Stelato G9 launches as HarmonyOS’s first rugged SUV, from ¥429,800

On August 20, the Stelato G9 officially went on sale in China. At the launch event, the nearly 5.4m-long boxy SUV was presented with both range-extender and all-electric powertrains. With five- and six-seat layouts and three trim levels—Max+, Ultra and Ultra+—it comes in 10 variants, priced from ¥429,800 to ¥549,800. It is Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility division’s first rugged SUV, and the Stelato brand’s first attempt to move from luxury road cars onto unpaved terrain.

Its rugged character is not limited to its styling. Every G9 comes with dual-motor all-wheel drive and an 800V high-efficiency power platform, with a maximum system output of 437kW (586 hp) and 0–100km/h acceleration in under five seconds. The vehicle is also equipped with an adaptive tooth-engaging differential lock, dual-chamber air suspension and dual-valve continuously variable damping. Huawei’s All-Terrain Tuling platform allows 130mm of suspension travel. The Ultra and Ultra+ versions additionally feature a fully active stabilizer bar that can connect or decouple the left and right suspension, reducing body roll on paved roads while giving the wheels more room to move over cross-axle and continuously undulating terrain.

The G9 uses rear-wheel steering to address the challenges created by its size. The body is 2050mm wide and 1897mm high, with a 3160mm wheelbase; with the rear-mounted storage box installed, its length reaches 5377mm. The company says that ±12° rear-wheel steering gives the vehicle a minimum turning radius of just 5.2m. The G9 can also identify wetland, snow, sand, mud, rugged and wading conditions, then automatically adjust its chassis and powertrain controls. The differential lock can respond in as little as 0.2 seconds, while the off-road crawl mode covers approximately 1 to 35km/h. The launch event demonstrated the ability to climb an 80% loose-rock slope and announced a maximum wading depth of 800mm; these figures currently come from the manufacturer.

Its range brings the vehicle back from outdoor toy to everyday transportation. The Max+ range-extender version uses a 56kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, with 310km of CLTC electric range and 1271km of combined range. The Ultra and Ultra+ range-extender versions use 75kWh ternary lithium batteries, offering up to 405km of electric range and up to 1366km combined. The all-electric version has a 120kWh ternary lithium battery, up to 728km of CLTC range, and support for 800V high-voltage fast charging, adding 300km of range in 15 minutes. Inside, the G9 retains physical buttons for suspension height, the differential lock, all-wheel drive and off-road crawl, while also offering zero-gravity seats, three large displays, a roof-mounted rear passenger screen and a 25-speaker audio system.

In practical terms, urban families can use it as a five- or six-seat luxury SUV, then call on all-wheel drive, the differential lock and air suspension when camping or tackling rough roads; the Ultra+ also offers long-distance equipment such as an onboard oxygen generator, satellite communications and an onboard intercom. The trade-offs are equally clear: the large body increases the pressure of parking and navigating narrow roads, while outdoor accessories such as a rooftop tent, kitchen and platform cost extra. The G9 has officially launched and entered the sales phase; its 800mm wading and 80% loose-rock slope figures come from the manufacturer, while the Level 3 automated-driving architecture is based on information disclosed by the company.