There are now some exciting new options when considering a large electric SUV in Australia, thanks to two new players in the segment. The Hongqi E-HS9 and Cadillac Vistiq.
The Hongqi (sold locally as the HQ) offers a classic luxury interior with leather and timber, and a large 120kWh battery pack. Whereas the Cadillac offers more US style looks, a tech focussed interior and a performance oriented EV drive system.
Both models have room for six passengers, twin motor AWD systems and lots of extras.
The big differences between the two models are the price, range and practicality. The Hongqi E-HS9 will have a pre-on-road price of less than $150,000. Whereas the Cadillac Vistiq Platinum will start at $116,000 pre-on-road. Here is how the two luxury EV SUVs compare.
Hongqi E-HS9 vs Cadillac Vistiq price in Australia
The Cadillac Vistiq has an advantage when it comes to pricing. Its single Platinum variant costs $116,000 before on-road costs, making it a relatively accessible entry into the large luxury electric SUV segment.
The Hongqi E-HS9 is expected to start below $150,000 before on-road costs. It will arrive in Australia in a single six-seat configuration, with final pricing and state-based drive-away offers to be confirmed.
That puts the Hongqi in a higher price bracket, despite being a newer name in the Australian market. Its introductory cashback offer could reduce the purchase cost for eligible buyers, but this depends on the deposit and purchase conditions.
| Price | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Australian variant | Six-seat AWD | Platinum AWD |
| Starting price | Below $150,000 | $116,000 |
| On-road costs | Extra | Extra |
| Variants | One | One |
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Cadillac Vistiq is the more affordable option. The Hongqi will need to justify its higher price through its equipment, battery capacity and luxury features.
Exterior design and dimensions
Neither are exactly subtle. They’re both over 5.2m long. The Hongqi E-HS9 features a boxy shape with a big vertical bar grille, split LED headlamps and a unique bonnet. The design was overseen by former Rolls-Royce design head Giles Taylor so gives the car a much more classic luxury SUV aesthetic.
The Cadillac looks much sportier with a more shut off front. With sharp lighting, body lines and 22-inch alloy wheels it gives the car a more modern American aesthetic.
| Dimensions | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Length | 5209mm | 5233mm |
| Width | 2010mm | 2203mm (including mirrors) |
| Height | 1713mm | 1799mm |
| Wheelbase | 3110mm | 3094mm |
| Alloy wheels | 21-inch | 22-inch |
Both vehicles are large enough to require some care in tight parking spaces and narrow streets. The Cadillac is slightly longer, while the Hongqi has a longer wheelbase.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Hongqi has a more formal, traditional luxury appearance, while the Cadillac looks sportier and more contemporary. Neither is short on road presence.
Interior, comfort and features
Both SUVs offer premium interiors, but their design philosophies are different.
The Hongqi E-HS9 uses leather upholstery, real wood trim and soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. Its front seats offer electric adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functions.
The dashboard features two separate 15.6-inch displays, alongside a digital instrument cluster. Other equipment includes a 16-speaker Bose sound system, panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate control and wireless phone charging.
The Cadillac Vistiq has a more technology-focused dashboard. Its main attraction is a 33-inch LED display stretching across the dashboard. It also gets Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Audio is another strong point, with a 23-speaker AKG system featuring Dolby Atmos. The cabin also gets open-pore wood trim, 126-colour ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof.
Both SUVs offer heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. However, the Cadillac uses Nouveauluxe synthetic upholstery rather than traditional leather.
| Interior features | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Main display | Dual 15.6-inch screens | 33-inch LED display |
| Sound system | 16-speaker Bose | 23-speaker AKG |
| Front seat massage | Yes | Yes |
| Front seat ventilation | Yes | Yes |
| Panoramic roof | Yes | Yes |
| Climate control | Four-zone | Four-zone |
| Apple CarPlay | Yes | Wireless |
| Android Auto | Yes | Wireless |
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Hongqi offers a more traditional luxury cabin with leather and wood, while the Cadillac has a more impressive infotainment and audio package. Both are well-equipped, so the preference comes down to cabin design and material choices.
Seating and practicality
Both vehicles feature 3-row seating with 6 seats in total, including 2 separate captain seats in the second row.
The Hongqi E-HS9 features electric adjustment of second row electric seats, heated and ventilated. There is an aisle between the captain seats which helps access to the third row.
However, there is not a great amount of space in the third row. When the second row seats are retracted there is restricted knee room. There were no specific vents for the third row in the pre-production unit we looked at. Be sure to check specifications on the Australian produced vehicle.
The Cadillac Vistiq has a more realistic third row. There is good leg and headroom for adults. The boot also has more room when all 6 seats are occupied.
| Boot capacity | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| All seats in use | 255 litres | 430 litres |
| Maximum capacity | 1747 litres | 2271 litres |
The Hongqi offers useful luggage space behind its third row, while the Cadillac provides more room when carrying six passengers and more overall cargo capacity with the rear rows folded.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Cadillac Vistiq is the better choice for families that regularly use all three rows. The Hongqi has comfortable second-row captain’s chairs, but its third-row accommodation is less convincing.
