The new energy vehicle market buzzes with activity. New cars appear continuously. For ordinary people, choosing an electric car feels like picking a good partner for life. Three core features—range, fast charging, and smart driving—directly affect quality of life. Recently, the BYD Qin L EV entered the market with a starting price of 119,800 yuan (16450$). Netizens call it the “price killer.” It comes standard with the Tian Shen Zhi Yan C and a rear-drive layout, raising the bar for compact electric vehicles.
If the Qin L EV is the “phenomenal product” of 2025, then the Aion RT and Xpeng MONA M03 were last year’s “top stars.” In August 2024, the M03 delivered over 10,000 units in 22 days. It features 621L of magic space, a 15.6-inch central control screen, and the XNGP smart driving system. It stands out as a “game changer” in its segment.
In November, the Aion RT launched. Its design, 650 km range, and lidar technology attracted 40,000 orders. Recently, the Aion RT introduced the 650 Smart Enjoy version. It is the first in the industry to bring the 650 km range into the 120,000 yuan (16480$) price range.
These three cars compete like characters in a martial arts novel, each showcasing their skills for the title of compact electric vehicle “king.” 1. Range showdown: Who can go farther and last longer? Range matters for electric vehicles. It determines usage scenarios and user experience, much like a gas tank for traditional cars. Let’s examine the longest-range versions of these three cars. Range: The hidden story behind the numbers The Aion RT 650 Smart Edition features a CATL 68kWh battery, offering a CLTC range of 650km. It uses a high-cost battery cell formula from CATL, ensuring long battery life and a lifetime warranty. The battery includes advanced safety features, such as moisture-absorbing technology and a 2.0 battery module that prevents fire from punctures and explosions from gunfire.
The Aion RT offers impressive range. It stands out for its reliability. Multiple media outlets, including “Youche Yihou,” confirmed this. The Aion RT 650 Smart Edition achieved a 101.1% completion rate in range tests. It averages only 10.37 kWh per 100 kilometers. Both figures exceed the class average.
Assuming a daily commute of 35 km and a weekend trip of 50 km, the weekly energy consumption totals 225 km. The Aion RT 650 achieves a charging interval of about 20 days, showing clear advantages for intercity commuting. The Xpeng MONA M03 long-range version features a 62.2 kWh battery with a CLTC range of 620 km. It uses lithium iron phosphate batteries produced by Nanning Fudi, which offer improved energy density. The battery includes a thermal spread prevention design and employs real-time thermal management technology for pre-heating and smart temperature control. The charging cycle lasts about 19 days, balancing range and driving experience, making it suitable for users seeking performance within a 200 km radius. However, it lacks a lifetime warranty.
BYD Qin L EV 545KM Excellence: It has a battery capacity of 56.64 kWh. The CLTC range reaches 545 km. It features BYD’s lithium iron phosphate blade battery. The CTB technology integrates the battery pack cover with the vehicle floor. It can withstand 50 tons of pressure. The vehicle uses dual-loop direct cooling and heating technology to stabilize battery temperature. Users need to charge it approximately every 17 days. This model suits city commuters with an average daily distance of 50 km. It also offers a lifetime warranty.
Overall, the Aion RT 650 shows excellent real-world range. It has the lowest charging frequency and offers a lifetime warranty, similar to the BYD Qin L EV. The Xpeng MONA M03 lacks a lifetime warranty but performs well across various aspects. Fast charging speed: Who can recharge faster? Charging speed matters. No one wants to waste time at a charging station. All three cars use a 400V platform. They seem similar, but their fast charging technologies differ. The 400V 3C fast charging is a better option. It has more charging stations and wider coverage. With 3C fast charging, multiple cars can charge together, sharing the power load and speeding up the process. Plus, silicon carbide technology reduces energy consumption and increases charging efficiency.
Aion RT: It takes 18 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. This is the fastest among the three cars, thanks to its 400V 3C fast charging and silicon carbide technology. Xpeng MONA M03: It takes 26 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. BYD Qin L EV: It takes 28 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%. Assuming weekly charging, that’s four times a month. Aion RT saves several to over ten minutes each time. Over a month, this saved time adds up significantly. Section Two: Smart Driving Showdown: Who is Smarter and Safer? Smart driving is the soul of new energy vehicles. It makes driving easier, safer, and more enjoyable. Let’s examine the highest versions of the three cars. Hardware Configuration: LiDAR vs. Vision Aion RT’s LiDAR version features a 126-line LiDAR and an Orin-X chip with 254 TOPS of computing power. It supports NDA for highways and urban areas. In tricky parking scenarios, such as end-space and sloped parking, it achieves a success rate of 99%.
The Aion RT is the only model in its class with advanced lidar for smart driving. Lidar acts like the car’s “all-seeing eye.” It recognizes the environment more accurately at night and in backlight conditions. This enhances safety and provides greater redundancy.
Xpeng MONA M03 Max uses a visual and millimeter-wave radar system. It has a computing power of 508 TOPS. The high-speed NGP feature is mature. However, extreme weather may affect its performance.
The Qin L EV comes standard with the God Eye C—High-level Intelligent Driving Three-eye Version. It currently supports high-speed navigation only, suitable for highway commuting.
One crucial point: various hardware configurations divide the smart driving experience into different levels. Software can update over-the-air (OTA), but you cannot upgrade hardware later. When buying a car, choose high hardware specifications for the best experience. 3. Smart Vehicle Comparison: Configuration Details Determine Quality The Aion RT features an intelligent cockpit with a standard 14.6-inch central touchscreen and ADiGO 5.0 system. It responds to voice commands in just 0.28 seconds and supports continuous commands. Say “I’m a bit hot,” and it automatically turns on the air conditioning. Say “I’m hungry,” and it navigates to a restaurant. It can even answer various AI questions. The front seats come with heating and ventilation. Higher trims include memory for the front seats and rear armrests/cup holders.
The BYD Qin L EV shows significant differences in interior configuration between the high-end and mid-low models. The high-end model features a 15.6-inch central control screen, an 8.8-inch instrument display, and a 12-inch W-HUD. It also includes a cooling and heating refrigerator, enhancing the tech feel and overall driving experience. In contrast, the mid-low models come with a 12.8-inch central control screen and an 8.8-inch instrument display, which lowers the display specifications. Additionally, only the high-end model offers heated and ventilated front seats. The mid-low models lack this practical feature, which diminishes the driving experience.
Xpeng MONA M03 targets the “150,000-level mobile smart terminal.” It features a 15.6-inch central control screen. The device includes an 8155 chip and 16GB of memory. It supports multi-zone voice recognition. The base model lacks extra features. The other two models offer front seat heating, ventilation, and 256-color ambient lighting.
Recommendation Index Aion RT ★★★★★ Qin L EV ★★★★☆ MONA M03 ★★★★☆ Purchase Suggestions and Summary: If you seek the latest smart driving systems and cutting-edge technology, choose the Aion RT with lidar. It offers city NOA and highway NOA. The software can update via OTA. However, missing hardware like lidar limits future updates. It’s best to invest fully. The Aion RT also performs well in battery, range, and interior tech, not just smart driving.
If you want to experience a diverse smart ecosystem and are not interested in advanced lidar for high-level driving, consider the Xiaopeng MOMA M03. It has a unique design. However, its range and fast charging ability fall short of the Aion RT.
If you want to spend little money on a big deal and don’t want to spend much on a car, the BYD Qin L EV is a good choice. It has a price advantage, especially for the base model. However, it falls short in range, fast charging, and smart features compared to the other two cars.
The best car is the one that suits you. I wish everyone can buy their ideal vehicle.