As the best-selling Chinese brand executive sedan, does BYD Han have the strength to challenge Audi A6L?

Comparing BYD Han with Audi A6L, many people would think that there is no comparison at all. One is a traditional German luxury brand, and the other is a rising star in China; what's more, one costs more than 200,000 yuan, while the other costs 400,000 to 600,000 yuan. Most consumers would not compare them like this when buying a car.

But if we put aside the stereotypes and simply look at the product strength, this showdown is actually quite interesting. First of all, in terms of vehicle model level, BYD Han and Audi A6L are both medium-to-large sedans with basically the same body size. The Audi A6L is over 5 meters long, while BYD Han is close to 5 meters; the wheelbase of A6L is over 3 meters, while BYD Han is 2.92 meters. But in terms of width and height, Han is relatively superior, so it can be said that both sides have won and lost.

Second, in terms of styling, the two models are from the same school. Wolfgang Egger has many years of work experience in luxury brands such as Alfa Romeo, Audi, and Lamborghini. The Audi A1, A3, A6, A7, Q7, R8, and Audi quattro concept cars were all designed by him. Now as BYD's global design director, Han has obviously become one of his most proud works, with a unique design concept that is ahead of the trend.

It is undeniable that the Audi A6L has the refinement and sharpness of a traditional luxury brand, while the Han has achieved an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.233 with its graceful coupe-like figure. In particular, the "Dragon Face" design language, which combines traditional Chinese culture with modern industrial design, has formed a good balance between technology, sports and personality, becoming a new classic that keeps up with the times.

Third, in terms of performance, BYD Han has an overwhelming advantage. In terms of drive, both cars have two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid versions. The Audi A6L is powered by a 2.0T and 3.0T turbocharged engine. The 2.0T high and low power versions are 140 kW, 320 Nm and 165 kW, 350 Nm respectively, while the 3.0T has a power of 250 kW and 500 Nm.

The power of BYD Han EV's front drive motor is 163 kW and 330 Nm, which is basically between the high and low power versions of Audi's 2.0T engine in terms of parameters. However, thanks to the more direct and smooth physical characteristics of electric motor power output, its intuitive driving experience is better than that of traditional fuel vehicles. Moreover, the power output of the front and rear dual motors of the Han EV's four-wheel drive version reaches 363 kW and 680 Nm, and the acceleration time of 3.9 seconds can be said to be several blocks ahead of the Audi A6L.

As for the plug-in hybrid version of Audi A6L, if it is not for comparison, it is almost completely out of people's attention. The price is 508,000 yuan, and the pure electric range is 54 kilometers. BYD Han DM is priced at 219,800 yuan and 239,800 yuan, and the pure electric range is 81 kilometers. What is more worth looking forward to is the Han DM-i model, with ultra-low fuel consumption and balanced performance, it is destined to be another hot model in the future.

Fourth, let's talk about riding comfort, which is particularly important for executive-class sedans, especially the back row. In terms of absolute size, BYD Han is not superior, but it is only a difference in spaciousness and luxury, and the seats are more important in affecting comfort. Compared with the Audi A6L, Han's rear seat backrest angle is larger, the cushion is softer, and the support for the body is better. Especially for the Han EV four-wheel drive version, the rear seats also have electric adjustment, heating, ventilation and other functions, which are not available on the top-end Audi A6L model priced at more than 600,000 yuan.

In addition, NVH performance also affects comfort. As a best-selling executive sedan for many years, the performance of Audi A6L is naturally not bad. However, compared with suppressing the noise of combustion and explosion in the engine cylinder through various means, it is far less thorough than the inherent quietness of the electric motor. Therefore, in the noise tests of various media, BYD Han EV has almost reached the best level in the same class.

Fifth, regarding the technological configuration, we compare the top-of-the-line two-wheel drive models. The Han EV long-range premium version is priced at 255,800 yuan; the Audi A6L 45TFSI Enjoy Life Edition is priced at 445,500 yuan. The Han EV has remote start, NFC car key, in-car air purifier and negative ion generator, which the Audi A6L does not have; the Han EV's front seats have heating, ventilation, memory and boss keys, while the Audi A6L has these as options; the Han EV's 15.6-inch adaptive rotating central control screen can expand unlimited functions, while Audi still needs to connect to the phone through CarPlay; in terms of driving assistance, the Han EV has 360-degree panoramic images and full-speed adaptive cruise, while the Audi A6L only has ordinary reversing images and fixed-speed cruise.

Sixth, safety. German brands are known for their safety and durability. In the crash test conducted by China Insurance Research Institute, Audi A6L received excellent grades (G) except for the low-speed collision and repair economy index, which were P. BYD Han received the "Dual Excellent Safety Certification" in the two authoritative safety tests of China Insurance Research Institute C-IASI and C-NCAP.

In the China Insurance Automobile Safety Index (C-IASI) evaluation results released on June 9, 2021, the Han EV long-range luxury model that participated in the test achieved excellent (G) scores in the "in-vehicle occupant safety index", "out-of-vehicle pedestrian safety index", and "vehicle auxiliary safety index" tests.

In the results announced by C-NCAP China New Car Assessment Program on July 21, Han EV won the C-NCAP five-star safety certification with an overall score of 91.5%, ranking first among all new energy sedans participating in the test.

As a big brother who has been in the market for many years, BYD certainly has a lot to learn from Audi. But at the same time, we are also pleased to see that today's Chinese brands are no longer what they used to be, especially in the new track of new energy, where the leading advantage of Chinese brands is already very obvious.

Maybe most people won't compare BYD Han with Audi A6L, but more and more people are struggling between BYD Han and fuel-powered models such as Volkswagen Magotan and Toyota Camry. According to data from July, BYD Han's monthly sales reached 8,522 units, and its cumulative sales exceeded 100,000 units in one year since its launch. This is a new breakthrough for Chinese brands in the executive sedan field, just like Su Bingtian breaking the Asian record with a score of 9.83 seconds. As long as you work hard, nothing is impossible; as long as you work hard, time will always give you the best rewards!

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.