2026 AITO M9 Deep Review: Flagship Comfort Evolves, Intelligent Driving Bold — but Boundaried

Design: Refined Details, Where Tech Meets Ceremony

The 2026 AITO M9 retains the commanding presence of the 'Series 9' flagship — yet this is no mere facelift. Overall length, width, and height have all increased; proportions remain stately, with changes measured in millimeters. Front fender-mounted cameras have been relocated to the top of the C-pillar, improving side-rear blind-spot visibility; ultrasonic sensors now sit beneath the exterior rearview mirrors, while water-depth detection sensors are integrated into the lower rear bumper. Semi-concealed door handles feature ripple-pattern welcome lighting and support dual activation — touchless sensing or physical button — and retain a mechanical pull handle for emergency access. In a collision, the handles automatically pop open, ensuring robust safety redundancy.

Wheel options are diverse: standard 21-inch Pirelli P ZERO tires; for an extra ¥6,000, buyers can upgrade to wheels with floating center logos; for ¥15,000 more, they may opt for 22-inch wheels (front 275/45 R22, rear 295/45 R22), also featuring floating logos. Additional packages include a ¥25,000 'Big Pancake' wheel option and a ¥20,000 'Dark Knight' package (blackened trim + fully black 22-inch wheels). Front brakes feature six-piston high-performance calipers — hardware specs aligned with luxury benchmarks.

A full-width chrome accent bar reinforces horizontal visual balance at the rear, while the ISD smart interactive taillights boast higher pixel density for crisper, more detailed animations. A solid-state LiDAR has been added to the rear bumper — enhancing short-range rearward perception.

Interior: HUAWEI HarmonySpace Elevates Everything — Dual Flagship Status for Comfort & Intelligence

Materials and craftsmanship reach new heights: soft-touch surfaces cover every interior surface, now complemented by genuine wood trim. The center console rotary knob and surrounding panel use diamond-cut machining. The 12.3-inch non-touch digital instrument cluster integrates headlight status indicators. Both the central display and front passenger screen measure 17.3 inches and deliver 3.4K resolution — ultra-narrow bezels and fluid responsiveness enhance both usability and visual immersion.

HarmonyOS ecosystem logic remains intuitive — gesture-based navigation back, card stacking, quick app launching — all feel natural and effortless. Dual 50W wireless fast-charging pads ahead of the center console are optimized for Huawei foldable smartphones. Swiveling tweeters double as analog clocks, compasses, theme displays, and music-listening rituals — automatically rotating up on entry and down on exit, underscoring meticulous attention to detail.

Full-grain Nappa leather seats offer balanced cushioning and exceptional support: driver's seat features zero-gravity positioning and powered side bolsters; front passenger seat adopts queen style seat with fold-out footrest. All four front seats include dual adjustment controls — one on the door panel, one on the seat itself. A full-width under-floor storage compartment features dual electric sliding doors and central locking. Integrated push-button door handles prevent accidental activation. Rear ceiling lights dynamically track seat movement to maintain optimal illumination. Huawei's proprietary in-car projector delivers improved brightness and contrast, with liquid cooling for quieter operation and better thermal management. Magnetic-mount accessories enable plug-and-play projection. A removable rear-seat control screen pairs with a wide-temperature-range (–6°C to 15°C / 35°C to 60°C) refrigerated/heated box — highly practical. Physical sunshades simultaneously cover both triangular side windows and third-row windows, delivering excellent privacy. In six-seat configuration, the right-side second-row seat features a zero-gravity design with integrated airbag. Ventilation, heating, massage, and knee heating are standard across all seats.

The sole compromise: removal of the factory-installed rear seat folding table (which included wireless charging in prior models) — a minor hit to everyday utility. In six-seat mode, the cabin easily accommodates four 20-inch carry-on suitcases. With the third row folded flat — and without compromising second-row legroom — the cargo area holds up to fourteen 20-inch suitcases, all fully visible and compliant with safety regulations.

