Rent Hongqi HS5 2023 in Dubai

Curious about a more upmarket badge than the usual value crossovers, but not ready to pay German-SUV money for the week? That's the gap the Hongqi HS5 2023 fills, and we rent it across Dubai with payment sorted however suits you on delivery: card, cash, Apple Pay or Google Pay, even a bank transfer, settled when the keys change hands. This is a striking Chinese midsize SUV with a cabin that punches above the rate. The argument here is simple. If you want near-premium comfort and presence without the badge tax, the HS5 is worth a look. If you need a known quantity for a busy week, an established rival might suit you better, and we'll say where.

What you're actually renting

The HS5 is a five-seat midsize SUV with a 2.0-litre turbo, all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic. It makes 218 horsepower, which is plenty for anything Dubai roads throw at it. Where it earns its keep is inside. The cabin design feels a class above the price suggests: soft materials up front, a large touchscreen, ambient lighting and seats that hold you on a long airport run. People who climb in expecting a budget interior usually go quiet for a second. That reaction is the whole reason to rent one.

How it drives, and where the badge shows

On Sheikh Zayed Road the HS5 is relaxed and quiet. The turbo gives you a confident overtake, and at a steady 120 it sits flat and composed, with road noise well kept down for the money. This is a comfortable cruiser, not a sharp one. The steering is light and the ride leans soft, so you point it and let it waft rather than chuck it around. For DXB and DWC airport runs with luggage and passengers, that softness is exactly what you want.

Here's the honest part. The badge is unfamiliar to most renters, and the driving feel reflects a brand still maturing on the dynamics side. The gearbox can be a touch lazy off the line, and the soft setup floats slightly over expansion joints at speed. None of it spoils the car. It just means the HS5 trades the last bit of polish a Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V has built up over decades for a plusher cabin and lower rate. If that trade appeals, you'll enjoy it.

Heat, the AC and the cabin

This matters more than the brochure in a Dubai summer. Park the HS5 in the open at 45 degrees and the cabin bakes like any car, but the AC pulls it down quickly once you're moving, and the front vents hit hard. Rear passengers get their own vents, which keeps a full car comfortable on a longer drive rather than just cooling the driver. Crack the windows for ten seconds before you set off and you'll be in cool air within a couple of minutes. For families doing mall runs through July and August, that rear-vent detail is worth more than any spec line.

Size, parking and speed bumps

At 4760 mm long and just over 1900 wide, the HS5 is a proper midsize SUV, not a compact one. It threads Marina and mall ramps fine, but you'll use the camera and sensors in tight multi-storey bays rather than eyeball it. U-turns need a moment of thought. The all-wheel-drive setup and SUV ride height clear standard speed bumps and raised mall entries without scraping, so you're not wincing at every ramp. This isn't a desert tool, and I wouldn't take it off a graded track, but for the school run, the airport and the occasional Hatta day trip on tarmac it has the ground under it to feel planted.

Fuel, range and refuelling

The 64-litre tank is the headline you care about. A turbocharged AWD SUV running the AC hard in this heat is not frugal, so expect real-world economy around 9 to 10.5 km per litre in mixed Dubai driving, worse if you sit in Sheikh Zayed traffic with the cooling maxed. That still gives you roughly 600 km between fills in normal use, so most renters top up once a week rather than chasing the pump. Fuel here is cheap, so the running cost stays reasonable even with the thirstier turbo.

A few Dubai basics apply to every rental. Salik tolls and any RTA fines run to you, so watch the gantries and your speed. Seat belts are required in every seat, and children under four need a proper child seat, which we can fit before delivery.

Who should rent it, and who shouldn't

Rent the HS5 if you want presence and a genuinely plush cabin for the rate, and you're happy to try a badge most of your neighbours haven't. It's a strong pick for couples and small families who value comfort on airport runs and highway cruising over last-degree handling. If you need the resale-proven reliability story, the familiar dealer network feel, or the tightest drive in the class, pick an established midsize SUV like the CR-V or CX-5 instead. The HS5 rewards curiosity. Choose it knowing exactly that, and it's one of the more interesting cars at this price on our fleet.