I went to an M-Hero dealer in Beijing to check out the new M-Hero M817. I checked the cars, the stuff, and everything else. The M817 is a monster off-road SUV with up to 505 kW and 848 Nm. This is what I saw:
What is M-Hero?
M-Hero is a high-end Chinese NEV brand, founded in 2022. It has a complex structure. The company behind M-Hero is M-Hero Technology. The owner is the Dongfeng Motor Group (DFG), which, in turn, is a subsidiary of state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFMC).
M-Hero Automotive Technology is a civilian-market offspring of the military Dongfeng Mengshi series. However, the distinction is not exactly clear-cut. The Chinese name is very similar:
M-Hero Technology: 猛士科技. Měngshì Kējì.
Dongeng Mengshi: 东风猛士. Dōngfēng Měngshì.
Měngshì means “Warrior”.
To confuse matters even more, M-Hero also sells specialty vehicles to the Chinese People’s Armed Police (PAP), the paramilitary wing of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s armed forces.
In 2023, M-Hero launched its first model, the M-Hero 917, a heavy, high-power off-road monster. But sales to the civilian market have been limited, and when the 917 launched, M-Hero didn’t have a dealer network. That only changed in late 2024, when M-Hero began recruiting dealers in China’s larger cities. Today, it has two shops in Beijing, which isn’t very much. Oddly, these shops only sell the new M817, not the 917. It is yet unknown which models, if any, M-Hero will launch next.
First impressions
The M-Hero dealer is based in a relatively small building in a larger automotive area. The dealer had opened in March, so everything was brand new. There was a large M-Hero logo above the door. The characters are 东风汽车, Dōngfēng Qìchē, Dongfeng Motor.
Inside, the building was spacious, cool, and well-lit. Two cars were on display. The 3-member staff completely ignored me. This level of service is fairly typical for state-owned companies and older, privately owned Chinese brands. I usually don’t mind, but after visiting dealers of new Chinese brands, such as Li Auto and Xpeng, the difference in attitude is quite notable.
The M-Hero M817 Pro
The M-Hero M817 is a luxury off-road SUV, launched in 2025. M-Hero offers two variants: the M817 Pro and the M817 Max. The Pro is the base model, while the Max features additional off-road styling. The silver car is the Pro model; it costs 329.00 yuan ($46.7K).
This vase demonstrates the maximum wading depth of the M817, which is 900 mm, although the water appears to sit slightly higher than that.
Specifications
The M817 is based on Dongfeng’s Tianyuan Architecture. It has a body-on-frame chassis for heavy off-road driving and for the cool factor. It also comes with all-wheel drive (AWD) and all-wheel steering (AWS). The turning circle is 6.2 meters.
The M-Hero M817 is a large machine. The dimensions are: 5100/1998/1899, with a 3005 mm curb weight and a 2909-kg curb weight. The front and rear overhangs are super short, for an approach & departure angle of 30% each.
The M817 is classified as a PHEV. In reality, it is a mix between PHEV and EREV (PHEREV?). The petrol engine does power the wheels if needed, but it also acts as a generator for the battery.
The complex powertrain includes:
- a 1.5 turbo with 145 kW and 290 Nm.
- a 2-speed dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT).
- a front electric motor with 200 kW/350 Nm.
- a rear electric motor with 205 kW/410 Nm.
- an 84-liter fuel tank.
- a CATL LFP battery with 31.7 kWh or 50.4 kWh.
M-Hero claims a system output of 505 kW and 848 Nm. limits the top speed to 180 km/h. The 0-100 acceleration takes 5.2 seconds with the small battery and 5.6 seconds with the big one. Range with the 31.7 kWh battery: 1300 km combined, 140 pure electric. With the 50.4 kWh battery: 1365 km combined and 215 km pure electric.
Huawei
Huawei is everywhere! The Chinese tech & automotive firm has expanded fast over the past five years or so. The company is a major supplier, and it owns five brands under the HIMA umbrella. M-Hero co-developed the M817 with Huawei. It is equipped with Huawei’s Harmony OS Cockpit 5.0, Huawei ADS 4.0, and Huawei’s electronic architecture. M-Hero is so happy with this cooperation that it put a Huawei ADS badge on the back of the M817.
