I have to say that in recent years, the MPV market can be described as gradually hot, the joint venture brand in the high-end market is rising, and the independent brand is fighting in the entry-level market, and no one will give in half a step. For the general family, business attributes may not be important, MPV models are spacious and flexible use space and strong practicality is its biggest product advantage. In the price range of less than 150,000 yuan, there are actually quite a lot of choices in the independent brand camp, and the protagonist of this test drive is one of them - the 2021 SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS.
Appearance: A more dynamic and atmospheric front face
From the perspective of product sequence, SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS is an entry-level model, focusing on the residential MPV market. In terms of design, the overall feeling is still biased towards young sports, and the entry-level positioning coupled with the lack of sliding doors is doomed to completely do not have the so-called "business attributes". In terms of size, the length and height performance of saic motor MAXUS G50 is acceptable, and the wheelbase performance of 2800mm is also decent, although it does not have obvious advantages compared with competitors of the same level, but it is not a slot point.
As a mid-term redesign, the SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS has made targeted adjustments to the exterior details. The size of the mesh in the front face is further increased, and the overall shape is very delicate with high-density horizontal chrome trim. The changes in the rear part of the car are mainly concentrated in the black trim in the middle of the tail light group, which is integrated with the tail window and combined with the "MAXUS" letter logo, which is more integrated. The rear surround is more sporty than the previous silver trim strips and diffuser-style decorative panels.
Interior: The tech atmosphere has been significantly enhanced
In the interior part, SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS still adopts a wrap-around design, the overall style is warm and homely, and half of the center console is mostly soft materials, creating a certain sense of quality. The multi-function steering wheel style has not changed, the overall size is moderate, the grip and practicality are excellent. The newly replaced 12.3-inch LCD meter displays a wealth of driving information and offers three interface themes to choose from. In addition, the biggest change in the interior is that the gear shift mechanism has been changed to a pocket gear design, leaving more ample storage space for the center console.
The 12.3-inch floating central control screen has built-in the Spider Zhilian 2.0 system jointly developed by SAIC Maxus maxus and Tencent, which has significant progress compared with the old models in terms of functional scalability, smooth operation and screen display effect, and also supports CarPlay functions. In addition, the system's speech recognition function is very powerful, the voice command response time is 600ms, and it supports continuous dialogue.
The automatic air conditioner is easy to use by means of a central control screen or touch panel. The second row also has an air-conditioned control panel, but it can only control the air volume and cannot adjust the temperature. Although it does not support temperature zone control, the SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS is equipped with an on-board air purifier and an in-car PM2.5 filter device, and its practical performance is worthy of recognition.
The test drive uses leather seats with soft cut three-dimensional padding, excellent ride comfort, and the front seats also support electric adjustment and electric heating. Thanks to the panoramic open sunroof, not only does the interior of the car have excellent lighting, but it also acts as a ventilation. For an entry-level home MPV model, it is already good to be able to guarantee a spacious and comfortable ride and basic comfort configuration.
Motivation: There is still work to be done on the smooth side
Saic Motor MAXUS G50 PLUS is equipped with a 1.5T engine codenamed 15E4E, with a maximum power of 124 kW, a peak torque of 250 N·m, and a drivetrain mated to a 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission. Objectively speaking, the parameter performance of the engine is quite eye-catching, but for an MPV model, I think it may be a better compliment to the smooth and comfortable than the abundant power.
In terms of test drive experience, the overall performance of the 2021 SAIC MAXUS G50 is not significantly different from that of the old model, and the advantages are the same as always, but the disadvantages are still the same. Frankly speaking, with the eye-catching engine parameters, the absolute power is still very good, as long as you dare to step on the throttle deeply, the acceleration force is indeed very sufficient, and the results of breaking 100 within 10s are also very telling. However, the problems in terms of smoothness and responsiveness that have appeared on the old models have not been properly solved by the mid-term remodeled models.
Tapping the throttle to accelerate is actually fine, but as long as you step a little deeper, the gearbox and the engine will start to "think about life" together, and the throttle has obviously been stepped on, but it is delayed. After a moment of hesitation, the gearbox finally completed the downshift, the setback aside, along with the roar of the engine, the speed climbing speed is indeed not slow, after the turbine is fully involved, the acceleration of the front and middle periods is indeed quite powerful, which must be said and recognized.
