The "pickup truck into the city" policy has gradually been liberalized, and many pickup models have begun to reappear in the field of view of consumers. Speaking of pickup trucks, I believe that most domestic consumers will still think that "pulling goods" is its main use, but today's protagonists do not think so, I call it "human high-quality pickup trucks".
On the evening of December 7, the 2022 Jiangling Yuhu 7 was officially listed, priced at 104,800-14.83 million yuan. The day after the listing, Brother Rudder came to the shore of Poyang Lake to personally experience the changes brought about by the new Yuhu 7. Its arrival may change your inherent perception of traditional pickups.
01
Driving the new Domain Tiger 7 into the non-paved no man's land is so fun!
Compared with the old model, the new Yuhu 7 has added a 2.0T gasoline engine version to the model matrix, with a maximum power of 220 horsepower and a peak torque of 350N·m. The original diesel engine version still uses the Ford PUMA 2.0T series, with a maximum power of 141 horsepower and a peak torque of 350N·m. Both are available in 6MT or 8AT gearboxes, and both meet China VIB emission standards.
Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China, and the location of our test drive is on Songmen Island on the shore of Poyang Lake, and the road is basically non-paved, not only sand and gravel roads, sandy land, but also various muddy sections. It is worth mentioning that this time I test drove a 2.0T diesel + 6MT model. Driving a manual pickup truck to go off-road was also my first time.
First, let's talk about the power reserve. The 2.0T diesel engine can be described as easy to use on non-paved roads, with strong torque at the beginning, steady and solid, making people feel full of confidence. The intervention of the turbine is not abrupt, even on non-paved roads, the new Domain Tiger 7 is still very brisk.
Of course, Brother Reel also tried a model equipped with an 8AT gearbox. The 8AT transmission from ZF is quite mature in matching with the engine, the gear change process is smooth, the logic is reasonable, and it is believed that it will have better fuel consumption performance on paved roads.
In addition to the strong power reserve, we have the courage to drive the Domain Tiger 7 into the non-paved no-man's land and there is also a time-sharing four-wheel drive system from BorgWarner. Even if you need to face large ditches and potholes, with a 29 degree approach angle and a 25 degree departure angle, Domain Tiger 7 can easily cope. On the soft sand, the four-wheel drive system and the limit slip system work at the same time, which can also pass smoothly.
In addition, the Domain Tiger 7 also adopts the same level of common front McPherson independent suspension + rear leaf spring non-independent suspension configuration. The benefit of hard suspension is that it is more impact resistant, and on paved roads, the chassis of the Domain Tiger 7 can filter the fine vibrations very crisply. However, when driving on non-paved roads, there will still be more obvious jumping in the rear axle, and fish and bear paws cannot be combined.
02
Minor changes have led to a stronger body
As an annual revamp, the new Yuhu 7 still maintains the tough style of the current model, and only optimizes and adjusts the front face. The original fishmouth grille was replaced by an octagonal chrome grille, which looks more domineering, with the raised lines on the hood, quite American pickup style.
The side and rear of the body have not changed much, and the expanded wheel eyebrows are the same color as the body, adding a sense of fashion. Chrome door handles with the pedals below, is there a little "contrast cute" feeling? The square taillights have added a blackening element, which is more recognizable when lit.
In addition, the new Yuhu 7's cargo bucket is also equipped with a larger and stronger roll cage to prevent the cargo from scattering in bumpy sections. The interior of the cargo bucket is also coated with cargo compartment treasure, which is both beautiful and practical.
03
Can you believe this is the interior of the pickup?
The interior is the part that has changed the most in the new model. Walking into the car, I thought to myself, "Is this really the interior of a pickup truck?" The interior of the new Yuhu 7 adopts a wrap-around design, and the overall style is very similar to that of passenger cars. Large areas of leather are wrapped within easy reach, supplemented by wood-grain panels and silver trims. The front seats are wrapped in imitation leather materials, and they are both wide and comfortable to sit on, which is highly praised.
The steering wheel adopts the popular flat bottom design, the grip is relatively thick, the shape is sporty, and there are perforated leather materials wrapped on both sides. The front dashboard is mainly practical, and the driving parameters such as speed, speed, and fuel consumption are simple and easy to read. The 8AT version of the gear also uses an aircraft throttle shape similar to the PSA Group model, which is quite delicate.
Even more surprising is the multimedia system of the new Domain Tiger 7. The 10.1-inch floating central control screen is equipped with the latest Companion 4.0 system, which supports the installation of video entertainment apps such as Kugou Music and Himalaya in addition to its regular functions. More importantly, the system also supports intelligent voice control, and the recognition rate and responsiveness are not inferior even compared to passenger cars, which is at the top of the same level.
In terms of rear space, the 170cm experiencer sitting in the back seat can get more than two punches of leg space and one punch and three fingers of head space, the interior padding of the seat is also relatively soft, and the overall ride is not too much of a problem. However, the rear seats lack the central headrest.
From the interior of the new Domain Tiger 7, it is not difficult to see that the evolution of pickup trucks is moving closer to the direction of passenger cars. Practicality is important, but in addition to practicality, it seems to be an asymmetrical balance to give consumers a sense of technology and luxury. Thankfully, the new Domain Tiger 7 does a great job of balancing in this regard.
04
Life is too dull? It's better to be a "pickup truck life home"
Brother Reel found that this test drive was very different from the usual road test drive. There is no workshop before the test drive, no speeches from big leaders, and no colorful on-site layout. On the watery prairie, we started the test drive without stopping.
Crossing the sea of reeds, over the cliffs of Doosan, speeding through the uninhabited desert, flying up the vast grasslands, we finally reached the border of Songmen Island, where there was already a Yuhu Fishing Version model waiting quietly. Some peer teachers choose to set up tents and sit by Poyang Lake to drink tea for warmth; some peer teachers pick up fishing rods and get addicted; of course, more peer teachers still choose to drive out to open the sand and personally feel the magic of nature.
Life shouldn't be a day-to-day job. Tired of the traffic, you may wish to drive a pickup truck to the countryside, be a "pickup life home", in the blue sky and white clouds and muddy hiking boots, to find their true self.
Guangzhou has just entered the early winter, and the spring of pickup trucks is quietly arriving.
From January to November this year, Jiangling pickup trucks sold a total of 59,215 new cars, an increase of 3.4% year-on-year. The new Yuhu 7 has not only improved in terms of power, but also has a comprehensive upgrade in terms of intelligent vehicle networking and ride comfort in the car, which can be described as business-friendly and IKEA. Its arrival will help the Jiangling pickup brand to further impact the market segment, so that more people can also pursue freedom and go to poetry and far away.