The Hongqi H5 Restyling (2026 model) is a B+ segment luxury sedan from FAW Hongqi, marking the most substantial mid-cycle facelift for the nameplate since its inception upon its official launch on 20 May 2026. The refreshed sedan is offered across five variants spanning two pure-petrol powertrains—1.5T and 2.0T—with official recommended retail pricing ranging from RM159,800 to RM189,800, alongside introductory promotional prices from RM121,000 to RM151,000. In terms of naming convention, the 2026 Hongqi H5 range uniformly adopts the "Pro" suffix across all variant badges to highlight its all-round product upgrade.
Positioning-wise, the 2026 Hongqi H5 benchmarks itself as a "B+ segment luxury sedan". Measuring 4,988 mm in length with a 2,920 mm wheelbase, it holds a decisive dimensional advantage over traditional joint-venture rivals (such as the Passat, Camry, and Accord), effectively filling the market void between mainstream D-segment contenders and executive C-segment luxury sedans. In 2025, cumulative sales of the Hongqi H5 reached 188,000 units, making it one of the top-selling Chinese domestic petrol mid-size sedans closest to the joint-venture pack. This facelift aims to further cement its stronghold in the petrol D-segment by stepping up across three core pillars: aesthetics, comfort, and intelligent tech.
On the styling front, the 2026 Hongqi H5 inherits and refines the marque's signature aesthetic, bringing its overall presence closer to the flagship Hongqi H9. Up front, the iconic waterfall-style vertical grille is retained, though the black surround trim has been deleted in favour of illuminated light strips integrated into the inner chrome bezel, resulting in a cleaner and sleeker visual stance. The restyled "Dragon Whisker" LED daytime running lights (DRLs) now sit higher along the bonnet shutline, working in tandem with the inverted F-shaped chrome garnishes inside the lower split LED headlamp clusters to deliver a sharper and more prestigious road presence.
In terms of exterior dimensions, the 2026 Hongqi H5 measures 4,988 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,470 mm tall, with a generous 2,920 mm wheelbase. The side profile retains its sweeping fastback coupe-style roofline, exuding an elongated and poised silhouette. Around the back, the full-width taillights feature thoroughly redesigned internal LED graphics with the central chrome strip deleted, while the rear bumper is paired with dual exhaust garnishes to add visual depth. The colour palette gains a new "Emerald Ripple Glow" bespoke exterior finish alongside a Dark Shadow Edition, which adds a blacked-out styling pack for the grille and alloy wheels, complemented by red brake callipers to better resonate with buyers aged between 25 and 35.
Under the skin, the 2026 Hongqi H5 carries over its proven petrol engine options in 1.5T and 2.0T guises. The 1.5T variant employs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 124 kW (169 PS) and 258 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT) to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.5 seconds with a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 6.1 L/100 km on RON 92 petrol, providing ample punch for daily city commuting. The higher-output 2.0T variant is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine generating 165 kW (224 PS) and 340 Nm of torque, paired with an Aisin 8-speed automatic gearbox, achieving 0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a WLTC rated fuel economy of 6.4 L/100 km on RON 95 fuel, ensuring abundant power reserves for highway overtaking and long-distance cruising. In addition, the facelifted lineup introduces a new 1.5T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant delivering a CLTC pure electric range of 170 km and a total cruising range exceeding 1,600 km on a full tank and full charge.
The 2026 Hongqi H5 rides strictly on a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout across all variants, with no all-wheel-drive (AWD) option on offer. Suspension hardware comprises front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent setup, tuned predominantly for ride comfort—soaking up minor road chatter thoroughly while maintaining commendable suppleness over undulating tarmac, well in line with its dual executive and family brief. A 5.7-metre minimum turning radius provides excellent agility in tight city streets and U-turn manoeuvres. Braking is handled by ventilated discs front and rear, with an electronic parking brake (EPB) fitted as standard across the range. The electric power steering (EPS) delivers a light, effortless feel that is easy to manage, though the range-topping 2.0T flagship does not include dedicated advanced chassis hardware beyond its Level 2 driver assistance systems.
Cockpit digitalisation serves as the focal point of the 2026 Hongqi H5 facelift, undergoing what is regarded as a ground-up transformation. Embracing a brand-new "Spreading Wings" wraparound dashboard design, the cabin completely ditches the outgoing model's embedded screen and mechanical gear lever, introducing a standard 15.6-inch 2.5K floating central infotainment display and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster; the top-spec 2.0T variant further adds a windshield head-up display (W-HUD) to create a tech-laden triple-screen cockpit. The traditional gear shifter makes way for an electronic steering-column stalk shifter, freeing up the centre console to house a 50W wireless smartphone fast charger while preserving an open lower storage tray and tactile shortcut buttons for an ideal balance of digital ambience and ergonomic convenience.