ADS = Advanced Driving System, Huawei’s slightly confusing name for its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). So, you can say: “Huawei’s ADS 4.0 ADAS is great.” 4.0 is the version name. The L2+ system has 11 cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, 3 millimeter wave radars, and a lidar. Huawei produces both the software and the hardware.
The interior
The M-Hero M817 has a spacious and luxurious interior, with large leather seats with extra pillows. The trim is a mix of leather, aluminium, and black panels. The drive selector is on the steering wheel column. The interior color is Danxia Brown.
The eye catcher is this beautiful watch-like dial that controls the off-road settings. Below the dial are 3 more buttons for off-road functions. It also has a line of cool-looking physical buttons for the air conditioning. The M817 has two 50W air-cooled wireless phone chargers.
Large-diameter steering wheels are a trend in China. The wheel of the M817 is as large as a boat’s, with two spokes, a thick rim, and a flat bottom. There’s a 10.25-inch driver’s display and a 15.6-inch touch screen. The voice-assistant wake-up call is “你好猛士”, Nǐ hǎo Měngshì, Hello Warrior.
The M-Hero M817 is a five-seat car. It seems large enough for seven seats, but for now, a five-seater is all you can get. Other equipment includes an 18-speaker Dynaudio sound system, a fridge, a 256-color ambient lighting system, and a large panoramic sunroof.
Banner Time
The M-Hero dealer had four different M817 banners, and that’s quite a lot for a single model. All the banners were old-school, non-digital, with the same photos as on M-Hero’s website.
The plant on the left side is a faker.
This one was almost 2 meters high!
A smaller one on an easel, with pricing and the dealer’s telephone number. That’s wuzzy, because the banner is inside the dealer. Well, maybe calling is the only way to contact these guys! By that time, I had been inside for about 20 minutes, and they still ignored me completely.
Stuff
Every Chinese car dealer has cool stuff. But at M-Hero, they had a lot. Cups, sunglasses, compasses, umbrellas, more cups, and bottles, all with the M-Hero logo.
The real M-Hero 917 wasn’t on display, but the store had two scale models: one in 1:18 and…
… a metal-plated limited-edition model in 1:24. Collectors, be aware: a limited edition of a car model in China is rarely really limited. Usually, the first batch is like a limited edition, maybe a couple of thousand examples, in a nice box with a plaque or a certificate. Afterwards, the company will launch the exact same model in a slightly less pretty box, with a different certificate, and sell millions of them.
Other impressions
An interesting promotional display, with a wigwam, camping seats, a cooking pot, and a backdrop with a flock of M-Hero 917s. The colorful placards highlight the car’s main features, including off-road capability and terrain handling, safety and durability, as well as its connectivity. The blue signboard mentions M-Hero’s cooperation with Huawei.
An empty area with seats, screens, stuff, and a raised desk with two seats. This is normally where salesmen sit, but not today.
Some screens showed the M-817; others were switched off.
The M-Hero M817 Max
The M-Hero M817 Max has the same powertrain as the Pro, but it is even more capable off-road, with upgraded suspension and a slightly higher ground clearance.
Visually, it has larger bumpers, painted in black, black fender flares, and cladding on the doors, and heavyset roof rails.
The upgraded shocks of the M817 Max. Compared:
The shocks of the M817 standard wheel.
The changes are relatively small, but the Max looks way more badass. It costs 359.900 yuan or $51K. Atop the roof, in the middle, is a thin antenna. That’s the Huawei T-Box. It is an extra-powerful antenna for network communication, designed to keep the vehicle connected even when the driver ventures into desolate terrain.
The Mountain Green interior looks a bit messy.
Note the big Huawei lidar on the roof! M-Hero calls the design language “Heroic Soul Aesthetics 2.0”. It surely looks impressive.
Time to say goodbye to the M-Hero dealer
The statue shows a red bouquet with grain. M-Hero has come up with a flowery description of the brand. It goes like this (translated):
Hardcore interpretation of Asian charm
Forge a car with mountains and rivers as the soul
Unlock the off-road totem that belongs to China
The English slogan sounds less poetic: “M-Hero. Never Back Down”.
It was time to go. It was a nice visit, albeit one a little lonely. I had been able to look at and into the cars, take all the photos I wanted, check out the entire shop, go to the toilet, and hang around like I belonged there. So, I guess, that’s enough for a big thank you to the team at this M-Hero dealer.