Seres Landian E5

Model Overview

The Landian E5 is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) mid-size SUV developed by Chongqing Seres Landian Auto Co., Ltd., which was officially launched on 30 March 2023. Serving as the debut production model under Seres Group's new energy vehicle brand "Landian", the Landian E5 is positioned as an "electric hybrid mid-size SUV", touting an "ICE price tag with EV-like refinement" value proposition targeted primarily at family buyers and the e-hailing segment seeking generous cabin space and low running costs. Built upon Seres Group's DE-i super electric drive intelligent platform, the SUV was among the first production models to feature deep HUAWEI HiCar 3.0 integration. As of June 2026, the Landian E5 family comprises the original Landian E5 and the second-generation Landian E5 PLUS, offering both 5-seater and 7-seater layouts across the range, with official retail prices spanning from RM99,800 to RM159,800, while limited-time promotional offers have brought entry prices down to as low as RM79,800.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the Landian E5 embraces a clean, functional aesthetic. Up front, it features a closed-off grille flanked by a full-width LED daytime running light (DRL) strip, with the revised front fascia further accentuating its dedicated new-energy identity. The side profile is defined by clean, straight character lines, conventional pull-type door handles, and practical roof rails, projecting a mature yet poised stance. At the rear, it carries over the full-width LED taillight bar accented with "Seres-Hubei" badging, eschewing flush door handles or aggressive aero bodykits in favour of a cost-effective, practical design approach. In terms of dimensions, the SUV measures 4,760 mm in length, 1,865 mm in width, and 1,710 mm in height, with a 2,785 mm wheelbase—placing it squarely in the standard mid-size SUV segment. The second-generation Landian E5 PLUS retained the closed front fascia in its 2025 facelift while introducing new solid-face monobloc-style alloy wheels, alongside a choice of five monotone and two dual-tone body colours. Inside, the 2026 Landian E5 PLUS is fitted with a 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen and a steering column-mounted electronic gear selector (stalk shifter), with three interior colourways on offer: Obsidian Black, Cocoa Brown, and Sunset Orange.

Powertrain & Performance

The Landian E5 lineup is powered exclusively by a plug-in hybrid system, utilising BYD FinDreams' DE-i hybrid technology. Internal combustion engine options include 1.5-litre naturally aspirated and 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol units. The 1.5L naturally aspirated unit (engine code H15R) puts out 70 kW (approx. 95 PS) and 135 Nm of torque with a high thermal efficiency of 43.04%, while the 1.5T engine raises maximum output to 81 kW (110 PS). On the electric propulsion front, the front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers either 130 kW / 300 Nm or 160 kW / 330 Nm depending on the variant. The flagship trim of the 2025 third-generation Landian E5 PLUS adopts a P1+P3+P4 tri-motor setup, with combined front and rear motor outputs reaching 270 kW and 470 Nm, delivering a total system output of 367 PS, a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds, and a top speed of 180 km/h. In terms of electric range, the initial model came with a 17.52 kWh ternary lithium battery pack providing an NEDC-rated pure electric range of 100 km (87 km on the WLTC cycle); subsequent Landian E5 PLUS iterations transitioned to an 18 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, extending the CLTC pure electric range to between 120 km and 165 km. The third-generation Landian E5 PLUS launched in December 2025 introduced an ultra-long-range variant boasting 230 km of pure EV range and an overall cruising range exceeding 1,000 km. For DC fast charging, replenishing the battery from 30% to 80% takes as quick as 39 minutes. The entire range delivers a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 1.35 to 1.39 L/100 km, while running on battery-depleted hybrid mode returns around 5.5 to 6.5 L/100 km, supported by a 60-litre fuel tank. All variants support Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external power supply at up to 3.3 kW, catering to outdoor and camping electrical needs.

Chassis & Handling

The Landian E5 is built on a front-wheel-drive (FWD) architecture, with top-spec variants offering an electric all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. Underneath, the chassis employs front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension—a solid hardware configuration in the PHEV SUV space that gives it a competitive edge over rivals in its price class. Steering is handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, while braking is managed by front ventilated discs and rear solid discs, paired with an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Hold as standard. Flagship trims of the third-generation Landian E5 PLUS also gain an FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) adaptive suspension system, which automatically modulates damping force according to road surface conditions to enhance ride comfort while preserving handling composure. The overall suspension tuning leans heavily towards comfort, soaking up minor road imperfections effectively, though body roll remains noticeable during spirited cornering—an expected trade-off that aligns with its family-centric remit. Tyre sizes come in 225/55 R18 and 235/50 R19 options.

