Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
When Li Auto Philippines took us for a Media Drive in August from the Li Auto BGC showroom to Calatagan, Batangas for a relaxing overnight stay at the Nawa Wellness Resort, they designed the drive to pamper us, the motoring media participants, to the point of being spoiled. All throughout the drive, we were chauffeured in three luxurious Li Auto models – the L7 REEV SUV, the L9 REEV SUV and the Mega BEV luxury MPV. These electrified vehicles were so comfortable that it’s like being inside a luxurious exclusive lounge, literally “a home away from home”, albeit with a moving live scenery outside the window.
The Li L7 Pro REEV SUV, Li Mega Ultra BEV luxury MPV and the Li L9 REEV SUV during the Li Auto Media Drive in August.
The autonomous parking capability of the Li L9 Ultra was demonstrated at the parking lot of Mrs. Saldo’s Restaurant in Silang, Cavite during the Media Drive..
Even after we returned to BGC the next day and arrived at the showroom, our friends from Li Auto Philippines continued to spoil, err… pamper us by having car jockeys get our respective personal vehicles from the nearby parking structure and even carrying and loading our stuff into our cars. However, my wife Shawie and I didn’t drive home in our own car that night because we were able to arrange a separate test drive of the 2025 Li L9 Ultra 5-door 6-seat luxury REEV SUV. Yep. We finally got to drive the Li L9 after being chauffeured around in it.
After the Li Auto Media Drive, we didn’t drive home in our own car. We got behind the wheel of the Li L9 Ultra and drove it home…
… straight into a carwash because we have an early drive the very next day.
From Media Drive to EV Fun Run
Truth be told, we got an extended use of the L9 Ultra for a whole day to participate in an EV Fun Run organized by the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP). We drove it home that night straight to a carwash and then woke up early the next morning to drive to the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Pasay City, and meet up with Patch Laubenia, the Public Relations and Brand Manager of Li Auto Philippines, and Nillsie Delos Reyes of Li Auto Sales, .
On the way to Pasay City, we found that the Li L9 Ultra’s HUD (heads-up display) projects not only the vehicle speed and gear selection at the windshield in front of the driver (yellow circle)…
… but it also projects a real-time video of the blind spot when you switch on the turn signal. We were turning left and the HUD showed the blind spot on the L9’s left side.
Shawie and I met up with Li Auto Philippines’ Nilly Delos Reyes and Patch Laubenia at the parking lot of Ayala Malls Manila Bay with our L9 Ultra labeled as Car#17.
After the morning pleasantries, EVAP Chairman Emeritus Ferdi Raquelsantos, Chairman Rommel Juan and President Edmund Araga took turns in admiring our ride. Our convoy of EV Fun Run participants drove from Pasay City to Antipolo, where we converged at Wyndell’s at the Perch Highland Park for lunch and some activities. The route of the Fun Run took us from crowded city streets and crawling traffic to mountain roads with steep uphill and downhill inclines. The Li L9’s dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) and 620 Newton-meters of torque made easy work of whatever road we drove on.
EVAP Chairman Rommel Juan and Chairman Emeritus Ferdi Raquelsantos take a selfie with Shawie and the Li L9 Ultra.
The drive up and down the mountain roads was challenging because of the steep inclines, wet or muddy surfaces, and bad weather…
… but it was a piece of cake thanks to the L9 Ultra’s extensive suite of advanced driving assistance system, 360° camera, and 620 Nm of torque from the dual-motor AWD system.
Eliminating Range Anxiety
To be clear, the Li L9 is an electric vehicle (EV) using two electric motors powered by a 52.3 kWh ternary lithium battery pack to propel this 2,570-kilogram luxury SUV to a pure electric range of 280 kilometers. To eliminate “range anxiety”, the L9 is equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that functions solely as an onboard generator to charge the battery, not to directly power the wheels. Technically classified as an REEV (range-extended electric vehicle), the L9 is often incorrectly referred to as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), especially since it is equipped with a charging port to charge the battery pack.
The Li L9 is an REEV (range-extender electric vehicle) and is often misclassified as a PHEV (plug-in hybrid EV).
The 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine in front functions as an onboard generator that charges the 52.3 kWh ternary lithium battery.
Li Auto engineers prioritized safety by incorporating dual protection for the battery pack.
Driving an REEV in a convoy of BEVs provided us with more confidence that we can go further without worrying about the battery charge. The 1.5-liter gasoline engine/onboard generator is supplied by a 65-liter fuel tank while the L9’s regenerative braking system generates electricity during deceleration and braking to help recharge the battery and further extend the L9’s range. We began to appreciate how our L9 REEV eliminated any sign of range anxiety associated with driving an EV, as much as we appreciate the space, comfort and luxury inside.
The Li L9 is built with a strong and rigid body structure and outstanding NVH insulation…
… and given a well-designed minimalist exterior that oozes with class and sophistication.
