Electric vehicles attract more and more consumers with their agile driving experience and convenient intelligence. However, for some consumers with diverse driving scenarios, range anxiety has discouraged many people. Many car manufacturers have targeted this market demand precisely. Plug-in hybrid models with low power consumption, intelligence, and agile driving experience of electric vehicles have ushered in unprecedented development. The Hi4 system launched by Great Wall Group is a rising star in the plug-in hybrid field. It has received good feedback after being first installed on the Haval Xilong MAX. Today, our protagonist, the Mocha from Wei brand, has upgraded the 2nd gear Hi4 of the Xilong MAX to 4th gear Hi4. As the first model equipped with a 4th gear Hi4 hybrid system, what surprises will the Mocha bring us? Let’s find out together.
In terms of design, the Mocha Hi4 version is consistent with the previously launched DHT PHEV. The new family design language is more refined compared to the previous VV series models. The front of the car features popular split headlights with a continuous LED light strip design. Due to having an engine, a closed front grille is not used.
In terms of body size, the Mocha Hi4 version measures 4881*1960*1690mm in length, width, and height, with a wheelbase of 2915mm. It belongs to the standard mid-size SUV category and has certain advantages in size compared to competitors.
The new car features a powerful 20-inch 5-spoke wheel design and Michelin Eco Contact 6 tires, identical to the DHT PHEV model.
The taillights feature a split design, with a slight bulge in the transition of the C-pillar, adding a sporty touch to the rear. The Hi4 badge at the rear is the quickest way to identify the new vehicle.
The interior design remains simple and durable, with a black and rice color scheme creating a warm visual effect.
It is worth mentioning that the new car’s workmanship and materials are superior in the same level, the visual effect and touch of the actual car are very outstanding, giving a luxurious feel.
The new car features a 9.2-inch digital instrument panel with a clean display and a simple UI design. The flat design is also in line with current aesthetics.
The main body of the central control car system is a 14.6-inch horizontal screen, equipped with the new Coffee OS 2 system. Compared to the previous generation, the new car system has been optimized based on user feedback, upgraded the Xiaowei 2.0 new anthropomorphic IP image, and improved the interaction experience. In addition, the newly upgraded card desktop has improved usability and introduced the iFlytek voice system. It is worth mentioning that the new car also supports HUAWEI HiCar 4.0 integrated desktop and CarPlay, catering to different user preferences.
The interior almost eliminates traditional physical buttons, with a separate screen for air conditioning controls. This screen can also control the sunroof, sunshades, and rearview mirror, featuring a simple design and smooth operation.
As one of the first manufacturers in the country to adopt streaming rearview mirrors, the Moka Hi4 still uses this design, with almost no delay and very high display clarity.
In terms of space, the new car is identical to the DHT PHEV model. The seats of the new car are wrapped in Nappa leather, with a spacious and thick design, as well as a comfortable level of firmness.
Although the absolute space is not exaggerated nowadays, we don’t need to worry too much about a mid-size SUV with a wheelbase of over 2.9 meters. Compared to absolute space, the Mocha excels in seat cushion length, seat back angle, and seat comfort, which are all top-notch in the same class. We must give credit to this. While a large space easily gains consumers’ direct favor, focusing on these details that affect comfort brings even greater improvement to the consumer experience.
Under normal circumstances, the trunk of the Mocha has a depth of nearly 1 meter, enough to handle most daily use scenarios. The rear seats can be folded down in proportion, and the flatness after folding is good, showing a more impressive expanded space.
In terms of intelligent driving systems, the Mocha Hi4 has 22 perception units that can achieve HWA highway driving assistance and NOH intelligent navigation assistance. In addition, functions such as intelligent lane protection, intelligent entrance and exit ramp, intelligent recognition of confusing intersections, and intelligent avoidance of merging lanes can also be realized in the new car. During our test drive, we also briefly experienced this part, and the overall intelligent driving performance was very smooth and natural, already reaching the performance of domestic first-line intelligent driving systems.
The Weipai New Mocha Hi4 plug-in hybrid system consists of a 1.5T engine, an 80kW front axle motor, a 135kW rear axle motor, a four-speed gearbox, and an electronic control system. The 1.5T engine has a maximum power of 125kW and a maximum torque of 245Nm. This engine is specially designed by Great Wall for the hybrid system, with a thermal efficiency of up to 41.5%.
