Following last week's test drive experience of Toyota's cheapest domestic SUV "Fenglanda", we landed in Xiamen, Fujian Province yesterday, and fully experienced the "Weisa" that GAC Toyota just listed in early January this year. As a new model born from the Toyota TNGA-K platform like the RAV4 Rongfang and Velanda, the Weisa, which is positioned as a mid-size SUV, and the FAW Toyota Lingfang HARRIER, which was launched in November last year, are sister models, and its main mission is to fill the market gap between Willanda and Highlander. So, how does GAC Toyota's new mid-size SUV perform? Today we will reveal the answer.
※ Where did GAC Toyota Wesa come from?
Based on the background of the strategic layout of the north and south Toyotas in the domestic dual-car market, since we talk about GAC Toyota Wesa, we have to talk about the FAW Toyota Lingfang HARRIER and their respective overseas models.
Born in 1997 in the last century, the Toyota Harrier was originally a model from Japan, and the early Harrier can be seen as a rebranding of the Lexus RX. In 2003, the first model replacement was carried out, but it was still a rebranded version of the Lexus RX, and it was sold in Japan for a full decade, and later sold with the third-generation Lexus RX.
First generation HARRIER: 1997–2003
Second generation HARRIER: 2003–2013
Later, with the resale of Lexus into the Japanese domestic market, HARRIER also chose to use the same platform as the Lexus NX from the third generation of models and reduced its own positioning, but still took luxury texture as its main focus.
By 2020, with the official launch of the fourth generation HARRIER based on the TNGA-K platform, this model will also enter the US market for the first time and will be named the new generation venza. After being introduced to the Chinese market, the car was produced by GAC Toyota and FAW Toyota respectively and named Weisa and Lingfang HARRIER, becoming a pair of new sister models launched under toyota's Gemini strategy.
The japanese version of the fourth generation HARRIER
American version of Venza
FAW Toyota R&D HARRIER
It is worth mentioning that the FAW Toyota Lingfang HARRIER, which was launched in November last year, adopts an exterior design that is similar to the overseas version of HARRIER/Venza, but its sister model, GAC Toyota Vissa Venza, has not completely copied the appearance of the overseas version, so the two sister models are still easy to distinguish from the "image".
GAC Toyota Wesa
※ What is special about the design of Weisa?
Unlike the Highlander and Crown Lufang, the pair of Gemini models, since the overseas version of HARRIER/Venza did not launch a sports version, the exterior design of GAC Toyota Wesa Venza did not completely copy the overseas version of the model, but redesigned the front surround of the vehicle, changing the grille to resemble the front nose cone design of Toyota SUPRA; at the same time, the chrome decorative strips located below were further widened, thus presenting a significantly more sporty design language. Coupled with the line of the engine canopy that extends all the way to the front grille, it looks like a Toyota performance car.
The headlights are narrow and long, equipped with double "L-shaped" LED daytime running lights, which are matched with the sporty front lip, making Wei Sa show a rather strong momentum.
On the side of the body, an upturned waist line extends from the front wheel eyebrow to the rear and runs through the taillight group, with a smooth roof arc, showing a very good fashion aesthetic. In addition, the front and rear wings of Weisa have created a certain wide-body visual effect, which gives people a sense of sport under the combination of two-color multi-spoke large-size wheels.
In terms of body size, GAC Toyota Wesa's body length, width and height are 4780mm/1855mm/1660mm, respectively, and the wheelbase is 2690mm.
GAC Toyota Wesa adopts a penetrating LED taillight group at the rear, and the rear of the roof is equipped with a small spoiler with integrated high brake lights; the rear surround is embellished with a special-shaped chrome decorative strip that runs through the left and right sides, forming a good sense of hierarchy. In addition, the use of bilateral two-out layout of the exhaust also gives Weisa a good sporty attribute.
Remarks: GAC Toyota Wesa offers a total of 5 body colors including Opal Silver, Titanium Silver, Yaodong Red, Ink Crystal Black, and Platinum Pearl White.
※ How does Wesa highlight the sense of luxury through the interior decoration?
