High-end intelligent driving performance is amazing. Test drive AITO Wenjie M5 e

Autonomous driving assistance has been a main theme in the development of the domestic automotive market in recent years, and most of the technologies that currently catch people's attention are found in new energy brands. For instance, the 2023 AITO Enovate M5 Smart Drive Edition, which was launched in April this year, introduced the industry's first high-level intelligent driving assistance solution (ADS 2.0) at that time. Not long ago, we also had the opportunity to test drive the AITO Enovate M5 Extended Range Smart Drive Edition; let's take a look at its actual performance.

The autonomous driving assistance capabilities are already at the industry-leading level.

Before diving into the formal experience, let's briefly introduce this latest ADS 2.0 system. In terms of hardware configuration, it is equipped with 1 roof-mounted LiDAR, 3 millimeter-wave radars, 11 high-definition cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars, enabling perception of both dynamic and static targets. With 4 MIMO antennas, it doubles the signal compared to the industry's advanced level, increasing by at least 3dB.

Enhanced by the road topology reasoning network, it can understand roads, traffic lights, and various other road elements even without high-precision maps, covering 90% of urban scenarios. In fact, this set of autonomous driving assistance features was already equipped on the previous Avicar 11, but with the upgrade of algorithms, the Enovate M5 Smart Drive Edition can now achieve stronger autonomous driving assistance capabilities with fewer LiDARs.

During this test drive, we also experienced autonomous driving assistance in urban and highway scenarios. Under several conditions that are quite challenging for the autonomous driving assistance system, the Enovate M5 Smart Drive Edition performed very well.Firstly, when entering and exiting the ramps, its movements are very smooth and natural, even feeling more skilled than most drivers who have been driving for one or two years, giving a strong sense of security. It can also accurately identify vehicles on the left and right, and complete lane changes while ensuring safety. Moreover, if this system detects a slow-moving large vehicle ahead, it will reduce speed for preemptive judgment. When it recognizes that the large vehicle has no lane-changing or other actions, it will automatically change lanes and overtake in a safe situation, with the entire set of actions also being very smooth.

In the process of urban autonomous driving assistance, its performance is also excellent. When encountering road construction and lane occupation ahead, it can also identify the water barriers on the roadside and slow down in advance to complete the lane change. Throughout the test drive, there were basically no situations where emergency intervention by the driver was required. However, it should be noted that even though this system has performed quite well, even surpassing many novice drivers, it is still an "human-machine co-driving" autonomous driving assistance system at present. Everyone still needs to pay attention to driving safety, but this system can effectively improve driving safety and reduce the number of times the driver needs to take over the vehicle.

Minor upgrades to appearance and interior

The extended-range version we tested this time has not changed much in appearance, with the biggest change being the lidar on the roof, which allows you to recognize at a glance that this is the intelligent driving version. The headlights have been redesigned, with dual lens headlights providing a wider illumination range, and the daytime running lights and turn signals have been integrated, making it look more concise and exquisite.

On the side, it can be seen that the AITO Enovate M5 extended-range intelligent driving version still has the elements of a crossover SUV, with simple and smooth body lines, and equipped with a new 20-inch wheel design. The drag coefficient has also reached 0.28Cd, which is quite excellent for this class.

In terms of interior, the AITO Enovate M5 extended-range intelligent driving version still focuses on a simple and technological style, with a floating central control screen and a large number of horizontal lines, which are the most mainstream styles at present. The workmanship and materials of the interior are also very good, with a large amount of leather wrapping giving you an excellent sense of luxury.The central control screen measures 15.6 inches, and the built-in HarmonyOS smart vehicle system can be considered one of the best vehicle systems in terms of user experience currently available. Its smoothness, functionality, and ease of operation are all top-notch, making it a major selling point of this vehicle.

The most significant change in the interior of the new extended-range intelligent driving version of the Enovate M5 is the position of the central control console. The new model features two 50W wireless fast-charging panels, and the rear cup holders have done away with the cover, giving a more streamlined appearance.

To provide a better entertainment experience for rear passengers, the new extended-range intelligent driving version of the Enovate M5 also comes with a MagLink magnetic vehicle interface, offering 27W fast charging, ultrasonic position recognition, magnetic child lock to prevent finger pinching, and a hanging capacity of 25KG.

Outstanding Driving Quality

In terms of power, the Enovate M5 intelligent driving version still offers two options: extended-range and pure electric. The version we tested was the extended-range model, available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The range extender uses a 1.5T engine with a maximum power of 152 horsepower, and the generator's rated power is 60kW. The rear-wheel drive version is equipped with a single 200kW electric motor, while the all-wheel drive version adds an additional 165kW front electric motor. The battery capacity is 40kWh, with WLTC pure electric ranges of 195km for the rear-wheel drive and 175km for the all-wheel drive. The WLTC fuel consumption is 0.53L/100km for the rear-wheel drive and 0.7L/100km for the all-wheel drive, with the rear-wheel drive version achieving a combined range of up to 1425km.

The 2023 Enovate M5 extended-range all-wheel drive intelligent driving version has essentially the same power as the 2022 extended-range all-wheel drive flagship version, except that the power of the range extender has been increased. The 0-100km/h acceleration time has improved to 4.68 seconds, which is only 0.2 seconds slower than the previous model, but the pure electric range has seen a significant increase.The driving experience of the entire vehicle has not changed significantly, offering a variety of driving modes, with noticeable differences in each mode. However, even in the energy-saving mode, there is still a decent power performance.

The NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) performance inside the cabin is also a topic of concern for extended-range powertrain models. The AITO M5 Extended-Range AWD Smart Driving Edition performs adequately. With sufficient battery power, the range extender rarely intervenes, resulting in a quiet cabin that exudes a sense of luxury. However, the intervention of the range extender is not entirely imperceptible. While it does not significantly impact the comfort inside the cabin, I believe there is still room for improvement at this price point.

The suspension deserves praise. The AITO M5 Extended-Range Smart Driving Edition features a front double wishbone independent suspension combined with a rear multi-link independent suspension, which is considered a high-end configuration for this class. The tuning of the suspension is also commendable, effectively filtering out minor road imperfections and vibrations. When navigating larger bumps or uneven surfaces, the vehicle's body control is impressive, with no unnecessary sway, providing an overall sense of high-quality ride.

In summary, the test drive experience of the AITO M5 Extended-Range Smart Driving Edition is indeed impressive, especially in terms of its autonomous driving assistance capabilities, which can be considered top-tier. It instills confidence in both congested urban conditions and high-speed scenarios. Additionally, the refinements in the exterior and interior details of the new model enhance the overall driving experience. Coupled with an already excellent infotainment system, the vehicle's comprehensive strength remains highly competitive in its class.