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From the high praise at the beginning of its listing to the fierce criticism after its listing, the public opinion against MEGA has been like a roller coaster.

Today, after several months of market cooling-off, I have found this highly controversial 2024 model.

I want to discuss two issues: first, is it a real all-electric large flat? Second, is it worth the price of 529,800 yuan?

01. What are the points worth paying attention to in appearance?

For a former styling engineer, the new styling of Ideal MEGA is particularly interesting. Whether it looks good or not is a matter of opinion. Even I cannot say that I like it 100%.

But it is true that the designers of MEGA have worked hard to make it functional!

(1) Avant-garde front design

MEGA is the pioneer of Ideal's pure electric vehicles. Its front face is quite different from its own L series, but it also retains some common features, such as the iconic star ring lights.

It’s just that the star ring lights are positioned very high, and the headlights are positioned very low, leaving a very large area of ​​white space directly in front, which is completely different from mainstream models and makes MEGA more sci-fi.

(2) Teardrop-shaped body

MEGA is Ideal's first large-scale pure electric vehicle. In order to reduce energy consumption and improve battery life, it adopts a teardrop-shaped body shape.

The characteristic side lines extend from the front bumper to the roof and then to the rear of the car in one go. There are no complicated lines on the body of the car, making it simple to the extreme.

In fact, in the era of fuel vehicles, many MPVs also adopted a similar bullet-shaped design, but MEGA used a lot of design language from the new energy era, so it looks more alternative and sci-fi.

(3) The rear end of the car is under discussion

Judging from the body posture, MEGA has a downward trend from front to back, with the rear end moving inward and becoming more rounded.

The area below the taillights is separated by a circle of dark parts. I guess the designer wants to make the rear of the car more layered.

However, I personally think that the focus of the rear design is not very clear. The entire circle of black trim is a bit too distracting and is not as straightforward as the front face. There is still room for polishing and modification.

(4) Ultra-low drag coefficient

Since the goal of appearance design is to follow function, has Ideal MEGA achieved the goal?

Let's take a look at a comparison of drag coefficients. The latest Tesla Model 3 has a drag coefficient of 0.219, the Porsche Taycan has a drag coefficient of 0.22, and the Ideal MEGA has a drag coefficient of 0.215.

For a large MPV with a length of more than 5.3 meters, this result is quite good.

In "Understanding New Energy Vehicles in One Book", I shared a set of simulation analysis results: for every 0.01 optimization of the drag coefficient, the cruising range can be increased by 6~8km. Of course, the data varies for different models, so it is for reference only!

(5) Security

The safety factor cannot be reflected in a test drive, but Ideal is a car company that builds cars for families and attaches great importance to safety.

The 5.3-meter body ensures sufficient impact space, and the torsional rigidity reaches 44,000 N·m/Deg. Although it is not far ahead in family cars, it performs well.

One thing to mention is that MEGA comes standard with a remote airbag. Although it is not a new technology, not many models are currently equipped with it. This airbag is located on the inside of the driver's seat back.

In the event of side collision or rollover accidents, it can effectively prevent the front passengers' heads from colliding with each other.

Perhaps it is because the Ideal L series is too successful, and Ideal officials also hope to take a different path through pure electric models, so the design of MEGA is very bold. I drove this car out these few days and got a lot of attention on the road.

Whether the sales volume is successful or not is not discussed for now, but MEGA’s pioneering spirit is undeniable.

What do you think of its appearance? How would you rate it out of 10?

02. How is the cockpit and space experience?

Before MEGA was launched, many people thought that such an advanced appearance would definitely be matched with a stunning interior.

Later, after MEGA was launched, its interior style, which was similar to that of Ideal SUV, made people feel that it lacked novelty.

The style hasn't really changed much, but I think there are still a few points worth talking about.

(1) Front-row experience

Let’s talk about the main driver’s seat first. Generally speaking, the main driver’s seat of an MPV is the driver’s seat, and MEGA did not choose to ignore it.

Instead, a seat is prepared that can automatically adjust the hardness of the cushion according to the driving time. It is soft and comfortable for short distances and has strong support for long distances.

The co-pilot seat is a queen seat with 100° reclining adjustment angle and an integrated leg rest.

In addition, all first-row seats support heating, ventilation, and 16-point massage.

The disadvantage is that there are no electric suction doors in the front row, which is also a point of complaint by several Ideal L7 owners.

Apart from that, the armrest box in the middle is not very deep because there is a large refrigerator underneath.

In addition, there is a hollow storage design under the door armrest of MEGA, the advantage of which is that it provides an additional storage possibility.

One thing that can be improved is to make the edge a little higher so that the things placed inside will not fall down easily.

(2) Second row experience

The second-row door opening of MEGA is relatively large, but entering the second row cannot be done in one step, there is a small step, which may not be convenient for older people.

The second row of seats is a VIP position, which can be moved up to 500mm forward and backward. The maximum legroom in the second row is close to 1.3 meters. Even the most picky customers will be satisfied with this space.

