a top priority. The Li Mega is equipped as standard with double chamber air suspension and new uprated Continuous Dampening Control.
Combined with the suspension set up of double wishbone up front and H-arm multi-link in the rear comfort it fantastic in all rows. Noise levels are also nicely controlled thanks to acoustic glass all the way around.
The driver gets additional comfort with the introduction of “Magic Driver's Seat.” This new feature uses the massage airbags in the seat adjusting in combination with the air suspension, cushioning & isolating the driver even more.
Conclusion
The Li Mega marks a big step in Li Auto's journey. Its first pure EV, its most expensive model, showing the market and consumers that Li Auto has the capabilities and technological prowess in pure EVs.
Personally, in the metal the Li Mega has a strange futuristic presence. It's a head-turner.
Questions remain if the high price will turn consumers away in the long run. It's over $17 thousand more expensive than the Xpeng X9 which has rear wheel steering. Something that customers may prefer when driving such large vehicles.
In short, the Li Mega sticks to Li Auto's ethos of family focused vehicles, and launches the company into the world of pure EVs.
