The "Gemini" strategy is already a strange policy in the market, such as the launch of two similar products on GAC Toyota and FAW Toyota, and a similar strategy in the Volkswagen family. The reason is that one is for the demand for sales, and the other is for better expanding the market and brand image. The Toyota family is like the Highlander, Lufang, and Willanda and Rongfang, which we know.
At last year's Guangzhou Auto Show, LingFang and Weisa were also launched. The protagonist of our test drive this time is GAC Toyota Venza Weisa. That's right, it's such a majestic, cool and heroic car. Although the name of Weisa is derived from Venza, it is actually the fourth generation of Harrier, and GAC Toyota officially has the positioning of "high-taste luxury SUV" for Weisa, so can it gain a firm foothold in the fiercely competitive mid-to-high-end SUV market?
There is no lack of personality
In fact, when I haven't seen the real car, looking at the photos always feels that Wei Sa has a sense of familiarity. When I first saw it, if I don't say the model, I am afraid that few people will believe that it is a Toyota. Indeed, we see that Wesa is different from the Toyota car in the impression from the perspective of passers-by. The sense of luxury presented by Wei Sa is not deliberate, but the low-key is worth our careful tasting.
Weisa, based on the TNGA-K high-end platform to create, the overall shape adopts the "Refined-tech Simplicity" design concept, in the pursuit of simplicity and bold avant-garde fusion at the same time, pay more attention to the processing of the body slice, visual effects present a simple and three-dimensional shape.
There are two raised rib lines designed from the hood that extend all the way to the sides of the grille, which is very powerful. The front middle net is subdivided into two trapezoidal parts, if you look at the front half of the face, the slender "double L-type" sharp headlight design, and the slightly convex design, in fact, there are some similarities with the Toyota family model Supra. The lower part of the front of the car is similar to the High-end brand of the Toyota family, Lexus Spindle-shaped net.
Looking at the side of the car, the premise is that Wei Sa pays more attention to the processing of the cutting surface, so that the visual effect shows more richness. It is not difficult to see that the side of the Wesa uses a large number of curved elements. Its sense of line is obviously more than other models of the Toyota family, and at the same time, it does not show messy, more smooth and dynamic, and it seems to see the shadow of Lexus in the faint.
GAC Toyota Wesa's body size is 4780mm, 1855mm, 1660mm, wheelbase 2690mm, the overall position is medium-sized SUV. From the data alone, in fact, the size of GAC Toyota Wesa and FAW Toyota Lingfang is almost the same. However, the two are sister models. Therefore, it is natural that the comfort of space is not a problem.
The shape of the body slip back also makes the concave and convex rear shape more three-dimensional, compared to the front face with the outstanding personality, the tail is in line with the SUV convergence a lot. Of course, although Wesa is positioned as a luxury SUV, it gives people more sports style.
The slim through taillights, supplemented by the tail wing as a modification, not only enhance the sense of grade and technology after lighting, but also increase the recognition of the vehicle. The lower encirclement double out exposed exhaust adds a touch of sporty atmosphere to it, and the appearance of enough sports also allows Toyota to fill the blank space of its own SUV in the sports atmosphere.
Light luxury interiors are well-equipped
After admiring the exterior, let's look back at the interior. The first thing that catches the eye is the large area of high-grade soft leather cover, along with the embellishment of details. Processes such as metal chrome plating and piano paint are supplemented by decorations, and the most conspicuous point is the saddle shaped central armrest, which sublimates the luxurious atmosphere of the interior again.
But if we cover this piece of logo, I don't know how many others can guess that this is a Toyota? If you look at the interior alone, it is difficult to think that this is a Toyota model, compared with the Japanese interior that once used low and plastic, the interior of Wei Sa is not exaggerated.
The intuitive feeling of the atmosphere of the interior of The Wesa is that this car is very un-Toyota. For example, the steering wheel, gear lever and armrest inside the door are covered with leather, and the dashboard, center console, armrest box, etc. are also large-area soft materials, that is to say, the areas that your hands often touch are either leather or soft materials, and Weisa definitely deduces its own sense of high-level atmosphere.
In terms of intelligence, Weisa is equipped with a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument and a 12.3-inch multimedia display, which has a HUD head-up display function on high-end models, and is more luxurious under the three-screen linkage technology atmosphere. This eye-catching central control screen will no longer be jokingly called "old-fashioned TV" by netizens.
It has built-in Toyota's most intelligent car-machine system in China, equipped with rich ecological service functions including navigation, face recognition, voice recognition, car home mini programs and payment. As car owners, we can understand the vehicle situation and control the status of the vehicle on the mobile phone through "Fengyun Yuexiang".
