The Journey Out: Dubai to Dhofar (1,335 km)
We set off from Dubai to Nizwa (approximately 465 km) in Normal mode, without activating Save Mode, after fully charging the car with both fuel and electricity. The drive took about 5 hours, with speeds ranging between 80–125 km/h, occasionally reaching 140 km/h for brief moments during overtaking.
Upon arrival in Nizwa, the remaining fuel range was about 450 km, so I refueled again. From there, we headed to Dhofar (approximately 870 km). Two hours before the mountains, I activated Save Mode to gain extra power, bringing the battery charge to 51%.
Cost: Total fuel expenses from Dubai to Dhofar came to AED 590, arriving in Salalah with a remaining range of 800 km.
The car has exceptional power for climbing mountains even at just 25% battery, and the stability is phenomenal—at 187 km/h, it felt like cruising at 80 km/h.
The AC and Battery Issue
During the outbound journey, the air conditioning blew warm air twice: once at a brief stop, releasing hot air for a couple minutes before returning to normal, and once during highway driving for about a minute before cooling returned. I suspect it was due to the battery heating up, forcing the cooling fans to prioritize battery thermal management.
Performance and Power in Dhofar
Initially, I activated Save Mode in Dhofar, but found it unnecessary—the car has excellent power for climbing mountains even with just 25% battery. The engine sound rises slightly under load (a bit of a groan), so it's better to keep the battery charged.
I tested the car's acceleration and hit 187 km/h on the speedometer—and what a ride! The stability is phenomenal; at that speed, it felt like cruising at 80 km/h. As for sound insulation, it's naturally affected by the boxy shape and higher ride height, but it's still very good overall.
Return Journey: The Forgotten Mode and the Surprise
On the way back, I forgot to activate Save Mode. Climbing the mountain at 90 km/h, the engine was loud and the battery dropped to 18%. Worried it might hit zero, I slowed to 70 km/h, and the car automatically started charging at 20–25% without any mode activated.
Over the mountain descent, the battery charged to 50% from regenerative braking alone, no Save Mode needed. The AC worked perfectly on the return trip—I left after dawn prayer and arrived in Dubai after sunset.
Cost: Return fuel expenses were just AED 397, with 300 km of range remaining, despite speeds of 100–130 km/h (mostly locked at 125 km/h). Total distance for the return journey: 1,324 km.
Overall Trip Statistics
Total fuel cost (outbound and return): AED 1,029.
Total distance covered: 3,347 km.
SubhanAllah—the return journey is always smoother, more relaxing, and cheaper too!