The special feature of the Mocha Hi4 hybrid is its 4-speed transmission, which allows for a wider gear ratio range. This helps improve fuel efficiency at high speeds and enhances off-road capabilities at low speeds. The Mocha Hi4 balances performance, fuel efficiency, and safety effectively.
The new car offers a variety of driving modes to choose from, including pure electric two-wheel drive mode, pure electric four-wheel drive, series mode, power cut direct drive, economy mode direct drive, parallel two-wheel drive, parallel four-wheel drive, single-axis energy recovery, dual-axis energy recovery. Intelligent switching of nine modes ensures that users can match the optimal working mode in any travel scenario, covering normal driving in urban areas, rapid acceleration/climbing in urban areas, high-speed cruising, high-speed acceleration/climbing, and deceleration braking.
Before talking about the driving experience of the Mocha Hi4, we must first mention a technology from Great Wall Group, the iTVC intelligent torque vectoring control system. This system can quickly distribute and dynamically adjust torque to the front and rear axles, improving stability and safety. This system allows torque to switch between the front and rear axles in just 10 milliseconds, enhancing overall performance in handling, off-road capabilities, and safety. The Mocha Hi4 is equipped with this technology. For hybrid vehicles, climbing has always been a weakness due to gear ratios. With the 4-speed transmission in the Mocha Hi4, the maximum climbing angle reaches 70%, which is impressive. During the test drive, we experienced the Mocha Hi4’s impressive climbing ability, providing the driver with confidence even when starting on a slope.
In city traffic, this hybrid system with a total power of 350kW and a maximum torque of 760N·m gives us a strong power. The acceleration time from 0-100km/h is only 4.7 seconds, which is very fast for a midsize SUV.
Switching between different modes is seamless in the new car. For consumers who are not as sensitive, the driving experience is closer to that of a pure electric vehicle most of the time. Three main power modes are available for consumers to choose from. In the intelligent hybrid mode, the vehicle prioritizes electric power in city low-speed scenarios and gasoline power in medium to high-speed scenarios. The engine is started based on vehicle speed and throttle opening to minimize fuel consumption and increase range. In the pure electric priority mode, the engine only intervenes during sudden acceleration, balancing fuel efficiency and power output. The pure electric mode locks the battery power for the entire journey, providing a better driving experience with motor drive. The new car is equipped with NCM 811 batteries from CATL, providing a pure electric range of 200km under CLTC conditions, perfect for urban driving scenarios.
In addition, the new car has 3 adjustable regenerative braking modes, all of which are not too abrupt and will not affect the driving experience of the occupants. The chassis tuning of the Mocha Hi4 is very solid, leaning towards comfort but also considering handling performance. The filtering of road vibrations is very effective, with a positive but not abrupt rebound, giving a sense of advanced air suspension. The support during cornering is also good, showing that effort has been put into chassis tuning.
In addition, the new car’s NVH performance has received absolute praise, with wind noise, tire noise, and engine noise all being very well suppressed. The steering force can be set in multiple gears, with overall performance being light and easy to handle. The only small flaw comes from the brakes, with the pedal feeling slightly strange and the effective stroke not very linear, requiring some time to adapt. Overall, in terms of dynamic performance, the new Wei Mocha Hi4 version can score high. The various modes perfectly match different driving scenarios, with both power and chassis performing exceptionally well. Compared to the DHT version, the 4-speed gearbox can bring outstanding performance in getting out of tough situations and better fuel economy, making the new car a more perfect choice. Of course, the new car has not yet been launched, and the expected price is likely to be higher than the existing DHT models. As for how much higher, we will have to wait for the price to be announced. In summary, plug-in hybrids with large batteries are really suitable for the current driving scenarios. With home charging conditions, using electricity for city driving and occasionally using fuel for long trips is very close to the needs of most people. You can enjoy the agile driving experience and low cost of an electric car, without any range anxiety. We can also see how high the sales of models like the Ideal and BYD are. As a newcomer, Great Wall’s expertise in hybrid systems can be said to be no less than anyone else’s. At the same time, they have achieved a more balanced approach in terms of cost, performance, and low energy consumption. If you need a high-quality family SUV and have a relatively sufficient budget, then equipping it with the 4-speed Hi4 can definitely be included in your car shopping list.