From the suburban ancient town to the downtown streets, from the ordinary urban roads with potholes to the flat and straight highways, in the atmosphere full of Internet red milk tea and authentic Hunan cuisine, we spent an unforgettable day with GAC Toyota Fenglanda.
Usually, Toyota is always very dead set on the mentality of the target customer. Between practicality, reliability, comfort and affordability, Toyota will not disappoint regardless of the product level it is positioned. Just like the "dried radish stir-fried bacon", a locally prestigious dish, although it is not luxurious, it is full of flavor and exciting. Before tasting GAC Toyota's "new dish" Fenglanda, understanding its background helps to adjust psychological expectations to the right height.
Fenglanda is built on the Toyota TNGA-C platform, and the family gene makes the car train under good cost control, but also has better safety and driving comfort. GAC Toyota calls it a "compact SUV" positioned between the C-HR and The Willanda. In fact, the price of this series is basically the same as that of the benchmark for small SUVs in the market segment, such as Honda's two brother models.
Our test drive is a premium edition top-of-the-top model with an exclusive glazed gold body color, priced at 169,800 yuan. Of all five models in the series, the entry-level model starts at CNY 125,800 and is also equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a CVT transmission. It can be seen that in response to the needs of the target consumer groups, Fenglanda has sacrificed its means in the fields of design style, configuration level, vehicle adjustment and manufacturing links, hoping to fully open the distance with the main opponent.
In today's automotive market, personalization has become one of the signatures of high-end attributes of products. In GAC Toyota's SUV lineup, Fenglanda itself has very active design elements, including providing seven single-car colors and four dual-car color options, five different price point models with different equipment, aiming at user groups with different budgets and different use needs. On our test drive, comfort equipment including panoramic sunroof, self-dazzle-resistant interior mirrors, intelligent anti-pinch electric sensing tailgate, intelligent dual-cycle automatic air conditioning, intelligent keyless entry system, one-button start and other comfort equipment on typically high-level models are provided.
The Feng Lanta has a quite fashionable shape, and the slightly intricate body folds are also somewhat aggressive, conveying the style that Toyota likes today. He also has good technical elements in his class, including LED headlight sets and suspension LED combination taillights. However, under the dazzling appearance, its real charm will gradually bloom in the process of use, and the excellent ergonomics and intelligent technology application are the source of its "small universe" explosion.
Compared with the main opponents on the market, Feng Landa's figure has an innate advantage. The vehicle is 4485 mm long, 1825 mm wide, 1620 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2640 mm, and adults with normal posture will not feel cramped sitting in the back row, and even have affluent head space. The seat is also a sharp weapon for Fenglanda to win customers, with strong support, sufficient backrest and cushion thickness, and adjustable rear seat angle, which is simply a warm little harbor.
Toyota's emphasis on ergonomics permeates the marrow, and in the limited space, Fenglanda does its best to provide occupants with ease of use. Although the so-called "Urban Active" design concept still seems conservative to us, there is no deliberate attempt to create a dazzling atmosphere or sense of technology. However, whether it is a 7-inch color TFT multi-function information display or a 9-inch electronic voice navigation system, the actual display content, setting position, interface perception and function call are all appropriate, courteous and courteous.
As an SUV for urban commuting purposes, the compact body does not prevent the FrontLanda from having a good view, some details such as the treatment of the A-pillar delta window reduce the visual blind spot, coupled with modern equipment such as the rear camera, and the high flexibility brought by the 5.2-meter turning radius, the vehicle can cope with it even in abnormally congested environments.
Inside the car, Fenglanda also has enough storage space, a variety of cup holders, storage compartments and front and rear charging interfaces can meet the normal needs of the occupants. With 438 litres of luggage space, The Fenglanda is able to accommodate a number of carry-on items and, if necessary, more luggage space by reclining the rear seats.
The area of the center console of the Front Landa is relatively narrow, which ensures the lateral riding space of the occupants to a certain extent. In some easily touchable parts of the car, GAC Toyota uses leather coating to make the touch more comfortable. Although many plastic coverings are still used in the car, the assembly of each part is tightly sewn, the stitching is uniform, and the details are modified, which stubbornly shows Toyota's consistent style.
