First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Garage 42 and Ideal Auto for providing me with this 3-day experience, which allowed me to experience a multitude of functions of this car.
In fact, I have been following this car closely since the release of Ideal ONE, and at that time, I also had plans to switch to a larger vehicle. However, after the price was announced, I was actually reluctant to buy it.
Firstly, since I am located in Beijing, Ideal ONE cannot enjoy the new energy license plate, and there are many gasoline vehicles available in this price range.
Secondly, with a budget of over 300,000 yuan, I could buy a Hanlanda or Guandao if I want an SUV, or an Odyssey or a used Sienna if I want an MPV. Although Ideal ONE has rich configurations, both in terms of comfort or safety, they are already armed to the teeth.
However, all aspects related to the reliability and stability of the aforementioned cars have stood the test of the market. These are the issues I am more concerned about when choosing a car for my family. I prefer mature products, so I won’t make big mistakes after purchasing them.
After that, my plan to switch to a new car was put on hold due to other reasons.
In April of this year, I was walking with my wife and child in Blue Harbor, when I saw the Ideal showroom. Since we had nothing to do, we went in and took a test drive, and were deeply attracted by the high-tech interior and driving experience.
The small flame in my heart to switch to a new car was rekindled, but was quickly extinguished by my wife.
She also took a test drive and gave a good review, but refused to buy it because of brand considerations. In her opinion, no amount of functional configurations will matter if it’s not a brand she trusts.
At that time, I couldn’t do much but slowly try to persuade her.
Who would have thought that things would change so quickly.
During the Labor Day holiday, we went to the outskirts of Beijing to play, and my mother-in-law, wife, and child sat in the back seat. Since the child safety seat took up space, the lateral space in the back seat was not enough.
After arriving at the destination, my wife complained about being too tired and suggested that we switch to a bigger car, and maybe consider Ideal again.
Finally, she gave in. So, the long-awaited plan to switch to a new car was back on our agenda.
After returning home, I happened to see the Garage 42’s comprehensive test drive on Weibo, so I immediately signed up. Then I waited with great anticipation.
“Pick Up”
Finally, on June 4th, it was my turn.
Upon learning that the car was ready for pick-up on the 4th, I immediately planned my schedule for the next three days. I needed to experience all kinds of road conditions, so I planned a short and long distance road trip combined with city driving.
After work on the 4th, I made an appointment with my wife to pick up the car at Blue Harbor. Upon arrival, I was told that the car was still on the road and would be a little late. Therefore, I decided to go to the showroom to play with the car system for a while, and familiarize myself with its functions.
After playing for an hour, the salesperson informed me that the car had come back and I could pick it up. So, after filling out the paperwork, I went down to the garage to get the car.
This is the ideal ONE that accompanied me for three days. I think the BabyBlue color is quite nice, and it also attracts a lot of attention on the road.
Unexpectedly, my wife doesn’t like it. Generally speaking, don’t girls prefer this kind of color more?
After the handover, I couldn’t wait to drive it home. Finally, I had enough time to experience every aspect of the car without being limited by the short test drive time and distance.
The battery of the car was only 16% when it was handed over to me, and it was always in fuel priority mode on the way home for more than 20 kilometers.
Maybe it was because I was excited that I didn’t feel the presence of the range extender during this journey. The NVH was well done when driving in the city, with only slight tire noise.
After getting on the highway, I tried to activate the ADAS. I had driven a Model S before but had never used the ADAS, so this was my first experience.
What I found strange was that every time I set it up, it would automatically exit after a while, despite trying several times. I even suspected that it was because of my incorrect activation method.
It wasn’t until I almost got home that I realized the reason: after activating the ADAS, my hand was actually competing with the lane keeping system.
I usually like to drive slightly to the left of the lane, with more space on the right, but I found that the lane keeping system of the Ideal ONE is centered relative to the driver’s seat, which may be relatively biased to the right. This caused me to unconsciously turn left every time I activated the ADAS, causing it to exit.
Well, then I could only try it again on the highway the next day.
