1. Safety Features: From Basic Protection to Active Prevention
1.1 Standard Safety Equipment (Becoming Universal)
Body Structure: Proportion of hot-formed steel (e.g., Volvo XC90: 40%).
Airbags: Ranging from 6 (Toyota Corolla) to 10 (Lexus ES).
Tire Pressure Monitoring: Mandatory in the EU/China.
1.2 Advanced Active Safety Systems Compared
| Brand/System | Model | Key Features | Real-World Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo City Safety | XC60 | Oncoming Lane Mitigation + Intersection AEB | Avoids collisions ≤60 km/h |
| Toyota TSS 3.0 | Camry | Curve Speed Control + Pedestrian Detection (Day/Night) | >90% rural road detection |
| Tesla Autopilot | Model Y | Vision-Only + OTA Updates | Excellent on highways |
| Huawei ADS 2.0 | AITO M7 | LiDAR + Map-Free Urban Navigation | Industry-leading intersection handling |
Notable Tests:
AEB Performance: AITO M7 stopped from 80 km/h in nighttime backlight tests (Dongchedi), outperforming Model Y (60 km/h).
Special Scenarios: Volvo detects large animals (e.g., moose); Toyota excels at bicycle recognition.
2. Smart Technology: From Infotainment to Autonomous Driving
2.1 Smart Cockpit Systems Compared
| System | Model | Smoothness (FPS) | App Ecosystem | Voice Assistant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HarmonyOS | AITO M5 | 60Hz | Phone-to-car sync | "See-and-Speak" commands |
| BYD DiLink | Han EV | 30Hz | Android app support | Multi-zone recognition |
| BMW iDrive 8 | iX | 45Hz | Limited customization | Natural language |
| Tesla OS | Model S | 60Hz | Closed system | Basic commands only |
Innovations:
Li L9: Rear-seat gesture control (adjusts AC/sunroof).
NIO ET7: AR-HUD projects navigation arrows onto the road.
2.2 Autonomous Driving Levels
L2 (Basic): Toyota TSS/Honda SENSING (lane-keeping + ACC).
L2+ (Advanced): Xpeng XNGP/Huawei ADS (auto lane changes/ramp navigation).
L3 (Conditional): Mercedes DRIVE PILOT (hands-free ≤60 km/h in Germany).
Real Data:
Xpeng G9’s urban NGP in Guangzhou CBD averages 0.3 disengagements per 100 km.
3. Comfort Features: From Essentials to Luxury
3.1 Seat Technology
Ventilation/Heating: From front-only (Camry) to 4-seat standard (NIO ET7).
Massage Functions:
Basic: 5 modes (Li L8).
Premium: 16-point airbags + hot-stone (Mercedes S-Class).
3.2 Cabin Environment
| Feature | Economy Example | Luxury Example | Cutting-Edge Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC System | Manual dual-zone | Quad-zone | Tesla Bioweapon Defense Mode |
| Audio | 6-speaker | Bowers & Wilkins 31-sp | AITO M9’s HUAWEI SOUND |
| NVH Control | Sound insulation | Active noise canceling | NIO ET9’s "Zero Vibration" tech |
3.3 Thoughtful Details
Storage: Honda Fit’s "Magic Seats" vs. Zeekr 009’s front-seat fridge.
Access: Rolls-Royce auto doors vs. HiPhi X’s winged doors.
4. Brand Strategies Compared
| Region | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| German | Chassis tuning + premium materials | Laggy infotainment (VW ID.7: 0.5s delay) |
| Japanese | Reliability + storage design | Outdated tech (Highlander’s 720P screen) |
| American | Bold innovation (Cybertruck steer-by-wire) | Quality control (Model 3 panel gaps) |
| Chinese | NIO battery swap (3 mins) / Li Auto air suspension | Rapid iteration risks bugs |
5. Buying Recommendations
Safety First: Volvo XC60 + Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade.
Tech Enthusiast: AITO M9 (Huawei ADS 2.0 + HarmonyOS cockpit).
Family Practical: Toyota Sienna (TSS 3.0 + versatile space).
Luxury Seeker: Mercedes S-Class (rear airbags + 4D Burmester sound).
Future Trends:
2024: LiDAR costs drop to $200; EU mandates driver monitoring systems (DMS).
Biometrics: Fingerprint/iris ignition goes mainstream.
Test Drive Checklist:
✔ Continuous voice command responsiveness.
✔ Nighttime AEB sensitivity.
✔ Highway noise insulation.
Final Tip: Distinguish "must-haves" from marketing gimmicks by prioritizing features that match your daily use.