In addition, the WISA Premium Edition and above are equipped with JBL advanced surround sound system as standard, 9 leading 1200 watt power speakers in the same class are distributed in the car, using Clair-Fi sound source restoration technology and JBL's iconic treble horn technology to further meet the sense of life ceremony of contemporary young consumers.
Since it is positioned in the luxury lineup, Wei Sa's seat performance also shows a high enough sincerity. The all-in-one sports seat not only provides a more comfortable ride, but also provides enough support and wrapping when we need it. The main driver's seat of the entire range of models offers electric adjustment, and the one we test drove is also equipped with ventilation and heating functions in the front seats, making it both practical and luxurious.
It can be said that in terms of comfort configuration, the points we can think of are not stingy in the slightest on the Weisa car, and it can be thought of. It is worth mentioning that Wesa is equipped with Toyota's world-first "dimmable panoramic sunroof", which can switch between dimming mode and transmission mode. Switching between dimming and transmission modes according to our needs can not only block the strong light under the hot sun for us, but also provide a more transparent sense of openness when needed. However, it is a pity that this function only appears in the 2.0L CVT 4WD Extreme Edition and the Dual Engine 2.5L CVT 4WD Extreme Edition.
Plenty of power, ride as you like
Since it is a car, no matter what the product positioning, it is natural to drive up to show the basic skills. In terms of power, Wesa offers us two power options: 2.0L and 2.5L HEV Dual Engine Hybrid Edition. It sounds familiar, yes, it is the same as the power system on the models of the Willanda, Highlander and other families.
However, in terms of the texture and sense of luxury of driving, Weisa is like a class higher. On the 2.0L model, the Dynamic Force engine with thermal efficiency of 40% is used to match the simulated 10-speed CVT transmission, while the 2.5L HEV dual-engine hybrid version uses the new fourth-generation THSII. Toyota hybrid system, both available in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions.
And this time, we test drove the 2.5L HEV dual-engine hybrid two-wheel drive premium version model. Its engine thermal efficiency is as high as 41%, matching the new generation of E-CVT electronic stepless transmission, the official claim is as low as 4.5L per 100 kilometers of fuel consumption, and the endurance can reach more than 1000 kilometers. This system is also the advantage of the Toyota family, Toyota's golden sign plus excellent model quality control, so that it has won the pursuit of many consumers.
Similarly, in terms of safety, Wesa is equipped with a new generation of Toyota Safety Sense (Toyota Collision Avoidance Assist). Functions such as DRCC dynamic radar cruise control, LTA lane tracking assistance system and AHB automatic adjustment of high beams can realize quasi-L2 level automatic driving assistance functions, safety experience with auxiliary driving functions, so that this Weisa is smarter and better driving is the ultimate goal.
After a day of test driving experience, the 2.5L dual-engine hybrid system has a combined maximum power of 160kW, matching the E-CVT gearbox. Compared with the 2.0L model, the urban road driving experience has a motor support and a larger displacement engine, the output of the motor in the initial section is light and fast before the engine is involved, and the middle and rear sections are more in line with the positioning of Weisa Luxury under the continuous promotion of the engine.
Weisa's excellent noise performance is also inseparable from the efforts behind it. The whole car uses a large number of sound insulation materials, such as the thickened design of the window glass of the whole car, and the high-end model is equipped with double-layer noise-reducing glass for the front side windows, which tries to block the sound source outside the carriage as much as possible, providing a more immersive journey enjoyment for the drivers and passengers of the whole car.
As a product positioning of a luxury SUV, it shows that Wesa does not overemphasize the handling of the driver, but focuses on luxury and comfort. Better sound insulation quality allows most of the bump information during the driving process to be effectively filtered out, and even if it encounters a large amount of bump information, Wei Sa also behaves with ease. When entering and exiting corners and changing the line of the vehicle, the tuning characteristics of the suspension also show enough support, and the more delicate driving quality is supplemented by excellent silent performance, and the overall texture is indeed very advanced.
National public opinion: What are the odds of GAC Toyota Wesa in the face of competitors?
Weisa, as a new member of the 200,000-level luxury SUV of the GAC Toyota family, its product strength is not particularly prominent. However, with Toyota's TNGA architecture technology and the excellent reputation of the market, I believe that its own charm is not just a surface. The bold exterior, the light and luxurious interior and the highly textured driving experience show consumers the same strength as the previous products.
In other words, from the current situation of the market, in addition to first-line luxury brands, more luxury brands are also constantly carrying out "dimensionality reduction attacks" in the luxury market. Weisa is facing not only the need to compete with models of the same class and the same price point, but also the lingfang of the same sister model will also be the biggest competitor. But at least GAC Toyota Wesa shows the other side of Toyota luxury with its cross-level performance and the creation of a luxurious atmosphere, will you pay for Wei Sa?