Southern Network News (Reporter/Xu Fanghua) GAC Toyota has just launched two new cars in the beginning of this year, first the Fenglanda positioning compact SUV, and then the Positioning Luxury Midsize SUV Weisa. In this level of SUV, not only Wei Sa takes the luxury route, but also the Buick Encore S. But the Oncovey S never seems to call itself a luxury SUV. Why does Weisa dare to use "luxury" as a product label? Let's find out through this test drive.
Traceability: changed the target of the "thunder" car
As a Toyota global model, GAC Toyota's Wesa and FAW Toyota's Lingfang are both derived from Toyota's fourth-generation HARRIER models, but FAW Toyota Lingfang is based on the Japanese version of HARRIER, while GAC Toyota Wesa is based on the American version of HARRIER. However, the American version of HARRIER is not called HARRIER in the United States, but called VENZA, so GAC Toyota is also called VENZA after it is introduced into domestic production, and gives it the Chinese name weisa.
The luxury of Weisa first came from Harrier's blood relationship. After the original Lexus RX was listed in the United States, Toyota introduced it to Japan for sale, but instead of hanging a Lexus logo, it hung a Toyota logo and changed its name to HARRIER. This is the original Toyota Harrier, a rebranded model for the Lexus RX. The second generation of HARRIER also followed the law, and the third generation of Toyota HARRIER officially began independent research and development, but because the first two generations of models are based on the Lexus RX, the luxury gene has been laid. So when HARRIER developed to the fourth generation, luxury remained its constant theme.
The design and configuration are aligned with luxury SUVs
The homologous relationship between Wesa and Lexus RX can only show that it has the foundation of a luxury car, but to let the outside world recognize its identity as a "luxury medium-sized SUV", it is not enough to rely on the help of brother brands, and Wesa must speak with "real talent and practical learning".
Design and configuration are the two aspects that I think best reflect the "luxury" gene of Wesa. The shape of Weisa is very elegant, and it does have a bit of Lexus temperament, especially the shape of the side and tail, so that Weisa jumps out of the inherent design frame of Toyota, full of recognition, and there is also a sense of luxury.
The style of the interior is also the exclusive design of Weissa, which is not found on other Toyota cars. First of all, in the dashboard, center console, inner door panel and other places within reach, a large area of high-grade leather wrapping; steering wheel, gear lever, inner door armrest and other places are covered with leather fabrics. It is worth mentioning that GAC Toyota Vissa is equipped with a leather steering wheel as standard, do not underestimate this configuration, GAC Toyota's only model with a leather steering wheel is Wei Sa, Highlander can not enjoy this treatment, it can be seen that the leather steering wheel is a necessity for luxury cars that Toyota believes.
Compared with the appearance, the material can be clearly seen from other Toyota cars, but the inner sense of design does have a gap compared to the stunning appearance, and everything seems slightly flat. Fortunately, the configuration of Wesa Toyota is very willing to give, among them, Toyota's proud dimmable panoramic sunroof is very interesting, the first time it is applied to Wesa, 1 second can switch the dimming mode and the transmission mode, both modes can block more than 99% of ultraviolet rays.
In some other luxurious configurations, such as the electric tailgate with induction opening, front seat heating/ventilation, these are equipped with medium and high-end models, and on the top model, there are steering wheel heating, main seat memory, front soundproof glass and other configurations. Weisa's mid- and high-end models all have a 9-speaker JBL sound system with a power of 1200 watts, which is very good.
Get a feel for the new RX in advance
If the shape is different and the configuration can be "stacked", then the driving quality and riding experience can truly reflect the "luxury" attributes of a car.
Like other TNGA Toyota cars, Weisa's subjective feeling to the driver is very good, light but not losing the sense of control, the dual engine power response is sensitive, the driving is smooth and quiet, Toyota's innovative E-FOUR electronic four-wheel drive has a kind of "moisturizing and silent" effect, which can make Weisa adapt to more different road conditions, and will not add too much additional weight like the traditional four-wheel drive, and Toyota can boldly make the E-FOUR model more inclined to road control. This is very much in line with the objective needs of most of our Chinese consumers.
Weisa's chassis tuning is very advanced, the overall is very solid and thick, which also brings more compact and reliable handling, which is not the driving characteristics of the current Lexus RX, if you worry about the driving of Weissa as boring as the current RX, it is not necessary, toyota cars under TNGA, the weight of driving has been greatly improved.
Of course, we can also think that the current driving performance of Wesa is the appearance of the new Lexus RX that will be launched next, and the new generation of Lexus RX is also based on the TNGA-K architecture and is expected to be launched after the Beijing Auto Show. So, in a way, Wesa let us feel the ride of the new RX in advance.
In addition to the driving texture given by TNGA, Toyota has poured more effort into Wesa to make its experience closer to the "luxury" of Lexus, and one of the most well-known advantages of Lexus is quiet, which is very well done by Wesa, whether it is idle state or high-speed speed, Wesa's sound insulation and noise reduction are the top level in the same class. Manufacturers also mentioned in the publicity that there are a large number of sound insulation materials around the weisa body dashboard, fender lining, door interior panel, under the trunk, around the tailgate and other parts. In addition, the engine compartment, front panels, floor insulation layers, front floor sound insulation materials, etc. have been acoustically optimized. The window glass of the whole car is also thickened, and the front side windows of the high-end model are double-layer noise-reducing glass, and the door frame seals are added.
From the aspect of design, configuration and driving, Wesa has indeed shaped its identity as a luxury SUV through some means and become its advantage of differentiated competition, which is also an attempt by GAC Toyota to further enhance its brand potential and strengthen the brand premium.