Hybrid with refrigerator: what an expensive Russian crossover can do
Expensive crossovers have arrived on the shelf of "fox-shaped" crossovers. The Esteo Exlantix ET8 is a large six—seat hybrid SUV with a pretty serious claim to the premium class. But the large body and the long list of options alone do not make the car comfortable. The Izvestia correspondent got acquainted with the novelty on an autumn trip to the Levitan sites.
Strictness
In China, the Exlantix ET8 is known as the Chery Fulwin T11, and in Russia it is sold under the young Esteo brand, which is a "hodgepodge" of Chery concern models of low-budget classes. The brand was created by the domestic AGR holding and the Chinese company Defetoo, and the ET8 assembly was organized at the AGR plant in St. Petersburg.
The original name is Esteo Exlantix ET8 — Chery Fulwin T11
The Exlantix ET8 is 5,205 mm long and 1998 mm wide, with 3120 mm between the axles. With such impressive dimensions, at first the car has to be literally tried on to the surrounding space. The design turned out to be restrained. The front features narrow lighting, smooth surfaces, and minimal decor. There are no complicated shapes, no excessive abundance of chromium. The wheels here are 21-inch multi-spoke.
At the back is a wide strip of light connecting the lanterns and a massive trunk door. In general, the car does not try to appear sporty or aggressive, although against the background of other futuristic Chinese novelties, this approach may seem boring to some. However, with its "Van" dimensions, ET8 will definitely not get lost in the stream.
Is there enough room for everyone?
There are six separate seats in the cabin according to the scheme 2+2+2 . The second row is one of the main advantages of the car. There are two separate chairs with "zero gravity", heating, ventilation and 10-point massage. There is an ottoman, tables and a built—in refrigerator - on a long trip you can keep chilled drinks or a snack on hand. There are many amenities for passengers, and this is where the ET8 opens up best.
The third row is more modestly equipped, but it also has heating, USB connectors, cup holders and electric backrest adjustment. The children will be quite comfortable. It's not so much fun for adults anymore: there's not enough legroom, even if you move the second row forward a little. So the ET8 will accept six people without any problems, but for two adults on the "gallery" a long trip can be exhausting.
The front panel is dominated by a dual-zone 30-inch touchscreen.
The trunk holds 546 liters when the third row is raised. If you fold the rear seats, you get 1,835 liters. There is plenty of room for family trips, although you will still have to keep track of the amount of luggage when boarding fully.
There are questions about the interior. Everything looks solid in the photos: large displays, interesting textures, and soft surfaces. But closer inspection reveals a lot of hard plastic and surfaces that are not upholstered in any fabric. The impression of the interior is ambiguous — it looks more expensive than it feels.
The transmission selector is located on the steering column. You need to get used to this solution, although it frees up space on the center console. The driver's seat itself is conveniently organized, there is enough range of seat adjustments. But I would like more lateral support: in turns, the seat does not hold the body as well as you would expect from a car of this class.
Half-panel screen
The 30-inch central screen occupies almost the entire front panel. The image is really good: 5K resolution, bright picture, nice color reproduction. It looks impressive, but it quickly turns out that a large display is not a sign of the convenience of a media system.
The set of pre-installed applications is modest. It is not always clear where to look for the desired function, and the interface itself does not give the impression of a system in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail. The display is clearly capable of more than the installed software allows.
The 17.3-inch ceiling screen is designed for second-row passengers. You can watch videos from USB and even connect headphones, as well as output an image from a smartphone, but in general, the set of features of the "TV" is quite simple. It's more like an additional screen for on-the-go entertainment than a full-fledged multimedia center.
But the audio system with 23 speakers is pleasantly surprising. The sound is voluminous, with good detail. Due to the two speakers in the headrest, only the driver hears the navigation prompts and the interlocutor when talking on the phone.
Like an electric car
The ET8 power plant is arranged according to a sequential hybrid scheme. The 1.5 liter gasoline engine is not directly connected to the wheels and operates as an energy generator. The car is powered by two electric motors on the front and rear axles. Their total claimed power is 469 hp, and the torque is 634 Nm. Battery capacity of 40 kWh.