Performance and driving experience
Both SUVs use dual electric motors and all-wheel drive, but the Cadillac has a clear advantage in outright performance.
The Hongqi E-HS9 produces 405kW and 606Nm. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, which is respectable for an SUV weighing around 2.6 tonnes.
The Cadillac Vistiq produces 459kW and 880Nm. Its claimed 0-100km/h time is 4.2 seconds using Velocity Max mode.
| Performance | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Power | 405kW | 459kW |
| Torque | 606Nm | 880Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD |
| 0-100km/h | 5.5 seconds | 4.2 seconds |
| Suspension | Adaptive air suspension | Air Ride adaptive suspension |
The Hongqi also gets Continuous Damping Control, variable ride height and seven driving modes, including Comfort, Sport and Off-Road.
The Cadillac combines air suspension with semi-active damping and active rear steering. This helps improve its manoeuvrability despite its size.
Importantly, the Cadillac has already been driven on Australian roads, with its ride comfort and performance receiving positive feedback. The Hongqi’s Australian launch assessment was a static inspection, so its ride and handling still need to be tested.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Cadillac wins on performance and has a more convincing tested driving experience. The Hongqi has promising suspension hardware, but its real-world road manners remain to be established.
Battery, range and charging
The Hongqi E-HS9 has a bigger battery than the Cadillac. The 120kWh CATL NMC battery can deliver up to 548km on a single charge (WLTP).
The Cadillac Vistiq has a 91kWh battery and has a WLTP range of 461km.
This means that the Hongqi has an 87km lead over the Cadillac. But a bigger battery doesn’t always mean greater efficiency.
| Battery and charging | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Battery capacity | 120kWh | 91kWh |
| Claimed range | 548km WLTP | 461km WLTP |
| Peak DC charging | 140kW | 130kW |
| AC charging | 11kW | 22.1kW |
| Architecture | 400V | 400V |
Both vehicles can charge DC at a maximum of 140kW (Cadillac 130kW), which is fairly low for large luxury EV SUVs.
However, the Cadillac offers significantly better AC charging speeds of up to 22.1kW, compared to just 11kW on the Chinese offering. This may be an important factor for owners with three-phase compatible home charging setups.
Fast charging speeds will play an important role for customers that regularly drive long distances.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Hongqi wins on claimed driving range and battery capacity. The Cadillac offers faster AC charging, although neither SUV is particularly impressive on peak DC charging speed.
Safety and driver assistance
Both of these SUVs have an extensive list of advanced driver assistance technologies. However, they do not currently have any Australian ANCAP ratings.
The Hongqi E-HS9 received a five-star Euro NCAP rating for 2025. Safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane centre, lane keep assist, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and 360-degree camera.
The Cadillac Vistiq has adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.
Plus, it also features a front-facing night vision camera for seeing pedestrians and large animals in low-light conditions.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: Both offer plenty of safety technology. The Hongqi has a five-star Euro NCAP result, but Australian buyers should remember that this is not an ANCAP rating.
Warranty and ownership costs
The Hongqi E-HS9 has an advantage in its headline battery warranty. It comes with a seven-year/200,000km vehicle warranty and a 10-year/1,000,000km battery warranty for the first owner.
The Cadillac Vistiq has a five-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty. It also includes five years of roadside assistance.
| Warranty | Hongqi E-HS9 | Cadillac Vistiq |
| Vehicle warranty | 7 years/200,000km | 5 years/unlimited km |
| Battery warranty | 10 years/1,000,000km for first owner | 8 years/160,000km |
| Roadside assistance | Check local terms | 5 years |
The Hongqi’s battery coverage looks impressive, but buyers should check the first-owner condition and how it affects resale.
The Cadillac benefits from an established local brand presence, while HQ is building its Australian dealer and service network.
At this price, buyers should also check servicing costs, parts availability and the full warranty conditions before making a decision.
Cars24 Australia’s Verdict: The Hongqi offers longer headline warranty coverage, particularly for its battery. Cadillac has the advantage of a more established local brand presence.
Hongqi E-HS9 vs Cadillac Vistiq verdict
Hongqi E-HS9 and Cadillac Vistiq offer up two very different luxury EV options.
With a bigger battery, longer range and more traditional luxurious interior, this offers a very interesting alternative to the premium EV market. With front seats included, more features and longer battery warranty.
Expect to pay quite a bit more for it, has a slower DC charging time and the back seat will be tight. If you can’t get an Australian road test done, it’s a tricky one to recommend.
Cadillac Vistiq offers a much more realistic option with a lower price, more power and torque, quicker acceleration and more boot space when all 6 seats are in use. It also offers a more comfortable ride and technology.
Cars24 Australia’s pick: Cadillac Vistiq!
It offers a better balance of price, performance, comfort and everyday practicality. The Hongqi E-HS9 is worth considering if battery capacity, traditional luxury finishes and distinctive styling matter more, but it still has a few questions to answer.
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