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Exlantix ET. A premium Chinese SUV that aims to be a limousine.

Exlantix ET. A premium Chinese SUV that aims to be a limousine.

Exlantix ET is another Chinese electric car that I had the chance to drive (thanks to EV Klub Polska). It’s a vehicle that stands out greatly on the road. It looks like a true SUV combined with a limousine, and it’s hard to find a similar car that draws attention in the same way. When I pass one of these on the road, I sometimes wonder if it might be the Exlantix ET. The larger Jaecoo might be somewhat similar (but only in the front). The car belongs to the Chery group and is aimed at those looking for a large, comfortable, and well-equipped electric vehicle.

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As soon as you get inside, it’s clear the manufacturer aimed to create a car for discerning customers. The light interior trim, elegant finishes, and comfortable seats strongly remind me of a car for a CEO. I get in, adjust the seat, can settle in comfortably, and set off on my journey. However, after a week of testing, it turned out the Exlantix ET is a car full of contradictions. On one hand, it offers a high level of comfort and technology, but on the other, it has several shortcomings that are hard to expect from a car costing around 350,000 zł.

Exlantix ET. Specifications

Dimensions: 4980 x 1975 x 1698 mm

Weight: 2450 kg

Battery capacity: 100 kWh

Drive type: AWD, four-wheel drive

Power: 353 kW

Electric architecture: 800 V

Maximum DC charging power: around 290 kW

Price: around 350,000 zł

A large SUV that truly stands out on the road

The Exlantix ET is almost five meters long, just under two meters wide, and weighs 2450 kg. It is a truly large vehicle that looks very sturdy on the road. Stylistically, it resembles a combination of a SUV and a luxury limousine. It is not another electric car trying to mimic Tesla; it has its own distinct character and stands out clearly from other cars.

At the front, we have a beautifully designed front end, beneath which hardly any technical components are visible. The manufacturer paid attention to elegant finishing, giving the whole unit an impressively well-crafted appearance. There is also a trunk under the hood that allows for storing cables, windshield washer fluid, and other essential accessories. It may not be large enough for the biggest suitcases, but it is more than sufficient for items that should always be within easy reach.

The access to the windshield washer fluid is also very well thought out. There’s no need to search for it under a complicated plastic cover, like in some cars I’ve tested. Here, everything is easily accessible.

Trunk that can accommodate a family for a long trip

At the back of the car, we have a truly large trunk. It’s easy to pack an entire family for a long outing, and there shouldn’t be any trouble carrying all the necessary items. Below the main trunk area, there’s a small compartment where you can store an extra cable, emergency wipes, or other small items. However, it’s not a second full-sized trunk like those found in some electric vehicles.

The mechanism for opening the hatch is cleverly designed. There’s no traditional button that needs to be searched for under the hatch. Simply press the “I” letter in the Exlantix logo located on the rear of the vehicle. I must admit I didn’t discover this right away and had to consult the user manual.

If we want to transport something larger, we can use the electrically folding seats in the second row. The controls for them are located in the trunk, so there’s no need to go into the cabin to prepare the vehicle for carrying a bigger load.

Interior like a president’s car

Inside, the Exlantix ET makes a very good first impression. Light-colored upholstery, elegant materials, and comfortable seats create an atmosphere reminiscent of a luxury car. In my test version, the interior was light-colored, which further emphasized its elegant character.

We don’t have a fully equipped console with dozens of physical buttons here. Most functions are controlled through the central screen. In front of the driver is a display showing the most important driving information, while the large central screen serves as the control hub for the entire vehicle. The air conditioning, vehicle settings, multimedia, and other functions are all accessible there.

On the steering wheel, there are two touch buttons and two rollers. It’s not a solution that immediately caught my eye, but one can get used to it after a while.

One of the more interesting features is the three protruding elements located beneath the screen. These are scent containers that we can fill on our own. Once the appropriate mode is selected, the car begins to emit the chosen scent. This eliminates the need to invest in additional air fresheners. It’s an unconventional gadget that fits well with the car’s character.

Technology I’ve Never Seen Before

The Exlantix ET has several features that truly surprised me. One of them is the ability to display charging curve information directly in the car while it’s charging. This is the first car I’ve encountered with such a feature. We can monitor how the charging power changes without having to use external apps or additional devices.

The system’s infotainment also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most functions work properly, though the interface itself still needs refinement. Some elements are poorly translated, and finding certain settings takes some time. Not everything is as intuitive as it could be in a car of this class.

We also have a sophisticated ambient lighting system that can be customized. The speaker located behind the central screen, on the windshield, looks great too. There’s a snowflake symbol on it whose meaning I couldn’t determine, but the element itself is interesting. Importantly, the lighting around this speaker really pleased my children.

Pneumatic suspension and the comfort one would expect

When it comes to driving comfort, the Exlantix ET doesn’t disappoint. The vehicle features a pneumatic suspension that can be adjusted to some extent by changing the driving mode or using custom settings. This allows us to tailor the car’s behavior to the current conditions.

The driving experience is very comfortable. It’s only natural for a car of this size and class. The driver’s and passenger’s seats are electrically adjustable, come with massage functions, and have adjustable footrests. You can really settle in comfortably and get ready for a longer journey.

Interestingly, the rear seats are also electrically adjustable. Passengers have their own screen to control the climate, seat heating and ventilation, as well as the music or radio. So, you can somewhat annoy the driver by changing the music while driving. Heating and ventilation are available for the two rear seats.