The configuration is quite rich, with 16-point massage, 270° surround heating including armrests, leg rests, backrests, seat cushions, seat ventilation, two mobile phone wireless charging, including a 220V socket and refrigerator underneath, etc.

Choose a suitable angle, recline the seat and open the leg rest, the comfort level is really good.

I would like to add two small points. One is that there is only a small table on the passenger side of the second row, and there is no mobile phone slot.

For a car at this price, it is indeed a bit unreasonable considering that many cars on the market are equipped with two small tables.

The second point is MEGA's second-row electric doors. In addition to the electric switch buttons, there is also a very conspicuous mechanical handle under the door panel as a switch, which will be very necessary in an emergency.

When the front row is adjusted to a normal driving posture, there is more than 4 fists of leg room in the second row.

(3) Third row experience

The third row can be entered through the center aisle of the second row, but the aisle space in the third row is slightly narrower in comparison.

The third row of seats is a bit of a surprise. The seat height and cushion length are both normal, not cramped at all.

Seat heating and comfortable headrests are standard, and the backrest angle can also be adjusted electrically, which actually takes comfort a step further.

(4) Trunk space

When fully loaded, the MEGA trunk can hold four 28-inch suitcases and two 20-inch cabin cases.

Moreover, the special hinge design makes the opening of the suitcase very wide, which deserves praise.

There are a few points to note here. The first is that the height of the trunk threshold is particularly low.

The second is that there is actually a layered design at the bottom of the suitcase, which is about 10cm deep and completely flat.

It might be more convenient to use if some small partitions could be added to make some distinctions.

The biggest surprise is the expandability of its third-row seats.

First of all, the third row of seats can be folded down electrically, and if the second row of seats is too far back when folding down, it will move the second row of seats forward synchronously. This point must be praised, and the engineers have considered it very carefully.

After folding, you can continue to press the electric adjustment button. At this time, the third row of seats will be hung behind the second row of seats like a small schoolbag, forming a completely flat and larger volume in the entire luggage trunk.

(5) Cabin Quietness

After a test drive and test ride, I was impressed by how quiet the MEGA is.

Although there is no roar of the engine, the motor and tires may still produce noise.

MEGA has plenty of noise reduction features, including double-layer laminated glass for the skylight and double-layer soundproof glass for the four doors. It is also equipped with Michelin silent tires when it leaves the factory.

Another very important point is that the low-drag streamlined design will itself greatly enhance the aerodynamics of this car.

After experiencing the MEGA's cabin, I can only say that everything revolves around the goals of family and comfort, and MEGA has indeed achieved it.

Although the interior does not have the luxury that it should have at this price and looks rather dull, the comfort and configuration of the seats have been greatly improved, and every member is well taken care of.

No matter which row or seat you sit in, there is decent space and comfortable seats, which is rare.

Here’s a small question: If you were to give some advice on MEGA’s cockpit design, what would you say?

03. Is the smart cockpit easy to use?

Ideal is one of the three giants of the new forces. It has a very deep understanding of the intelligent experience, and its self-developed cognitive model has been put into use.

(1) Basic hardware of smart cabin

MEGA's car computer chip is Qualcomm 8295, which is currently the smart cockpit chip with the highest computing power, and its AI accelerated computing performance is improved by 650%.

The central control screen and the co-pilot entertainment screen are both 15.7 inches, and the second-row entertainment screen is 17 inches, both with 3K resolution.

In addition, head-up display and streaming media rearview mirror are also present, which is also the consistent operation of Ideal car series.

(2) Intelligent Voice Interaction

I think everyone who has experienced “Ideal Classmates” knows whether it is useful or not.

In terms of functions, it has voice wake-up word-free, voice wake-up recognition by area, visible and speakable, etc.

In the daily practical experience of Ideal MEGA, the voice recognition rate, response speed and controllable functions of the car's temperature, windows, music playback, navigation and other functions are still very good.

(3) Mind GPT

The application of artificial intelligence in cars is an inevitable trend. Ideal acted quickly and developed its own Mind GPT.

This interactive method based on big data provides a very good actual experience and can achieve wake-up-free operation throughout the vehicle at all times.

It listens quickly, executes quickly, and responds concisely. No matter where you are in the car, voice commands can be accurately recognized and executed, and its performance is among the best.

(4) “Three Assistances and One Teacher” Function

Mind GPT has given the original ideal classmate four new images, namely: car assistant, travel assistant, entertainment assistant, and encyclopedia teacher.

The first three functions can greatly enrich our travel scenarios, such as energy replenishment planning during travel, attraction recommendations, etc.

The Encyclopedia Teacher feature deserves great praise. It can answer a wide variety of children's and even nonsensical questions, freeing parents from worrying about their children's future.

There are two types of smart cockpits on the market: one that you can’t leave once you get in, and the other that you want to close once you get in. Obviously, Ideal Classmates belongs to the former.

Mind GPT makes MEGA's smart cockpit smarter and closer to human logic, and it is also one of the best performing cars I have tested recently.