With a low roar from the TNGA 2.0L Dynamic Force Engine engine, we cruised in the popular city. Toyota's powertrain is more economical, with a thermal efficiency of 40%. At the same time, toyota engines have a displacement advantage among their peers, with quite eye-catching paper data, a maximum power of 126 kW, a peak torque of 205 Nm, and a simulated 10-speed Direct Shift-CVT transmission, with a comprehensive operating condition (NEDC) fuel consumption of up to 5.7 liters/100 km.
In actual operation, because the burst point of torque transmission is in the high speed range, coupled with the role of the CVT transmission, the engine noise is large when starting acceleration and mid-way acceleration, and the control of the throttle needs to be gradual to have a relatively comfortable feedback. Obviously, Toyota is struggling to balance exercise with comfort, practicality and efficiency, and he's probably not the kind of dish that the adventurous crowd is.
Feng Landa has a flexible feeling when starting, the steering wheel is very thin, the steering force is light, but the direction is not clear enough. With the strong roar of the engine, the actual acceleration ability of the vehicle is in the best class in the market segment, provided that you are willing to slam on the acceleration pedal. Thanks to the efficient design of the engine and the CVT, the 2.0-liter Feng Lanta creates a better fuel economy than many small-displacement models.
Fenglanda's smoothness on complex roads and highways is commendable, in this class of models, Fenglanda's chassis feedback is relatively thick and stable, although the initial braking performance is somewhat weak, but the overall braking effect is not bad. Fenglanda has tried its best to suppress noise, including the use of a lot of sound insulation and sound-absorbing materials, but the actual effect is still average, in addition to engine noise, there is a considerable degree of wind noise and tire noise in the car. Still, its cabin serenity is slightly better than its main competitors.
Saying: "Hello Xiaoyue" can activate some of the vehicle's common functions. Fenglanda's "Fengyun Yuexiang" Zhixing Interconnection Service provides remote services such as remote upgrade of in-vehicle system OTA, car home interconnection, remote air conditioning, enjoy parking, joyful refueling, theft tracking, etc., and also supports HiCar/Carplay/Carlife and other functions, with a series of fun and useful content supplies. In case of accidents during travel, car owners can get the necessary emergency assistance through the "Just in Time" service, saving time and worry. Of course, whether this part of the work is in place, we do not have time to experience it one by one, but it needs to be practiced by the owner.
Adhering to the Toyota style, the calls of Fenglanda's commonly used functions are almost all one-click, which can be easily accessed, including a series of driver assistance systems. Toyota Safety Sense provides advanced skills such as PCS pre-collision safety system, DRCC dynamic radar cruise control, LTA lane tracking assist system and AHB automatic adjustment of high beam system, and the corresponding physical buttons on the multi-function steering wheel can directly activate the main functions.
In addition to reaching the quasi-L2 level of automatic driving, Fenglanda's passive safety equipment is also very rich, and the whole series is equipped with seven airbags as standard, including the rare front knee airbags of the same level. Toyota's new GOA high rigidity body structure is an important guarantee for the passive safety performance of the vehicle.
GAC Toyota Fenglanda
Basic price (10,000 RMB): 12.58-16.98
Body-type Front-mounted front-drive, four-door, five-seater small SUV
Engine: 2.0 L naturally aspirated; 126 kW @ 6600 rpm, 205 Nm @ 4600-5000 rpm
Transmission: Direct Shift-CVT continuously variable transmission
Body size (mm: 4485/1825/1620
Wheelbase (mm): 2640
Luggage compartment volume (L): 438
Combined fuel consumption (L/100 km): 5.7
It is worth buying: comprehensive comprehensive quality, relatively comfortable driving, sophisticated manufacturing level
Reconsider: bland interior, athleticism in general
Recommended Index: ★★★★ ☆ (4.5 stars)
Feng Landa gorgeously perfected an important part of the GAC Toyota SUV camp and made a powerful move to competitors. At the level of value judgment, considering that from the brand foundation, price strategy, targeted development of products, to manufacturing links and even services and used cars, Fenglanda's extensive adaptability can not only be extended to young people, Toyota's stubborn persistence is expected to bring good returns.