In terms of interior, GAC Toyota Wesa adopts a more residential design style as a whole, not only providing a total of three interior colors of brown, black and gray, but also applying leather coating in a large area of the interior, and the air conditioning control panel also adopts a touch design.
Medium and high-end models are equipped with a 12.3-inch suspension central control large screen (the low-end model central control screen is 8 inches); in addition, the high-end model will also be equipped with a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument, HUD head-up display, 360 ° panoramic image, front mobile phone wireless charging and a panoramic sunroof with a dimming mode, a car air purifier and a negative ion generator, which can still meet the needs of consumers' cars. In addition, the medium and high-end models also come standard with a 9-speaker JBL surround sound system.
The Deluxe Edition and Premium Edition adopt a combination instrument with a pointer instrument and a 7-inch color LCD display
The Premium Edition and the Four-Wheel Drive Extreme Edition are equipped with a 12.3-inch floating central control large screen
Both the Premium Edition and the 4WD Extreme Edition come standard with a 9-speaker JBL surround sound system
In terms of active safety, Wesa is equipped with Toyota's Toyota Safety Sense Safety System, which has a series of functions including PCS pre-collision safety system, DRCC dynamic radar cruise control, LTA lane tracking assistance system and AHB automatic adjustment of high beams.
※ GaGA Toyota Wesa, which is positioned as a large five-seat medium-sizeD SUV, how does the actual passenger space perform?
GAC Toyota Wesa's product positioning is a large five-seat mid-size SUV, so how does its actual passenger space performance really perform? Judging from the actual ride of the experiencer with a height of 175cm, the seating space of GAC Toyota Wesa is spacious and comfortable enough, better than the low-level RAV4 Rongfang, Veylanda and other models, which can fully meet most of the daily needs.
The experiencer sits in the front driver's seat of Wei Sa, the seat is adjusted to the appropriate height, and the remaining space of the head is four fingers, and there will be no sense of pressure
Keeping the front seat position unchanged, the experiencer moves to the rear seat of Wei Sa, at this time the remaining space in the legs is more than two fists, which is very abundant; the remaining space of the head is still four fingers, not depressed
The degree of bulge in the middle of the rear platform is not very low, but fortunately there is a large longitudinal space, so even if it is fully occupied, the passengers in the middle of the rear row will not be too cramped
GAC Toyota Wesa's trunk has a very regular internal structure, which helps to use the trunk space more efficiently, and can meet most of the daily storage space needs under normal conditions; if there is a further space use need, the rear seat that supports 4:6 ratio division is lowered, and the back of the chair can basically form a plane with the trunk floor, it can be said that the storage space expansion potential of the trunk of Weisa is still very good.
As for the conventional storage space in the car of GAC Toyota Wesa, it has also fully reached the performance level of a medium-sized SUV, whether it is a door panel storage area, glove box, front central armrest box, front/rear drainage cup holder and seat back storage bag, etc., Wei Sa's in-car storage space is enough to cope with daily use scenarios in terms of quantity and practicality, which will not be repeated here.
※ In terms of dynamic driving experience, how does Wei Sa perform?
GAC Toyota Vissa is available in two power versions, the fuel version and the hybrid version. Among them, the fuel version of the model is equipped with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine, a maximum power of 126 kW (171Ps), a peak torque of 209 Nm, and a drivetrain matched with a CVT stepless gearbox that can simulate 10 speeds, providing front-drive/ all-wheel drive models. The Wesa test drive this time is a hybrid version of the oil-electric hybrid, which is equipped with a maximum power of 131kW (178Ps) and a peak torque of 221Nm, and the transmission system matches Toyota's E-CVT stepless gearbox, which also provides front-drive/four-wheel drive models.
The hybrid version of the Wesa is equipped with a gasoline-electric hybrid system composed of a "2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine + electric motor", which is used in many of Toyota's models
The hybrid version of wesa's drivetrain matches Toyota's E-CVT stepless gearbox, which is also available in front-drive/all-wheel drive models
GAC Toyota Wesa adopts a four-wheel independent suspension structure of "front McPherson + rear double wishbond"
Toyota's "2.5L naturally aspirated engine + electric motor" oil-electric hybrid system has been used in many of its models, and the degree of reliability has already passed the test of the market and time. GAC Toyota Wesa, which is also equipped with this oil-electric hybrid system, has excellent power reserve and output performance, and there is no problem in meeting daily household use. Especially in the initial stages, the throttle response is very smooth, and the power output is neither sluggish nor uncomfortable with abruptness.
