Hongqi HS7

Cabin

The cabin is a real highlight here, and it offers something more than what is generally common in this price range. Again, this is rather universal among Chinese brands that are taking on well-known rivals. HS7 gets Nappa leather seats across the range, with a 12.6-inch central touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Also, elegant fold-out tables for rear passengers come standard, a detail aimed squarely at long family drives.

A panoramic is quite large, so the roof floods the cabin with natural light. Three-zone independent climate control: two front zones plus a dedicated rear zone means back-row passengers are not simply fed vents from the front.

What is also noticeable, especially for night driving, is the ambient lighting running through the cabin, which has 253 colours. The Deluxe variant adds a head-up display projector on top of the standard instrument screens.

A Dynaudio surround sound system is standard throughout, growing from 10 speakers on Comfortable and Luxury to 12 on Deluxe. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard across the range, syncing automatically each time the driver's phone is detected inside the cabin.

Front Seat

• 8-way electric driver's seat with 2-way lumbar support on Comfortable and Luxury
• Deluxe adds seat position memory and 4-way lumbar adjustment
• Front seat ventilation is standard across the range
• 6-way electric front passenger seat, 2-way manual on Deluxe

The Deluxe variant's memory function is a useful addition for families sharing the car between two drivers. The heated front seats come standard across all three variants, a real comfort touch during the cooler winter mornings common across the northern Emirates.

Rear Seat

• Elegant fold-out tables for rear passengers
• Three-zone climate control keeps the back row properly cooled
• Seven-seat layout on Luxury and Deluxe variants
• Six-seat layout with a different second-row arrangement on Comfortable

Families considering the Land Cruiser or Patrol for a seven-seat layout should note that the entry-level Comfortable variant does not offer one. Second-row captain's chairs are available on Luxury and Deluxe, where they are fitted, adding a touch of extra comfort for families who regularly carry passengers in the middle row on longer trips.

Climate Control

Three-zone automatic climate control is standard across the HS7 range, with a dedicated rear zone rather than relying on spillover from the front vents. That is useful for keeping third-row passengers comfortable through a Gulf summer. Third-row occupants on the seven-seat variants get their own dedicated vents as well, a detail some rivals in this segment still reserve for the front two rows only.

Storage

• Centre console storage bin
• Door pockets sized for bottles
• Rear seatback pockets for tablets and phones

Storage stays practical, matching the HS7's family-focused persona.

Charging

• Wireless phone charging at 40 watts for the driver, 15 watts for the front passenger
• Front and rear USB sockets throughout the cabin

Charging scales differently front to back, though every passenger has a port within reach.

Boot Space

• Smart electric trunk with foot-sensor opening
• Roof rack fitted as standard for additional exterior storage
• No specific boot volume figure with the third row in use was listed

Given the car's overall length, the boot with all seven seats folded flat should comfortably swallow a family's luggage for a long weekend away. Space is tighter with the third row in use, as it is on most seven-seaters this size. Loading longer items like a folded stroller or a set of golf clubs is easy, thanks to the wide tailgate opening and low load lip. That is a practical touch appreciated on a Saturday supermarket run.

Hongqi has equipped the HS7 with a driver-assist suite that grows more comprehensive as buyers move up the variant ladder.

• Front, side, and dual curtain airbags are standard across the range
• A 360-degree camera and front and rear parking sensors on every variant
• Adaptive cruise control on Comfortable and Luxury, upgraded to Super ACC on Deluxe
• Blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assist standard across the range
• Hill descent control and door opening warning is reserved for the Deluxe variant

The step up to Deluxe brings a notably more complete safety picture, not just extra comfort features. The standard 360-degree camera and parking sensors make it much easier to park in tight multi-storey car parks, which is especially useful given the HS7's considerable footprint.

Front

The front is all about a tall, chrome-detailed grille that looks like Hongqi's family range. It is framed by LED headlamps with an angular design. A front flag light sits set into the grille itself, a styling touch Hongqi has carried across several of its recent SUVs. The chrome accents run along the lower bumper, which actually enhances the overall look of the nose.

Side Profile

If you pay a little attention, it is not hard to identify that Hongqi shaped the HS7's flanks specifically to fight air resistance. The bold curves improve fuel economy not just by providing better design elements. That aero work has a lot to do with a car this size. And, being a full-size SUV, it is pretty long, quite close to a Nissan Patrol.