Back to the problem of the setback, the performance of this 7-speed dry dual-clutch transmission is really almost interesting, the 1st and 2nd gears are slow and sluggish, and the shift logic is also a not very smart look. Again, if the throttle opening is precisely controlled to drive smoothly, then the overall feeling is still acceptable, but as long as you are a little anxious, the gearbox will begin to "can't keep up", and the driver must take the initiative to accommodate it.
The foot feel of the brake pedals has been optimized and has become more linear and smoother than before. However, the current brake pedal travel is really too long, and even the word "stepping" on the brakes seems a little inappropriate, and it seems to be more graphic to use "stomping" or "kicking". When braking urgently, it is slightly awkward, and the braking force always feels not very strong, which brings the driver confidence to a very limited amount.
The 2021 SAIC MAXUS G50 uses a non-independent suspension structure of the front McPherson rear torque beam, and the adjustment is not completely inclined to comfort, so the roll of the car when cornering is actually not serious, which is still good. The spring spring rebounds faster, the overall feeling is quite light, but it will jump in the face of bumps, and there is more excess vibration. If you look at the measurement of absolute comfort, this tuning style is indeed rare and high scores, but in addition to ensuring comfort, it also fully takes into account the driver's feelings, for such an entry-level home MPV model, I think it is still more appropriate.
Space: Plenty of space to sit
The 169cm tall experiencer sat in the front row, with about two punches between the head and the roof, which was quite good, and the legroom was also very generous. Not only is the front seating space satisfactory, but the storage space is also outstanding. The door handle adopts a back-cover design, and with the door panel storage slot with space division, the loading capacity is very strong. There is a storage slot under the center console, and there is also a separate wireless charging plate, and the cup holder is one-piece design with a limiter. Thanks to the new car's pocket gear design, the space in front of the armrest box is fully utilized and the bottom of the centre console is also hollowed out, which can also store many items.
The second row is a separate row of seats with separate armrests on both sides, providing excellent ride comfort and generous space. Adjust the second row of seats to the front, the legs can still have a punch or three fingers or so, and the head space is about one punch and four fingers.
In terms of storage, the door panel design is the same as the front row, the door handle adopts a bottom-cover design, and the door panel storage slot is also divided. Small items can be placed in the front seat back pockets as well as in the storage slots on either side of the second row of seats. The cup holder is located behind the central armrest in the front row, although a little farther away, but at least it is stronger than nothing. There is not only a back pocket on the back of the front seat, but also a small table board, which is measuring to support the stability, which is undoubtedly very practical for MPV models.
The aisle in the middle of the second row of seats is quite spacious, and the floor is flat, so it is more convenient to enter the third row. Since the second row of seats has been adjusted to the front side, when the experiencer is seated, he can have a punch or so in the legs and head, and he will not feel depressed. The seats are equipped with cup holders, storage slots and air conditioning outlets on both sides, which are well cared for for passengers and excellent practicality.
The trunk space is relatively regular, and the third row of seats supports proportional reclining, which can form a flat storage space with the trunk after being reclined. Of course, even with all three rows of seats open, the trunk volume is satisfactory, and it doesn't feel too much pressure to put down the 20-inch suitcase and a few backpacks. There is extra storage under the floor and on the right side, so it's perfect for small items that are easy to slide. The height of the trunk platform is not exaggerated, so even carrying large items will not feel too laborious.
Security: Mainstream configuration blessing
In terms of safety configuration, the 2021 SAIC MAXUS G50 PLUS continues the consistent excellent tradition, and the active/passive safety configuration is quite perfect. It should be noted that due to some faults in the rear lens of the test drive, the display range is not perfect, and there is a blue blind spot. The image quality of the picture is still reasonable, but the degree of delicacy and distortion still exists, and there is still room for improvement in terms of perception, but the functionality does not have too many slots. Lane keeping and active braking can be adjusted in the central control screen, which makes daily use feel good, and the electronic system is not too stealing.
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