After arriving in the neighborhood, I immediately drove to the public charging station. I downloaded the charging station’s app the day before, added money, plugged in the charger, scanned the QR code, but the charging station told me that I couldn’t use it. WTF?
I tried several chargers in a row, but the results were the same. So I called customer service, and after several attempts based on their suggestions, it still didn’t work.
Then a Model 3 came over to charge, and I asked the owner before I knew that I had to apply to the property management first before being able to use the charging station…
Well, I could only apply after returning to Beijing from Qinhuangdao.
When I parked in the garage at night, I found that the Ideal ONE was really big. Compared with my usual Camry, the increase in length was not too much, but the width of the Ideal ONE was significantly wider.
Even with the 360-degree panoramic image, I was still a little worried during the reverse process, and finally parked after sweating a bit.
Perfectly parked, I went upstairs and eagerly awaited the journey of the next day.
Day One
First highway experience## The first day of the trip to Qinhuangdao Anaya
In the morning, after packing up, I set off with my family to our destination, Qinhuangdao Anaya.
Before setting off, I checked the fuel range display which showed 510 kilometers. Together with the remaining electricity, it was a total of 536 kilometers.
From my home to Anaya is a total of 275 kilometers. I planned to turn on the autopilot after getting on the highway, with the speed set at 120 kilometers per hour. I would set the air conditioning to automatic 24 degrees Celsius and the seat ventilation to maximum. Once we arrived at our destination, we would then check the remaining driving range.
When we left our community, the car went over a few speed bumps diagonally. With the suspension system set to comfortable mode, the excess bouncing of the vehicle was slightly more than I had expected. I felt that this was not ideal. When I usually drive my father-in-law’s Q5, I don’t feel this way.
After getting on the highway, I immediately activated the autopilot. After adjusting it a few times, I finally found a comfortable posture for holding the steering wheel. I placed my left hand on the door handle and lightly held the steering wheel.
Here, I have to mention the ideal ONE’s auxiliary screen. For a father, it is not only convenient for my wife to watch dramas but also a magic tool for comforting our baby.
When we got in the car, we turned on the animation that she usually watches. The little one was quiet all the way, so I have to give it a full score. My wife was naturally very satisfied and relaxed.
Returning to the topic of autopilot, after a day of driving, I still didn’t have much confidence in the lane-keeping assistant, which kept the driver’s seat centered. Especially since there were more large trucks on the road, and the ideal ONE is wide, each time we overtake a large truck, I always feel that the right side is very close to the truck. Several times after overtaking, I deliberately moved the car slightly to the left before resuming the lane keeping function.
I was very satisfied with the ACC feature. I set the following distance to 6. I basically didn’t step on the brakes on the highway throughout the journey.
On the highway, the power in fuel mode is completely satisfactory, and overtaking is very easy. I’m not sure if it will be even better in pure electric mode. I am looking forward to experiencing it when we are fully charged on our return trip to Beijing.
The high-speed NVH performance is already very good for me, who has only previously driven a gasoline car. Although the sound of the range extender is present, I think it is completely acceptable. After playing music, it is not noticeable at all. The main noise comes from wind and road noise, but I can totally accept this level of noise.
Small complaints after the first dayThe infotainment system also has some shortcomings on this journey, and I also summarized some suggestions.
The front windshield and front door windows of the ideal ONE are quite exposed without tinting. After my mother sat in the front passenger seat for an hour, she asked me to stop at the next service area because it was too sunny. She wanted to sit in the back seat, even if it was in the third row… So I decided to tint the windows after I pick up the car.
Firstly, the main driving instrument has too few functional designs, wasting such a large screen, especially the thumbnail of the navigation, which is too small. It’s better just to look at the larger navigation screen in the middle.
When the central control screen opens the navigation, I can’t see the large clock, only the hour clock in the upper left corner, but this area is almost blocked by the steering wheel when driving.
In addition, there is a small bug in the navigation that I discovered on the road.