However, there is a certain issue here. Although the Exlantix ET appears to be a luxury car for highly demanding customers, the rear cabin does not offer as many premium features as one might expect. There is just a regular cupholder in the armrest, and that’s pretty much it. The manufacturer could have gone all out here by adding at least a small refrigerator or more comprehensive amenities for the passenger in the back, especially considering it’s a car priced around 350,000 zł.

Seat massage could be better

Seat massage is available, but I must admit that I really preferred the solution used in the Kia EV9. There, the massage covered not only the back but also the buttocks. During longer trips, this was definitely more comfortable and allowed the body to relax a bit after two or three hours of driving.

In the Exlantix ET, we have eight predefined massage modes, but I couldn’t find one that covered all areas of the back in the way I expected. I missed a massage that reached the entire surface of the back. For a car of this class and price, I would have expected something more comprehensive.

Compartment, Phone Charging, and Practical Features

There is a fairly deep compartment under the armrests, with two phone holders in front of them. One of these is equipped with an induction charger that includes cooling. This is a very good idea, especially in a car where the phone is used heavily for navigation.

Under the center console, there is additional space for a bag or other items. The car also offers two cupholders that make it convenient to carry drinks.

The ISOFIX anchors on the rear seat are also cleverly designed. They are hidden under a fabric panel attached with Velcro. If we’re not using child seats, we don’t see any protruding parts or openings. Simply unattach the Velcro to access the anchors.

Under the passenger seats, there is a 220 V socket with a maximum power output of 2400 W. Additionally, the car supports Vehicle-to-Load, allowing it to serve as a power source for external devices. This is another feature that proves useful during trips or when using the car outside the city.

800 V and fast charging. Here, Exlantix truly impresses.

The Exlantix ET uses an 800 V architecture with a battery capacity of 100 kWh. The maximum charging power is around 290 kW, though during my test I managed to achieve slightly more, around 292-293 kW.

This is an excellent result, especially for a car of this size. With such a battery, fast charging is crucial for longer trips. We can top up the energy during a break, which is advisable anyway after a few hours of driving.

I also really liked the ability to monitor the charging curve in the car mentioned earlier. I hope more manufacturers will introduce similar features.

Energy consumption. Not bad for such a giant

The Exlantix ET is a huge vehicle, so it’s hard to expect it to use as much energy as a small urban electric car. Still, the results turned out to be quite decent.

While driving on highways, my energy consumption was around 23 kWh/100 km. For a car of these dimensions, weight, and with all-wheel drive, this is truly a good result.

While driving in the city and its surroundings, the consumption was around 18-21 kWh/100 km. This might not be a figure that encourages setting records for economical driving, but given its size, it’s not a disaster either.

With a battery capacity of 100 kWh, we can expect around 300-400 km on the road, depending on conditions. In winter, one should expect a lower range. In the city and while driving around urban areas, a range of around 500 km is easily achievable.

The car is full of contradictions. Not everything has been perfected.

The Exlantix ET is a car that clearly shows how Chinese manufacturers can surprise with their equipment, but at the same time leave a few aspects that need improvement.

On one hand, it has a pneumatic suspension, electrically adjustable seats, massage functions, adjustable footrests, a 220 V outlet, V2L capability, fast charging, and advanced ambient lighting. On the other hand, it lacks several features that I would expect in a car priced around 350,000 zł.

For example, only the interior mirror is photochromatic. The side mirrors do not have this feature. It might seem like a minor detail, but it is somewhat surprising in a car aiming for the premium segment. I also don’t understand why the manufacturer didn’t opt for automatic door closing. We have a pneumatic suspension and many comfortable extras, but the doors must be closed manually, without that characteristic closing action seen in many luxury cars.

It’s also a shame that there’s no way to cover the panoramic roof. With such a large glass surface, such a feature would be truly useful, especially when driving in strong sunlight.

Infotainment can be surprising, though not always in a positive way

The multimedia system still needs improvement. During the week of testing, I encountered situations where the car settings I had previously configured simply changed. For example, I had the HUD turned on, but after some time, it turned out the display was turned off. The same thing happened with the seat settings. When I got into the car, the seat was already adjusted differently from before.

It’s these little details that can be frustrating during everyday use. I don’t expect every Chinese manufacturer to have a perfectly translated system right away. I understand that brands new to the Polish market need time to refine localization. But stability of settings and proper functioning of basic functions should be well-established from the start.

I must also admit that the navigation sometimes failed to keep up with the car. I was driving normally on the road, yet the map seemed to try to catch up by jumping between different locations. It might not be a problem that prevents using the car, but for a vehicle of this class, I would expect significantly better performance.

Exlantix ET. Is this a premium car?

After a week of testing, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, the Exlantix ET is a very comfortable, large, and well-equipped electric car. It features fast charging, a decent range, a pneumatic suspension, comfortable seats, and many interesting features. While driving, it feels like a car designed for long trips and transporting an entire family in comfortable conditions.

On the other hand, not everything is perfectly refined here. The infotainment system can behave strangely, the car’s settings sometimes change, and it lacks automatic door closing, photochromic side mirrors, or the ability to cover the panoramic roof. The rear cabin could also offer more luxury amenities.

The Exlantix ET is a car with potential, but it isn’t yet refined in every aspect as much as its price would suggest. If someone is looking for a large, comfortable electric SUV with fast charging and plenty of features, it’s definitely worth considering. However, if we expect the level of refinement typical of the most experienced premium car manufacturers, some of its solutions may disappoint us.

The Exlantix ET is another example of a Chinese car that shows how rapidly the local automotive industry is developing. It also reminds us that having many features doesn’t always mean the product is fully complete.