Cockpit & Features

The Landian E5 centres its cabin appeal around smart tech. The infotainment suite deeply integrates HUAWEI HiCar across all trims, with the 2025 third-generation model upgraded to the HUAWEI HiCar 4.0 smart cockpit, enabling seamless interconnectivity and ecosystem sharing with Huawei smartphones. Powering the digital experience is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive-grade chip (upgraded to the 8155P on 2026 models), driving a 15.6-inch floating central touchscreen with deep integration of the Doubao AI large language model voice assistant, 4G connected services, and over-the-air (OTA) update support. On the audio front, higher trims boast a 13-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, with an optional front passenger entertainment display also available. Seating-wise, the lineup offers 5-seater and 2+3+2 7-seater configurations, upholstered in synthetic leather with an electric power-adjustable driver's seat and standard rear air vents. Creature comforts include a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, multi-colour ambient lighting, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The cabin delivers 3,162 mm of usable interior length and a 66.4% space efficiency rating, backed by a standard 187-litre boot that expands to 1,694 litres when the rear seats are folded flat.

Safety & Intelligent Driving

In terms of active safety and driver assistance, the Landian E5 range adopts a tiered spec strategy. The initial 2023 iteration was equipped only with basic aids such as passive cruise control and a reverse camera, omitting Level 2 (L2) semi-autonomous driving features. However, both the second- and third-generation Landian E5 PLUS come standard with Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The 2025 third-generation model is equipped with a 22-sensor perception suite comprising 5 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 9 HD cameras. Core ADAS capabilities include Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Centring Assist (LCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Monitoring / Lane Change Assist (LCA), and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR); range-topping trims further add Turn Signal-Activated Lane Change, Automated Parking Assist (APA), a 540-degree panoramic camera system, and a transparent chassis view. No Landian E5 variant is fitted with LiDAR. On the passive safety front, the Landian E5 clinched second place twice in 2024 in the China Automobile Quality Network's New Energy Hybrid Mid-size SUV Quality Rankings. Backed by Seres' rigorous quality management framework, it underwent 278 core component tests and 3,109 full-vehicle validation trials. The body utilizes a high-strength steel cage structure and comes standard with dual front airbags, front side airbags, and front-to-rear curtain airbags, alongside a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Market Performance & Appraisal

Upon its debut, the Landian E5 generated strong initial market momentum, positioned as the "first RM130,000-bracket mid-size PHEV SUV offering 100 km of pure electric range". Full-year deliveries in 2024 stood at 29,193 units, accounting for 100% of the Seres Landian brand's sales. However, the model saw sales taper off in 2025, recording 19,962 cumulative units—a year-on-year drop of around 31.6%. Monthly volume shrank from a December 2024 peak of 4,592 units to between 1,100 and 1,800 units in the second half of 2025, slipping further to 1,194 units in January 2026, with the Landian E5 PLUS registering around 1,303 to 1,562 units post-launch. The brand's modest numbers stood in stark contrast to Seres' high-flying premium sub-brand AITO (which delivered 426,000 units in 2025); Landian's 1H 2025 sales tumbled 34% year-on-year, finishing 2025 with total brand sales of only around 26,000 units. Industry analysts attribute the sales slowdown of the Landian E5 to several factors: a sluggish product lifecycle cadence—with the core Landian E5 PLUS approaching the tail end of its lifecycle in 2H 2025 before the next generation could achieve volume; fierce market rivalry in the crowded RM100,000 to RM150,000 PHEV SUV segment from competitors like the BYD Song Pro DM-i, Haval Xiaolong MAX, and Changan Qiyuan Q05; and weaker brand equity compared to established domestic giants such as BYD and Great Wall Motor. Notably, the Landian marque was rebranded to "Saidou" in 2026, with Seres injecting RM175,000,000 for a 35% equity stake in Chongqing Landian Auto, underscoring Seres Group's renewed strategic push into the RM100,000 to RM200,000 mass-market segment. As Seres Group's key contender in the mainstream family PHEV arena, the Landian E5 leverages FinDreams' hybrid powertrain and Huawei's HiCar smart cockpit to build a strong value-for-money package across space, range, fuel economy, and pricing. Its market journey also offers a compelling case study on resource allocation and brand strategy among traditional automakers managing multi-brand portfolios.