Under the hood of the infotainment is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155P chipset (7nm process, delivering 105 KDMIPS of CPU compute), running Hongqi's FAW.OS integrated with the Doubao AI large language model. This setup supports advanced voice capabilities including quad-zone voice recognition, execution of up to 10 consecutive commands within 30 seconds, contextual natural language understanding, and proactive emotional care features. For smartphone connectivity, it offers native compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Huawei HiCar, and Xiaomi CarLink, effectively eliminating the previous model's isolated in-car app experience. Seat comfort has been substantially upgraded, with the "Cloud-Feel" ergonomic seats gaining 20 mm thicker core foam padding for enhanced bolstering; the flagship trim comes fully loaded with front seat heating/ventilation/massage, rear seat heating/ventilation, and steering wheel heating. Acoustic refinement is bolstered by a 12-speaker Dynaudio premium sound system on the 2.0T flagship, backed by standard acoustic double-glazed front glass and double-sealed doors across the range for noticeably reduced NVH levels.
In terms of passive safety, the 2026 Hongqi H5 is engineered around a 9H4M high-strength cage structure, with high-strength steel and aluminium alloys accounting for 80% of the body, reinforced by 2,000 MPa hot-stamped steel in critical zones. The sedan comes equipped with 9 airbags (including side curtain airbags) as standard. The curtain airbags feature a 6-second pressure retention duration to ensure sustained occupant protection in rollover crashes, working alongside the rigid structure to effectively disperse and absorb collision impacts.
On the intelligent driving front, the 2026 Hongqi H5 is fitted with the Hongqi Sinan Intelligent Driving system (a vision-centric ADAS solution), utilising a suite of 7 cameras, 1 millimetre-wave radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. This package brings advanced driver-assist features previously reserved mostly for new energy vehicles (NEVs)—such as Highway Navigation Pilot, Urban Navigation Pilot, and all-scenario automated parking—into a petrol D-segment sedan on a large scale for the first time. Core functionalities include: Highway Navigation on Autopilot (NOA, supporting automated ramp entry/exit, lane changes, overtakes, and tunnel cruising), Urban Memory Navigation Pilot (capable of memorising up to 10 fixed commute routes of up to 100 km each), Reversing Assistant (which memorises up to 120 metres of reversing path to back out autonomously), and All-Scenario Automated Parking (covering automated park-in, remote park-in, and multi-storey memory parking across 20 routes for up to 3 km). This ADAS suite remedies Hongqi's historical tech shortfall on ICE models, delivering on the promise of "equal intelligence between petrol and electric vehicles".
Following its launch on 20 May, the 2026 Hongqi H5 quickly captured significant attention in the D-segment sedan arena. In November 2025, the Hongqi H5 topped the domestic B-segment sedan sales charts with 15,121 units delivered in a single month, achieving a full-year volume of 188,000 units in 2025. Backed by an accessible entry price of RM121,000 and an attractive RM50,000 pricing advantage under its "more features without price hike" value strategy, the refreshed model enjoyed immediate showroom momentum. Compared to mainstream joint-venture rivals (such as the Passat starting from RM164,500 and the Camry from RM171,800), the Hongqi H5 holds distinct advantages in wheelbase (2,920 mm vs. 2,871 mm / 2,825 mm), smart driving hardware, and 2.0T engine output (224 PS vs. 220 PS / 152 PS).
Owner feedback and media reception highlight three main strengths: first, the comprehensive digital cockpit and ADAS revamp—the 15.6-inch display powered by the 8155P chip and Sinan driving suite resolves past criticisms regarding sluggish infotainment and closed software ecosystems; second, class-leading dimensions and safety kit—a near-5-metre body length and 9 standard airbags are exceptional for a petrol sedan in this price tier; and third, the Hongqi brand's commanding road presence and supple chassis that comfortably balance corporate and family duties. However, reviewers and industry observers also noted a few trade-offs: the ICE powertrain remains the "only untouched" aspect of the facelift, where the 2.0T unit requires RON 95 petrol and records slightly elevated real-world urban fuel consumption relative to its WLTC figures; certain equipment de-contenting was observed (such as the steering wheel switching from genuine leather to synthetic leather, and the omission of front fog lights and puddle lamps), while the 2.0T variant still utilising a 6AT gearbox is less fuel-efficient during high-speed highway cruising compared to an 8AT.
On the whole, the 2026 Hongqi H5 Restyling stands as an exemplary smart ICE overhaul that delivers the depth of a full generational shift under the guise of a mid-cycle facelift. It effectively closes the tech and infotainment gap between conventional petrol D-segment sedans and modern NEVs across in-car screens, computing hardware, and ADAS capabilities, while setting a new value-for-money benchmark in the B+ executive petrol sedan segment with its real-world RM120,000-bracket showroom pricing. For prospective buyers, however, whether the carryover 2.0T + 6AT powertrain can adequately support long-term ownership cycles remains a point to watch in terms of lifecycle continuity and core mechanical reliability.
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