Updated Li Auto i8 Drops $4.5K to Take On ONVO L90

Li Auto has launched the All-New i8 electric SUV, adding key upgrades while lowering the entry price by RMB 30K ($4.4K) compared with its previous positioning. The model enters the six-seat premium electric SUV market, directly competing with NIO’s ONVO L90.

The All-New Li i8 comes in two versions: a rear-wheel-drive long-range variant priced at RMB 309.8K ($45.9K), and an all-wheel-drive performance variant priced at RMB 339.8K ($50.4K).

As a key model in Li Auto’s pure electric SUV lineup, the All-New i8 focuses on three major upgrades: added front trunk space, improved range, and enhanced cabin comfort.

One of the biggest changes is the addition of a front trunk. For a large family-oriented electric SUV, a frunk has long been considered a key advantage of EV packaging.

The previous Li i8 drew market attention due to its lack of front storage space. With the facelift, Li Auto optimized the thermal management architecture and front compartment layout to create space for an electric frunk.

The company said the redesign integrates the compressor and heater components, allowing the vehicle to maintain 5C ultra-fast charging thermal management performance while freeing additional front-end space.

Exterior changes remain limited, with two major updates: the hidden door handles have been replaced by semi-hidden designs, while the front fascia receives additional chrome trim.

Range and comfort upgrades represent another focus of the All-New i8. The new i8 adds dual full-size zero-gravity seats in the front row, equipped with a 16-point full-body massage system, leg rests, and ventilation functions. Together with the second-row right-side zero-gravity seat, the vehicle now offers three zero-gravity seats, further improving long-distance family travel comfort.

The All-New i8 also introduces a 97.8 kWh battery pack with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive configuration. The CLTC pure electric range rises to 780 km. Li Auto said the vehicle achieves a drag coefficient of 0.218. Highway range retention reaches 78%, while urban driving range retention reaches 95%.

The updated model keeps the current body dimensions, measuring 5,085 mm in length and 1,960 mm in width, with a 3,050 mm wheelbase. It remains positioned as a six-seat electric SUV.

The chassis continues to use an aluminum suspension system, dual-chamber air suspension, and continuously variable damping shock absorbers. The cabin also receives additional noise insulation improvements through double-layer acoustic laminated glass and larger soundproofing materials.

In intelligent driving hardware, the All-New i8 does not adopt Li Auto’s self-developed M100 chip. It is expected to continue using NVIDIA Thor-U chips. By comparison, the lower-priced Li L6 already uses the M100 chip. The different hardware setup suggests Li Auto may be creating a clearer technology gap between the i8 and i9 product lines.

Pricing places the All-New i8 directly against ONVO L90 in the family SUV market. Both models target family users, but the L90 offers a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) option, lowering the initial purchase threshold. The L90 is also larger, with a vehicle length exceeding 5.2 meters and a wheelbase above 3.1 meters, giving it an advantage in interior space.

ONVO L90 completed its product refresh in the second quarter of this year. With the All-New i8 launch, the two models will continue competing in China’s premium family electric SUV segment.

Li i8, launched last year as Li Auto’s mid-to-high-end electric SUV, has struggled to meet market expectations. The model has delivered around 32K units since launch, facing growing pressure in the increasingly crowded premium EV SUV market. The facelift addresses previous product weaknesses, showing Li Auto’s effort to rebuild i8 competitiveness.

Li Auto plans to launch the All-New i9 and MEGA models this year, further expanding its pure electric vehicle portfolio.