Interestingly, Wesa uses the "organ-style accelerator pedal" that many sports cars and performance cars generally prefer, which allows the driver to more precisely control the force of pedaling on the accelerator pedal. And thanks to the smooth power output characteristics, Wesa has always had a rather linear power performance throughout the acceleration process; and the power reserve of the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine is also relatively sufficient, and the driver can feel the continuous power continuity in the process of stepping on the throttle deeply, which is obviously different from driving general fuel models and pure electric models.
And it is worth mentioning that Toyota's E-CVT gearbox is essentially a set of power coupling devices based on the planetary gear structure, so whether the vehicle is in pure electric drive mode or in the engine and motor co-drive mode, the intervention and connection of different power sources are very smooth, almost no abruptness is felt, and the continuity of power is better.
Of course, like other Toyota models equipped with this set of gasoline-electric hybrid system, the working noise of the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine is still more obvious during the acceleration of the large throttle. But fortunately, the noise is accompanied by a continuous and linear power output, at least it does not make the driver feel overwhelmed.
Although Wesa uses an electric power steering system, in the actual driving experience, the steering wheel rotation damping feels heavy, but this also ensures the stability and thickness of the direction to a certain extent, so that the driver can get a more solid psychological feeling.
GAC Toyota's chassis adopts the suspension structure of "former McPherson + double wishbones", and it is indeed more diligent in tuning than those models under the same brand that are responsible for "volume". In particular, the comfort of the vehicle is more satisfactory, which also fully confirms what is a penny for a penny. At least in terms of the adjustment power of the chassis, Wei Sa is still worthy of its own price.
It must be said that the filtration ability of Weisa for the fine fragment vibration transmitted by the road surface is relatively good, especially after the speed reduction belt and a small degree of bumps, the overall texture of the vehicle is quite OK. In addition, when driving in curves, the lateral support of the suspension system is also relatively good, which basically shows the quality that a medium-sized SUV should have.
In addition to the obvious engine noise during the acceleration of the large throttle, in most of the remaining working conditions, the quietness of the car of GAC Toyota Weisa can still stand the test. The sound insulation performance of the vehicle, as well as the overall quietness of the car, have basically reached the level that this price point model should have.
The braking performance of WISA is similar to the characteristics of power output, and it also shows very linear characteristics. The feedback of the brake pedal is slightly heavier, but the release of braking force can increase in parallel with the depth of the brake pedal, and most first-time drivers can grasp and become familiar with it in a shorter period of time. Especially in the face of urban congestion, there is no need to affect the comfort of the occupants of the car because of repeated stop-and-go.
※ Editor's Comments:
In recent years, with Toyota's continuous efforts in the "Gemini Strategy", the SUV models launched by the entire Toyota brand in the Chinese market have a relatively rich choice compared with a few years ago. From the C-HR and Yize IISOA of small SUVs, the Fenglanda and Corolla Relies of compact SUVs, Velanda and RAV4 Rongfang, to the Highlander and Crown Lufang of medium-sized SUVs, and now there are more pairs of Weisa and Lingfang HARRIER, it can be said that North and South Toyota have basically improved the layout of their respective SUV product lines.
For GAC Toyota, the launch of Wesa has filled the market gap between Willanda and Highlander, giving consumers more opportunities for choice. In particular, Wesa first strives to highlight the sense of high-end, luxury and refinement from the product positioning, and has a clear difference from highlander's style in terms of shape design, coupled with the basic enough space and functional configuration level, which undoubtedly helps consumers find products that are closer to their real car needs.
However, because Weisa's positioning is lower than Highlander, but at the same time there is a certain overlap with Highlander in terms of price, it will inevitably make some consumers have difficulties in choosing. Therefore, considering that the listing time of Weisa is not long, for its market performance, we still have to give it some more time to let the actual sales performance speak. According to the folk saying, it is "ride a donkey to read the record book, let's walk and see".