Powertrain & Handling: 497 kW Brutal Output, Comfort Now Fully Prioritized

The Extended-Range Ultra trim sees peak power jump from 365 kW to 497 kW, and maximum torque rise from 675 N·m to 765 N·m. Official 0–100 km/h acceleration improves from 5.1 seconds to 4.6 seconds. Curb weight climbs to 2,995 kg, yet thanks to comprehensive recalibration, the driving character has shifted decisively — from the previous generation's sporty edge to the serene composure expected of a business-class flagship.

In Comfort mode, throttle response is light and linear — effortless for daily driving. Brake pedal feel is relatively soft; initial regenerative braking is mild, but strong, seamless deceleration kicks in upon deeper pedal application. Note: regenerative braking on Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance models cannot be fully disabled — residual regeneration persists after releasing the brake pedal, occasionally causing slight discrepancies in parking position prediction.

Steering feel is generally light. Even in Sport mode, low-speed damping and self-centering torque see only modest gains; high-speed weighting doesn't increase proportionally with speed — resulting in slightly diminished heft and road feel. That said, steering centering is precise, and high-speed stability remains uncompromised. Suspension tuning represents the biggest leap forward: standard 21-inch wheels with 50-series tires, paired with air suspension calibration, deliver superior filtering of small bumps — creating a true 'floating' sensation inside the cabin and markedly surpassing the previous model's comfort. However, isolated impacts — like manhole covers or potholes — still transmit subtle vibrations; high-frequency road noise could still benefit from refinement. High-speed lane changes are noticeably smoother and more composed than before.

Intelligence: ADS Max 4.0 Hardware Fully Loaded — Urban Navigation Efficient, Rule Interpretation Needs Work

Hardware sets a new benchmark for production vehicles: six LiDARs, five 4D millimeter-wave radars, 15 ultrasonic sensors, and 11 cameras. Real-world testing shows ADS Max 4.0 excels in efficiency when 'Agile' lane-change settings are selected — quick green-light launches, confident multi-lane merges. Performance on ring roads and in stop-and-go traffic is stable and smooth overall.

But clear limitations persist: during sudden cut-ins, the system tends to yield rather than brake promptly — causing momentary tension. It misreads bus-lane restrictions and tidal-lane rules, once inadvertently entering a prohibited zone. When detecting stationary non-motorized vehicles (e.g., e-bikes waiting at crosswalks), it overreacts — even if they pose no path intrusion — triggering prolonged stops that require manual intervention to restore efficiency.

Range & Charging: CLTC 422 km, Real-World Highway Test Delivers 182 km per 24% SOC

The Extended-Range Six-Seat Ultra trim packs a 75.4 kWh battery, delivering a CLTC all-electric range of 422 km. During our highway test on the Jingha Expressway at a steady 120 km/h — with cabin temperature auto-set to 23°C and all other electronics off — we began with 80% state-of-charge (SOC) and a displayed CLTC range of 320 km. After covering 161 km, SOC dropped to 30%. Upon arrival at the charging station, total distance traveled was 182.3 km, with SOC at 24%. Using a third-party 240 kW charger: charging from 24% to 80% took 19 minutes, adding 41.69 kWh; charging from 30% to 80% required just 16 minutes — demonstrating the clear advantage of the 800V high-voltage architecture.

Verdict: Not a Faster M9 — But the Righter Flagship

The 2026 AITO M9 isn't about spec-sheet escalation — it's a deliberate, precise personality shift. It sheds the predecessor's sporty sharpness and embraces the dignified poise and family-oriented thoughtfulness expected of a true flagship SUV. Even without optional full-active suspension, ride quality and body control already meet the lofty expectations of 'Earth's Strongest SUV.'

For buyers: the five-seat Max+ trim offers abundant capability out of the box. For six-seat buyers, we strongly recommend the Ultra version — the zero-gravity right-side second-row seat and in-car projection system truly deliver on flagship-level comfort and scenario versatility. It may not be the 'optimal solution' for every road condition — but it's unquestionably the most thoughtful balance of 'riding' and 'driving' among today's premium intelligent SUVs in China.