Originally, when connected to Bluetooth on my phone to listen to music, the Bluetooth music does not conflict with the navigation voice on the car system. When the navigation voice is played, the volume of the Bluetooth music will automatically decrease, and then resume normal volume later.
However, after I stopped at a service area in the middle, when I was back on the road, I found that the navigation voice could not be played, and the description was that when the navigation voice was played, the volume of the Bluetooth music would still automatically decrease, but the navigation did not make a sound.
I tried to turn on and off the navigation voice several times, but it didn’t solve the problem. In the end, I turned off the Bluetooth music and switched to the car’s music before the navigation voice was restored. I hope it can be fixed by an OTA update in the future.
Regarding the seat ventilation function, I think the wind speed is too low. Even if it is adjusted to the highest level, there is only a slight cool breeze on the hips, and no sensation on the back. Q5’s seat ventilation effect is very good. During the summer, the back will not sweat when driving with it.
Regarding the comfort of the seat, I don’t know if the seat of this test drive car has been replaced. I think the cushion is still a bit hard, but it is still acceptable.
I saw that some car enthusiasts have reported that their lower back will be very uncomfortable after sitting for a long time. I drove for nearly 4 hours today and I feel that my lower back is still fine, but my shoulders are a bit uncomfortable because they are not supported, and they have been suspended. I don’t know if adding a pillow will improve it.
On the way, my wife experienced the “Queen Sitting Position” and felt very comfortable all the way. She gave it a full score.
This function developed by car enthusiasts has become a selling point for the ideal ONE.
Summary of the first day’s mileage
After more than 3 hours, we arrived at our destination, let’s check the mileage:
# Fuel Consumption and Appearance
Fuel consumption is 9.7 liters per 100 kilometers. When departing, the remaining gasoline displayed was 510 kilometers. Upon arrival, it showed 163 kilometers, resulting in a drop of 347 kilometers. However, the actual mileage was only 274 kilometers, and the range decreased by more than 70 kilometers. The battery charge increased from 18% to 53%. Considering the weight of the car, which is over 2 tons, and its high speed fuel consumption of 9 to 10 liters per 100 kilometers, I think it’s acceptable.
Tomorrow, while passing through the entry checkpoint on the way back to Beijing, I will be able to experience the assisted driving function during congested traffic.
Day 2
Photo Shoot and Appearance
In the morning, I found a place to take some beautiful photos of the Ideal One before returning to Beijing. Unfortunately, the car was a bit dirty, but I couldn’t find a car wash in the park.
My favorite angle is shown below.
I will briefly talk about my impression of the Ideal One’s appearance. The Ideal One is not pretentious and has a delicate look, making it a timeless design. I liked the exterior from the first time I saw it, and I can’t help but turn back to look at it every time I park. My family members also think that the exterior looks great.
Space
In terms of space, with the third row upright, the Ideal One has a good capacity of the trunk. Personally, I felt it was comparable to the Toyota Highlander.
Later, I attempted to put my daughter’s high landscape stroller in, but unfortunately, it didn’t fit. I had to fold down one of the third-row seats. However, overall, the space is more than enough for a family’s short-distance travel, which is excellent.
After finishing the photoshoot, I played around in the area and then prepared to leave for Beijing. Let’s record the fuel consumption again:
After filling up the car, the remaining gasoline displayed was still 510 kilometers. The total distance traveled was 269 kilometers with the air conditioning set at 24 degrees, and we didn’t use the seat ventilation function. The assisted driving function was turned on when we entered the highway.
Complaints on Day 2This time, there was another issue found on the circuit. Sometimes the blind spot warning light of the external rear-view mirror works properly, but sometimes it does not. It is unclear whether this is a software or a hardware problem.
Also, after starting up today, there was a continuous uphill road for a while, and the range extender made significant noise for a few minutes, but then it disappeared. Personally, I think it is okay and has not had much impact.
When preparing to lock the car and go home, it was found that the touch door handle could not lock the car, and even using the key could not lock it. After trying a few times back and forth, I was able to lock the car successfully only after turning off the air conditioning in the car. I do not know if this is the reason for the problem.