Mobile Luxury Suite
In today’s street parlance, our Li L9 Ultra is not a “budget meal”. Priced at P5.5 Million, it is almost as expensive as a small studio unit in a condo. Like an upscale condo unit, the L9 is a smart living space with warmer/refrigerator, folding table on the 2nd row right side passenger seat, lots of storage space, and wireless charger for your mobile phone. Moreover, the L9 has high-tech features such as a Platinum audio system, 3D Spatial Interaction with 5 screens, and 4D immersive audio and video system, which condo units do not have as standard features.
Li Auto engineers and designers gave the L9 a minimalist but luxurious and spacious front row…
… added extra amenities such as Spa-grade 16-point massage for the front and middle row seats while providing luxury and space for the back row occupants…
… pampering all passengers, like these two lovely ladies enjoying the middle row seats.
While six occupants can travel in great comfort and luxury in the L9, the front- and middle-row seats offer Spa-grade 16-point massage while the driver sits on a Magic Carpet driver’s seat that offers adjustable cushion firmness. The middle-row right side seat can be switched to Queen’s Seat Mode and Nap Mode for the ultimate pampered ride during long trips. Double-layered noise insulating glass, outstanding NVH (noise vibration & harshness) insulation and silent electric suction doors turns the interior of the Li L9 into a quiet and cozy cocoon that makes crawling through heavy traffic much more bearable.
Magic Carpet driver’s seat helps promote long-distance driving comfort. Note the “floating” center console with cubby holes to store small items.
Shawie enjoys her middle row seat in Queen’s Seat Mode with the massage on and the panoramic glass roof fully open.
Surprisingly Easy to Drive
At around 5.2 meters long and almost 2 meters wide, this full-size flagship REEV SUV is surprisingly easy to drive. With a full suite of advanced driving assistance systems, a turning radius of 6.5 meters, ventilated disc brakes all around, and standard air suspension to further smoothen the road shock transmitted by those meaty low-profile 265/45R21 Michelin Pilot Sport tires, driving the L9 is almost instinctive, effortless and rewarding.
The minimalist cockpit is ergonomic and the controls are easy to master.
There is no instrument panel on the dash, just this innovative display mounted at the center of the multi-function steering wheel.
The large multi-screen infotainment system is surprisingly easy to learn and intuitive, too.
In its promotional videos, Li Auto enjoins L9 owners to adjust the seats and turn it into a family lounge while at the beach, or overlanding and exploring the countryside. With its gas engine/onboard generator and dual-motor AWD, there’s little doubt that the Li L9 can easily tackle off-road excursions up to a certain level. We’re just not certain if any L9 owner would like to soil that Nappa leather interior or scratch those nice two-tone 21-inch 10-spoke 5-lug aluminum alloy wheels while going through rough terrain.
There’s even a built-in camera that can capture the fun of each drive.
Li Auto enjoins owners to consider the L9 as a luxury family lounge while enjoying the great outdoors.
Those 21-inch wheels are simply too nice to drive the L9 on anything that might scratch or dent these.
Overall, the Li L9 Ultra is one of those vehicles that we tested and made us wish for two things: (1) That we have several millions of pesos like some congressmen and contractors who are in the news lately; and (2) That we have space to park multiple vehicles like some congressmen and contractors who are in the news lately. If we have P5.5M burning a hole in our pocket (Can that much money really fit into a pocket? – Ed.), we would certainly acquire one than invest in a similarly-prized condo. After all, this home-away-from-home comes with an engaging fast-moving live scenery that no condo can ever offer.
Viewed from the side, the Li L9 follows the traditional 2-box SUV body design.
Viewed from the front, it looks like it’s ready to fly into outer space!
The happy faces of the occupants show how comfortable, luxurious and impressive the Li L9 Ultra really is!
SPECIFICATIONS
Vehicle Type: Front engine, AWD, 5-door REEV SUV
Price: P5,500,000
Engine: 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder
Maximum power: 140 hp (330 kW)
Maximum torque: 620 Nm
Transmission: Single-speed gearbox
Drive system: Dual motor AWD
Fuel tank capacity: 65 liters
Electric motor power: 134 kW
Electric motor torque: 300 Nm
Battery capacity: 52.3 kWh
Wheelbase: 3105 mm
Length: 5218 mm
Width: 1998 mm
Height: 1800 mm
Trunk capacity: 242-640 liters
Minimum ground clearance: 176 mm (lowest level)
Minimum turning radius: 6.5 m
Curb weight: 2570 kg
Front suspension: Independent, double wishbone with air suspension
Rear suspension: Independent, five-link with air suspension
Front brakes: Ventilated discs with regenerative braking
Rear brakes: Ventilated discs
Steering system: Rack & pinion with electric power assist (EPAS)
Wheels: 21-inch 10-spoke 5-lug two-tone aluminum alloy
Tires: 265/45R21
“Pilot to tower. Flight No. 17 is ready for take off…”