As a leading third-party automobile quality evaluation platform in China, Car Quality Network launched the "New Car Commercial Evaluation" column based on a large number of automotive product test samples and scientific data models. Every month, for several models on sale that have been listed in China for less than two years and have a mileage of no more than 5,000 kilometers, through the two dimensions of objective data and subjective feelings, senior evaluators use professional equipment to systematically test and evaluate to comprehensively display and analyze the overall commercial level of new cars in the domestic automobile market, and provide consumers with objective and true opinions and references when purchasing vehicles.
As a benchmark model in the mid-size SUV market, Highlander has long occupied the number one position in the market segment with its practical 7-seat space and excellent quality reputation, and its cumulative sales have exceeded one million units. The new fourth-generation Highlander makes up for the shortcomings of the old model in terms of design and intelligent technology, and introduces Toyota's latest THS enhanced hybrid system, and the comprehensive product strength has further jumped. According to the data of the car quality network, as of December 31, 2021, the cumulative number of complaints of the fourth-generation Highlander since its listing is only 15, and the short-term quality word-of-mouth performance is worthy of recognition. In the future, can the car continue the existing quality reputation performance? Will there be some new problems that are difficult for ordinary consumers to discover? This issue of "New Car Commodity Evaluation" will break through the fog for you, through the two dimensions of objective data and subjective feelings, to restore a real fourth-generation Highlander.
1. Objective data
This project mainly shows the performance of the new car in terms of commerciality in the form of objective data through field tests of 12 items such as body technology, paint film level, interior air quality, vibration and noise, parking radar and lighting/vision.
In the body process testing session, a total of 10 key parts of the vehicle are selected, and 3 key points are selected for measurement in each key part to evaluate the uniformity of the gaps in each key part. Judging from the test results, the gap values of most of the test points of the fourth-generation Highlander vehicle are larger than those of the same class of vehicles tested, and the expert jury speculates that it may be related to its relatively rugged design. Among them, the mean gap data at the connection between the rear door and the rear fenders on both sides is relatively small, less than 4.0mm. The average data of the gap data at the junction of the trunk and the rear fenders on both sides is relatively large, reaching 6.9mm and 6.7mm respectively. Considering that the difference between the mean values of the gap data on the left and right sides of the vehicle is not large, its process performance is basically satisfactory.
In the paint film level test, because the fourth generation Highlander trunk cover is made of non-metallic material, no relevant data was measured during the test. Through the test results, it can be found that the average thickness of the paint film of the fourth-generation Highlander vehicle is about 136.4μm, which reaches the standard value of the advanced car (120μm -150μm). Judging from the test data of each key part, the thickness of the paint film in most parts of the whole vehicle is maintained at more than 120μm, but the difference in the thickness of the paint film between some key test points is relatively large, and the side also reflects the uniformity of highland film spraying.
In the in-vehicle air quality testing link, the vehicle is placed in the internal surface parking lot with fewer vehicles, and the formaldehyde component is not detected in the fourth-generation Highlander car, and the content of PM2.5 and other substances is also at a relatively low level, which is in line with the relevant standards in the "Guidelines for Air Quality Evaluation in Passenger Vehicles" (National Standard OF THE People's Republic of China GB/T 27630-2011) jointly issued by the former Ministry of Environmental Protection and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China since March 1, 2012.
In the static noise test, the fourth generation highlander performed well in the quietness of the car in the static state, and the test score has dropped to the minimum value of the test instrument 30dB, which can almost be isolated from the external environment. When the engine starts into idle conditions, the noise value of the incoming car is 40.8 dB, which is still within the range of a weak impact on the human body, and it will not interfere with the drivers and occupants in the car under the working state. It should be noted that because the hybrid system of the fourth-generation Highlander is only involved in charging the battery at rest, it is impossible to test the noise at 2000 rpm and 3000 rpm.
In the air conditioning noise test, the test instrument is placed at a position of about 10cm from the air conditioner outlet, and then the air conditioning air volume is adjusted from small to large, and the noise value of the driver's position in different gears is measured. After actual measurement, the fourth generation of Highlander's air conditioning regulation is divided into 7 gears, and the measured noise value is 66.1dB when the highest grade is opened, which is still in the range that the human body can tolerate and will not cause too much interference to the drivers and passengers.
After actual measurement, in the idle state, the vibration of the fourth-generation Highlander engine into the car is limited, and the data measured by the steering wheel under load conditions is slightly increased relative to the idle speed. The test data of the front and rear seats in both states is always relatively close, and the test values are high, but the actual body feeling is not obvious, and the impact on the comfort of the occupants in the car is minimal.
In addition, we tested parking radar, lights/vision, control systems, tire hubs, sunroofs, seats, and trunks. After actual measurement, the overall performance of the fourth-generation Highlander has reached the level of the same level of models, the steering wheel and driver's seat adjustment range is large, which can adapt to drivers of different heights, and the front seats are also equipped with waist support adjustment and heating and ventilation functions, which provide excellent riding comfort. The second row of seats supports the adjustment of the angle of the front and rearrest, and the adjustment range is large, which can create a relatively comfortable seating space for the passengers in the third row. In addition, the field of view test of the front and rear and exterior mirrors on both sides of the car also performed well. However, during the test, the expert jury found that the fourth generation Highlander front and rear radar spacing control is average, and the gap between the recent prompt distance and the experience value is large, and more attention needs to be paid when reversing.