The total power of the two electric motors is 469 hp (634 Nm)
On the road, this pattern feels primarily smooth. Electric motors provide steady traction, and the gasoline engine does not interfere with the ride in the usual way. Moreover, it is almost inaudible in the cabin: the moment of launch remains unnoticeable. But you shouldn't expect sports excitement from such a big and heavy car. He is gaining speed confidently, but without the desire to provoke sudden maneuvers. The weight also affects — 2720 kg.
The claimed power reserve is 1100 km.
The claimed power reserve for the WLTP cycle reaches 1100 km, the passport mixed consumption is 7.02 liters per 100 km. These are the manufacturer's data, the actual figures depend on different conditions and driving style. As part of the test drive, it was possible to spend only a few hours behind the wheel, and the car got with an already discharged battery, so it was not possible to get close to the declared dynamics of 5.4 seconds to "hundreds", and fuel consumption was much higher. The battery can be charged via the CCS2 connector: power — up to 7 kW with alternating current and up to 107 kW with direct current.
Not a Pneuma, but not bad either.
The suspension uses electronically controlled CDC shock absorbers. There are no pneumatic elements. On a regular road, the ET8 rides gently: small bumps hardly bother, seams and cracks in the asphalt are invisible. On a broken surface, the suspension pattern changes. Miracles do not happen — large pits and sharp transverse joints are felt quite clearly and remind of the mass of almost three tons and large disks. There is a slight feeling of swaying on a wavy road: the heavy body does not immediately calm down after another bump. Therefore, it is impossible to call the pendant omnivorous.
Handling is not bad for such a big and heavy car. The reactions to the steering wheel are clear, the cornering rolls are moderate. The steering wheel doesn't seem completely artificial, although you shouldn't expect much athletic sharpness from it. ET8 calmly holds the selected trajectory and does not require constant corrections. But there is no desire to make turns faster while driving.
Ground clearance — 200 mm
All-wheel drive and a ground clearance of 200 mm allow you to drive down onto a dirt road or drive along a broken road without unnecessary worries. But the ET8 should not be considered an SUV. The long base and large mass limit its capabilities beyond asphalt. He can get to a country house on a dirt road, but he doesn't need serious off-road driving. But even at highway speed, the cabin is quiet enough. You can talk calmly and listen to music without raising your voice.
The Adventures of Electronics
The list of electronic assistants is impressive. There is adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, all-round cameras, automatic and remote parking. The function of reversing along a previously traveled trajectory is also provided. It can be useful if you had to enter a narrow courtyard or a dead end from which it is difficult to get out. But the abundance of electronics does not always mean that it is convenient to use it.
The price of Esteo Exlantix ET8 as of November 2026 is 7.69 million rubles, excluding benefits and discounts.
For example, I was surprised by the projection, which displays useful information on the windshield. While driving along a straight suburban section of the highway, the navigation on the frontal permanently urged you to turn right right now. There was absolutely nowhere to turn — the route on the central screen for some reason did not systematically match the projection. It's a little strange, but it's from such little things that one gets the impression of the software part of the car.
Almost a record holder
The Exlantix ET8 is a car with clear priorities. Its strengths are the space and facilities for passengers, especially the second row. Separate armchairs, massage, ventilation, heating, an ottoman, tables, a ceiling screen and a refrigerator — there really is everything you need for a family to spend several hours on the road in comfort.
The price is 7.69 million rubles, excluding discounts and government support programs. This is one of the most expensive crossovers in the history of the Russian automotive industry. For such money, the buyer has the right to expect not only rich equipment, but also a more careful study of the details.
Taking into account all the discounts, the cost of the ET8 can be reduced to the level of its main competitor, the GAC S9, which is available in Russia only in a five—seat version if there is a three-row version in China. At the same time, the prices of the Lixiang crossovers, with an eye to which the ET8 and S9 were developed, exceed 10 million rubles altogether.
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