If so, this is actually a bug. At that time, there was no one in the car. If you have to confirm whether the air conditioning is turned off before locking the car every time when getting off, it will greatly affect the user experience. I hope the future OTA can optimize it.
Upon arriving at the Beijing entry examination station, it was found that I was not far from home, and the battery was charged to 62%. I planned to use the pure electric mode for the remaining journey.
In fuel mode, I drove 234.5 kilometers, with a fuel consumption of 9.4 liters per 100 kilometers, which was slightly more fuel efficient than when I came.
After arriving home, I used the pure electric mode to drive 30 kilometers, and the battery level dropped by 25%. The pure electric mode is quieter than the fuel mode and has no humming sound from the range extender at high speeds. I plan to fully experience the pure electric mode in the city tomorrow after fully charging it.
Day 3
In the early morning, I went to the car wash room in the community and washed the car. After a round trip on the expressway, the car was already very dirty. Today, I will return the car and want to hand it over to the next owner in a clean state.
On the “TeSLa” APP, I saw that there was a DC charging station in the parking lot of a nearby shopping mall. The price may be a bit high, but I did not want to go too far, so I chose it.
For the first time charging, after studying the APP and charging station for a long time, I finally charged it successfully.
Charged to 24.6 degrees, cost 48 yuan, took more than an hour, and the last 1% took about 10 minutes to charge.
Unsatisfactory Details
During charging, I found two issues.
The first issue is that in the past, I used voice control to open and close the sunshade. However, this time I used manual mode and found that I had to hold it down all the time for it to work. As soon as I let go, it stops. Most cars typically switch to automatic mode after a long press of a few seconds.
The second issue is that when charging, I sat in the second row and wanted to turn on the second-row air conditioner. However, the control area for the second-row air conditioner was pitch black, and the buttons did not have backlighting. I could only turn on the reading light to find the corresponding button. I hope that the next generation will add backlighting to the buttons.
After charging, I had a realization. When I first arrived, most of the charging stations were empty, with only a few electric cars charging. However, by the time I finished charging, it was already noon, and many gas-powered car owners who came to the mall for eating and shopping had taken up all the remaining charging spots. There is still room for improvement in their manners.
After fully charged, my planned route was to take Guangqu Road to Dawang Road, then take Jianguo Road, cross Chang’an Avenue to the western Third Ring Road at the Princess Tomb, travel along the Third Ring Road, then drive east along Fuxing Road until the Fourth Ring Road at the Sihui Bridge, and then return the car to the Blue Harbor.
The total distance was about 100 kilometers. I set the electric-only mode as the priority, adjusted the driving mode to comfort, set the air conditioning to 22 degrees throughout the journey, and turned the seat ventilation to the highest level. Let’s go!
Electric driving in the city, comfortable
Indeed, the city is the ideal place for the ideal ONE to perform.
This feeling is first due to NVH. With the help of the ideal ONE’s silent tires and double-layer soundproof glass throughout the vehicle, driving in the city is so quiet that I don’t want to listen to music and just want to sit quietly inside. With its assisted driving, it comfortably takes me from point A to point B.
Regarding driving, I like to switch to sport mode on the highway so that I can quickly overtake the trucks in front of me and ensure my safety.
For city driving, I prefer to set it to comfort mode. Normally, I am a relatively relaxed driver. The ideal ONE’s comfort mode is particularly comfortable for me. Driving in congested sections of the city with frequent stops and starts, it does not jump around like it does in sport mode when I gently press the accelerator pedal.
One-pedal driving, so cool
In addition, there were mixed evaluations online about regenerative braking. Some people got used to it and found one-pedal driving very cool, while others found it uncomfortable and caused motion sickness.
Before driving the ideal ONE, I belonged to the latter group, believing that the car should continue to coast using its inertia when I release the accelerator.After just three short days, the single pedal mode received high praise with only two words – Truly amazing.