Especially the special care for children, which reflects Ideal Auto’s emphasis on family, and this must be praised.

04. What is the level of intelligent driving?

Due to the huge size of MEGA, the comfort of the people in the car must also be taken into consideration. From a physical perspective, its assisted driving function tends to be conservative and stable.

Next, let’s talk about MEGA’s intelligent driving based on my experience over the past few days.

(1) Intelligent driving hardware and software foundation

The first car we test drove was equipped with AD Max 3.0, which uses two NVIDIA Drive Orin chips with a computing power of 508TOPS, as well as 1 laser radar and 11 cameras. The software and hardware configuration is actually very full.

Coupled with the algorithm support of the BEV large model and OCC occupied network, MEGA has excellent computing, perception and planning capabilities, laying the foundation for the intelligent driving experience.

(2) Experience on ordinary urban roads and expressways

When driving on normal roads, MEGA's following and lane keeping are relatively stable, without being impatient or anxious.

But one thing that needs to be mentioned is that when driving in the Shanghai area, the areas where it is downgraded to LCC are obviously more than those of Huawei and Xiaopeng, which means that after the downgrade it can only go straight, cannot change lanes, and cannot turn left or right. At this time, it is easy for people to miss Huawei.

(3) Automatic parking

Easy-to-use automatic parking is extremely important for a car of MEGA's size, especially in underground garages and narrow roads. Even experienced drivers have to be very careful and meticulous when driving the 5.3-meter-long MEGA.

When MEGA is reversing, its recognition of the surrounding environment and route planning are very pleasing.

We tried automatic parking many times, and the operating logic of MEGA was consistent with what I expected. If I were to park the car myself, I would also choose MEGA's method.

In real life, consumers who drive passenger cars that are more than 5.3 meters in length are still a minority. After all, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is less than 5.3 meters.

Ideal MEGA's intelligent driving function can assist the driver well, reducing operational errors and driving risks caused by its large size, and automatic parking is particularly useful.

If we look at the entire car market, MEGA's AD Max3.0 is actually at a pretty good level. It's definitely not up to the first tier, but there's still a chance for the second tier to squeeze into the first tier.

05. What is it like to start up MEGA?

Let’s talk about MEGA’s power experience.

Somewhat surprisingly, MEGA does not use a super-large capacity battery. For such a large car, the battery pack only has 102.7 kWh of electricity.

But it has worked hard on the charging speed. The horsepower is sufficient, and the power and control are relatively balanced, which is in line with the positioning of MPV.

Next, let’s talk about my thoughts on MEGA’s dynamic experience.

(1) Abundant motivation

Ideal MEGA uses two front and rear motors with a maximum power of 400kW, a maximum torque of 542N·m, and an acceleration time of 5.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

Many people may think that an MPV does not need acceleration of more than five seconds, but the heavier the body, the more important the power reserve.

In scenarios such as full load, overtaking, changing lanes, and climbing, the stronger the power, the higher the safety factor.

(2) Amazing charging speed

MEGA's battery pack capacity is 102.7kWh and its CLTC range is 710km.

The data performance is average. After all, other manufacturers have already increased the battery capacity to an exaggerated 140/150kWh.

However, MEGA has a 5C charging rate, which means it can add 500km of battery life in 12 minutes. We actually tested it and found that it added 56 kWh of electricity in 7 minutes, increasing the battery life by 310km. There was no discount at all, which really surprised me.

The charging efficiency is very good, and it also has an on-the-way temperature control function. Once it is turned on, it can maintain a very high charging speed regardless of the season.

However, at this stage, there are relatively few charging stations that support 5C charging. There is only one 5C charging station within 10km around Wujiaochang where we are.

(3) Still comfortable driving experience

Overall, MEGA is a car that is extremely comfortable. Its steering wheel is very light, and the accelerator pedal is also very light. I personally think it could be a little heavier.

From the perspective of suspension, even with the use of a front double wishbone and rear multi-link structure, and the support of dual-chamber air suspension, control is still not the focus of MEGA. I feel that the main function of these hardware is to support the large and heavy body and make the ride more stable.

This means that when driving, turning or making a U-turn, don't drive too fast, otherwise you will obviously feel the shaking of the car body. The driver may feel okay, but the family members in the second and third rows may not be so comfortable.

Conclusion

After careful study, it can be found that MEGA is a model with a very distinctive personality and clear trade-offs.

Its appearance is highly recognizable, and its cabin pursues ultimate comfort, even at the expense of luxury; its smart network connection experience is great, but in comparison, there is still room for improvement in terms of intelligent driving; its power is sufficient, but the pure electric power already shows that it has made trade-offs; the 5C charges quickly, but it still needs to speed up to lay charging piles.

It can be seen that Ideal is very confident in the product definition of MEGA and knows exactly what it wants. There is actually no problem with this.

However, for products priced at more than 500,000 yuan, product strength alone is definitely not enough. It would be better to provide some additional value, whether it is service value, emotional value, or circle value, so that customers can convince themselves. This is also what is generally lacking in China's high-end cars.