Alloy Wheels

• All three variants share the same 235/55R20 tyre spec. Wheel size is not used to separate trims the way it is on some rivals, for sure
• The wheels look sportier in design than the HS7's formal, family-focused body might suggest
• The Deluxe's wheels carry a subtly different finish from Comfortable and Luxury; despite sharing the same tyre size, they differentiate visually by being more premium

Rear

At the rear is an overall appealing design that complements the SUV better. Including the connected LED tail lamps stretch across the boot lid, giving the car a wide, planted look from behind. A smart electric trunk with a foot-sensor opening is standard across the range, useful when arriving home with both arms full.

Colors

• Platinum Gold
• Mountain White
• Grey

City Performance

• The HS7's near-five-metre length turns every tight Al Barsha school drop-off into a small task; the 360-degree camera does most of the work of judging where the corners actually are
• Speed bumps in residential areas handle it softly; the suspension absorbs them without the cabin feeling unsettled or the rear bouncing on the rebound
• The engine is capable of dealing with the near-two-tonne mass along without trouble, though never with urgency; this engine is tuned for calm progress rather than quick getaways
• Visibility from the driver's seat is reasonable for the size; the high seating position helps, though the long bonnet means judging the front corners takes some familiarity in tighter spaces
• The six-seat Comfortable variant's tighter middle row shows its limits fastest in city use; buckling a child seat into the second row takes noticeably longer than in the properly configured seven-seat Luxury and Deluxe variants

Highway Performance

• The HS7 settles into a composed, relaxed cruise on the E611, the engine sitting quietly in the background rather than demanding attention
• Overtaking feels confident; the torque is there when the accelerator goes down without needing to plan the move in advance
• Cabin noise stays well managed at highway speed; wind and road noise are no big concern
• The suspension is just fine and absorbs highway expansion joints cleanly; the car does not crash or thud over road seams the way a firmer-tuned rival might
• Fuel consumption on a sustained E11 run will be noticeably better than a V6 petrol equivalent
• The mountain roads toward Fujairah are where the engine works harder under load; a driver coming from a lighter SUV will notice the extra effort, but the car manages the climb without strain

Ride and Handling

• Speed tables and rough patches in older Sharjah streets get absorbed without much reaching the cabin; the suspension prioritises a settled interior over sharp body control
• Day to day, the ride leans soft and forgiving on a long commute without feeling floaty over bigger dips or crests
• Steering is weighted to reflect the car's near two-tonne mass rather than hide it, heavier than it looks at first, but never hard work at low speed
• On a long highway run, that same weight becomes a confident, planted feel rather than anything vague or twitchy
• Push any variant into a roundabout with real intent, and body roll builds quickly, a clear reminder that this is a seven-seat family hauler rather than something built to be hustled
• Brake hard or swerve suddenly, and the all-wheel drive on Luxury and Deluxe earns its keep immediately, a real grip margin over the front-drive.

Hongqi offers the HS7 in the UAE across three variants. All of them have the same powertrain, comprising a 2.0-litre turbo engine and an 8-speed automatic shared throughout.

Comfortable 2WD

The entry point into the HS7 range, with front-wheel drive, a six-seat layout, and 10-speaker Dynaudio audio. This is the best pick for anyone who wants the HS7's size and cabin comfort without paying for all-wheel drive or the full seven-seat layout.

Luxury 4WD

This mid variant comes with all-wheel drive, the seven-seat layout, and the off-road and custom drive modes over the Comfortable variant. You can consider this if paying a little premium is not a problem and you want the HS7 as a proper family SUV capable of carrying seven.

Deluxe 4WD

The brand offers only this top-end variant. The key features are a head-up display, seat memory, 12-speaker Dynaudio audio, and a more complete safety suite, including hill descent control. If price is not a problem and you also want the HS7 in its most fully equipped form, then this is the right choice.

Zigwheels Recommendation

The mid-variant, Luxury 4WD, is the sensible choice for most UAE families considering this car. And it is simple, why is that? It gets the seven-seat layout and all-wheel drive that make the HS7 properly useful as a family SUV, without the extra cost of the Deluxe variant's head-up display and additional safety features.

First things first. Hongqi is a brand from China and offers some compelling choices to buyers in the UAE in the popular segments of the market. The HS7 is a perfect SUV; it basically offers an alternative to the most recognised SUVs, the Land Cruiser and Patrol.

Both are legends, but often come with a catch: waiting lists, dealer markups, or settling for a lower variant than a buyer actually wanted.

The HS7 tries to help you overcome all of that. It has a seven-seat, Nappa-lined SUV at sticker price, with no queue and no premium attached.

Obviously, it won't match a Land Cruiser's off-road pedigree or resale value, and it isn't trying to. For families seeking genuine three-row space and a well-equipped cabin, the HS7 is worth a look, especially without the used-Land-Cruiser scramble that typically characterises this segment locally.

It’s an alternative most buyers in this class overlook, but it deserves attention.

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