Firstly, when driving a gasoline car, you need to constantly switch between the accelerator pedal and brake pedal while driving at a start-stop pace, causing fatigue in the right leg. I usually choose to take the long route instead of the congested shortcut just to avoid this fatigue.
With the single pedal mode, only controlling the throttle pedal is necessary and the brake only needs to be applied when stopping. This significantly reduces the fatigue in the right leg.
Let’s talk about assisted driving
While driving on the Third Ring Road, I continuously used the assisted driving mode, driving in the innermost lane with a speed limit set at the maximum of 80 kilometers per hour. There are both pros and cons for using this mode.
First, let’s discuss the pros. I think the assisted driving feature of the Ideal One is already very good. Although I have not experienced Tesla’s Autopilot, the assisted driving function of the Ideal One has completely satisfied my usage.
Firstly, the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) feature allows for automatic following which I set at the second-level in the city, and the following distance is basically equivalent to the distance from my gasoline car’s commonly-used following distance. Being cut off by other cars happens rarely.
Of course, there have been a few malicious cut-offs, so even when using the assisted driving mode, it is necessary to always pay attention to the road conditions and be prepared to brake with the right foot at any time.
Secondly, there is the lane keeping ability while turning. The Ideal One can keep in the middle of the lane very naturally while turning on the ring road, without any deviations.
Today, while driving from east to west on the North Third Ring Road, there was a sudden decrease in traffic on the on-ramp, and my speed suddenly increased from 40 kilometers per hour to the maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and there was a not-so-minor turn ahead. At the time, I was actually very worried and grabbed the steering wheel tightly, preparing to take over at any time.
However, the Ideal One managed this turn very well without deviating from the lane. This must be praised.
Then, there are the cons. Firstly, when using ACC, there is a delay or suddenness when braking. Sometimes, even when there is no sudden braking from the car in front, the Ideal One will still brake heavily when it gets close to the front car, but there are also times when it decelerates naturally and smoothly.
At the time, there was only me in the car, and if my family were in the car, they would probably complain about my driving skills. I hope that the Ideal One can continue to optimize this feature.
Secondly, the air conditioning system. Today, the temperature in Beijing was around thirty-four or thirty-five degrees, and it felt even hotter. The temperature was set to 22 degrees with the seat ventilation on, but the car still wasn’t cool enough. I could only say that I didn’t sweat from the heat.
After returning the car and driving my Camry back to the company, I set the air conditioning to 24 degrees and it was immediately cold and comfortable in the car. I don’t know if using front window and front row sun protection film will have any improvement.
Summary of energy consumption
Arriving at The Blue Harbor Underground, the total mileage was 103.6 kilometers, with 42% of battery remaining and a power consumption of 14kW/h. I am very satisfied with this level of power consumption for such a large car. However, it may be related to my driving style, which is somewhat relaxed. By “relaxed,” I don’t mean that I drive slowly on the road. Instead, I prefer to accelerate and decelerate evenly and calmly. With my driving style, I think 150 kilometers of pure electric endurance is not a problem.
Returning the Car
After completing the handover procedures with the ideal staff, I reluctantly said goodbye to the car.
Thoughts
In fact, the moment I got back into my own car at the company, it felt like traveling back in time from the future.
My Camry, which had been with me for many years, was very comfortable and had never had any problems in ten years and 130,000 kilometers. However, its character was set at birth, and in the process of living with it, you had to slowly adapt to it.
The character of the ideal ONE, on the other hand, is not fixed. It adapts to you slowly through OTA, to meet your needs more and more—a reflection of the technological advancement, perhaps.
This three-day experience gave me time to think calmly and rationally amidst the excitement of my wife agreeing to change cars.
But after taking careful note of the details of the ideal ONE for three days, it was still the car I imagined it to be—unexpectedly, it even gave me more surprises.
Finally, I would like to thank the 42nd car garage and Ideal Auto for providing this deep experience. I hope that this kind of high-quality interaction can continue, and that it can help more people who love and care about intelligent automobiles.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.