Second, subjective feelings
The project was subjectively evaluated by a number of reviewers on the actual performance of the new car in terms of static and dynamics. Among them, the static aspect includes four parts: exterior, interior, space and human-computer interaction; the dynamic aspect includes acceleration, braking, steering, driving experience and driving safety. Finally, the total score is given with reference to the subjective evaluation opinions given by the judges, so as to reflect the actual performance of the new car in terms of commerciality from the perspective of subjective feelings.
In the external perception evaluation, the overall performance of the fourth-generation Highlander was in line with expectations, especially in terms of engine compartment materials and trunk practicality. The internal wiring of the engine compartment is unconventional, and the rubber sleeve and tape are sufficient, and there is no large area of exposed cables, which is obviously better than the old Highlander. The trunk supports electric switching and induction opening, and the sill is low, making it very convenient for daily use. In addition, when the second and third rows of seats are all reclined, the trunk can form a near-flat floor, and with the hidden storage compartment, the loading capacity is superior. However, during the test, the expert jury found that when the vehicle was unlocked and locked, there was a significant abnormal sound when the exterior mirrors on both sides were automatically folded, and the sound came from the friction of the rubber pads, which was a part matching problem, and whether it was a test drive case was unknown.
The interior of the fourth-generation Highlander adopts Toyota's latest family design style, asymmetrical layout and large LCD screen enhance the sense of fashion and technology, and the center console and front and rear door panels are wrapped in large areas of soft materials, which looks more advanced. At the same time, the center console also retains a large number of physical buttons to ensure the convenience of daily operation.
The test model was equipped with a JBL sound system that created a surround sound effect with 11 speakers and excellent sound quality. The whole car provides two sets of USB interfaces, including 1 Type-A interface and 4 Type-C interfaces, distributed under the front console and below the rear air conditioner outlet, to fully meet the charging needs of different devices. In addition, the rear provides a 220V power interface for business needs.
In terms of riding space, the fourth-generation Highlander did not pursue a generous sense of space too much, but still emphasized practicality. After the front and rear passengers adjust their normal sitting posture, the head and legs are within a reasonable range. The fourth-generation Highlander has upgraded the cushions for the second and third rows of seats, with significantly more thickness and better ride comfort. In addition, the front and rear adjustable ranges of the second row of seats have also been increased to maximize the convenience of passengers in the third row. In terms of storage space, the fourth generation Highlander car storage compartment is not only numerous, but also each storage space is also very impressive, especially the center console and the mezzanine design in front of the co-pilot, the practical performance is outstanding.
The fourth-generation Highlander has comprehensively upgraded the vehicle-machine system, equipped with the "Fengyun Yuexiang" vehicle networking system, and the UI interface design has been qualitatively improved compared with other Toyota models. In addition to supporting regular online music, online navigation, voice control, and OTA upgrades, it also supports the operation of various functions of the vehicle. Voice control is more accurate for fuzzy semantic recognition, and can operate navigation, air conditioning, sunroof and other functions, but does not support custom wake words. In addition, during the test process, we found that the fluency of the multimedia system needs to be improved, and the picture quality of the 360-degree panoramic image is also unsatisfactory, which is obviously inferior to the same level of independent brand models.
The fourth-generation Highlander series is equipped with Toyota TNGA 2.5L fourth-generation enhanced THSII hybrid system, which has a larger battery capacity, higher comprehensive power, and lower fuel consumption. The system has a combined power of up to 183 horsepower, making it relatively easy to propel a body weighing 2.1 tons. Thanks to the configuration of the front and rear dual motors, the power response in the initial stage is very sensitive, and there is no sense of abruptness like a pure electric vehicle.
As the accelerator pedal gradually deepens, the engine will intervene in time, although the smoothness is still excellent, but the throttle pedal, the central armrest box and other parts will be aware of obvious vibration, driving quality is greatly reduced. The fourth-generation Highlander offers three driving modes, but the difference between the three modes is not obvious.
The braking aspect still continues the performance of the old model, the initial section is slightly empty, and the continuous deep step can obtain sufficient braking power, and after getting used to it, you will feel that such a setting is more conducive to driving comfort.
Under the new architecture, the steering system of the fourth generation Highlander has been further optimized, and the steering feel is tighter and brings clearer directivity, which has a taste of luxury SUVs.
The most important upgrade brought by the TNGA architecture is reflected in the chassis part, the fourth generation Highlander completely abandons the slightly thin design of the old model, and comprehensively optimizes the chassis material and sound insulation and noise reduction, which is more crisp in handling the fine bumps on the road surface and greatly improving the driving comfort.
The test model is equipped with a full-speed adaptive cruise function, and in the actual experience, the starting and braking of the vehicle are natural, and there is no sharp acceleration and sharp braking. When the vehicle deviates from the driving lane, the lane keeping assist system intervenes in time, but does not overly intervene in the situation of "grabbing" the steering wheel with the driver, and the safety performance is satisfactory.
summary
Based on the above test results, it was concluded that the overall performance of the fourth-generation Highlander in terms of objective data and subjective feelings met the expectations of the expert jury. At the objective data level, the thickness of the paint film spray is excellent, but the seam process and spray uniformity of individual parts need to be improved. In addition, there is room for optimization of reversing radar spacing control. At the level of subjective feelings, the fourth-generation Highlander continues the excellent performance of the old models in terms of space practicality, and at the same time, the interior materials and the car machine system have also been upgraded, but there are still some shortcomings, such as the fluency of the car machine system and the backward panoramic image quality. On the whole, the commercial performance of the fourth-generation Highlander is at a medium level among the same class models tested.