In fact, this is not the first contact with GAC AION S PLUS (hereinafter referred to as PLUS), before the plus was listed last year, I was also invited to test drive it, and at that time also gave PLUS a positive evaluation. However, considering that the road conditions at that time were relatively single, and the vehicles tested were only test cars, some configurations and details were different from the production version. Therefore, we decided to test drive it again, if the last test drive was a "mock test", then this time it is a midterm test of real knives and guns, and see how AION S PLUS will perform.
Appearance review: The impression of more exquisite and fashionable old models is difficult to erase
In terms of design, PLUS has added a lot of popular elements compared with AION S, and the headlights have adopted a flatter design and added the effect of "eyeshadow", and the entire front face has suddenly become a lot more energetic. At the same time, the size of the intake grille in the lower half is further increased, and the top model also has the function of active intake grille, which can control the opening and closing according to the actual situation, improve aerodynamics to reduce energy consumption.
The side shape is not much different from the AION S, the newly added hidden door handle makes the side smoother, and the 18-inch wheels on our test drive are also quite beautiful, but I personally prefer the low wind resistance hub cover, which has a stronger sense of technology. The change in the rear shape of the car is more obvious, and the cheap halogen light group of the past is replaced by a double-layer through LED tail light, which is much better in both the shape and the actual lighting effect.
Compared with AION S, the design has obvious changes, compared to AION S will be more refined, but at the same time it will inevitably leave some traces of AION S.
Interior space: The sense of technology further enhances the performance of the space
The change in the interior part is also more obvious, the design of the dual screen is replaced by a full LCD instrument and a 14.6-inch floating central control screen, in addition to the increase in screen size, there are also many improvements in functions and display effects. And because most of the functions need to be operated through the screen, the physical buttons on the center console are greatly reduced, except for some just needed functions, the existence of physical buttons is almost invisible.
The full LCD dashboard also adopts a new form, the LCD dashboard provides two different display effects, driving-related information can be clearly displayed, the left side is used to display vehicle-related information, and the right side displays multimedia or navigation information, achieving a better balance in function and design.
Car performance can give praise, first of all, the screen feedback, whether it is the reaction or the touch is relatively outstanding, in these days of test drive did not appear in the caton or crash situation, reflecting a good stability, the only dissatisfaction is just started when there is a feeling of not waking up, a little stutter to enter the working state, and then just started when the response is also relatively sluggish, fortunately it returned to normal after a short "warm-up".
In addition, the test drive also provides a 540° panoramic camera function, which is very practical for the AION S PLUS with a length of more than 4 .8m, and daily driving is safer and more convenient. At the same time, some functions to cater to young people have been added, such as shooting short videos such as Douyin through cameras inside and outside the car, and then uploading them through the 5G network, but because the test drive does not have a function, it is impossible to experience this.
AION S PLUS basically has no shortcomings in the configuration, such as wireless charging, practical third-party software, and audio-visual entertainment can meet daily use, but in terms of the performance of the current mainstream new energy models, it can only be regarded as the upper level, and the function can be enriched.
THE PERFORMANCE OF PLUS IN SPACE IS MUCH BRIGHTER THAN THE DESIGN, THE LENGTH OF 4810MM HAS ACTUALLY REACHED THE LEVEL OF SOME B-CLASS CARS, AND THE THEORETICAL REFLECTION TO THE ACTUAL SPACE PERFORMANCE IS NATURALLY NOT TOO BAD. Although the central armrest area occupies a large area, because the body width reaches 1880mm, the driver and co-driver do not have a sense of oppression, leaving plenty of space for the front passengers. And this area has also been hollowed out, and it is still more convenient to put down items such as wallets and ladies' satchels.
The seat configuration is a bit unexpected, as a model that focuses on practicality, but it is equipped with a one-piece sports design seat, which leads to a lack of movement and comfort. The sporty shape does not provide actual support, and the one-piece design cannot adapt to the needs of drivers of different heights. To give a practical example, the seat of the test drive is completely suspended in the lying flat state, and the head cannot be effectively supported.
The rear space continues the excellent performance of AION S, after all, the ride-hailing car is its old line, which can be described as excellent in this regard, whether it is the design of the seats or the actual space performance, it belongs to the performance of the first echelon in the same level. Another good news is the seat material on the test drive, the leather and leather mixed seat texture is superior, the color matching is also very young and fashionable, which greatly reduces the depressing feeling brought by the pure black interior.
In terms of lighting, the panoramic canopy is also indispensable, and the mass production car is finally equipped with a real thermal insulation panoramic canopy, with a huge size and outstanding lighting capacity. In terms of heat insulation capacity, the official said that it can isolate 99.9% of ultraviolet rays, and the overall heat insulation effect is considered to be a qualified level after actual experience, although it can still feel a little heat, but at least it will not make people feel the heat on the top of their heads.
Driving and riding: The characteristic driving experience has been enhanced
For AION S PLUS, the last thing I want to mention is driving, and the driver's seat is the last place I want to ride. It is not that this seat is uncomfortable, but the ergonomics of the driver's seat, more like it is built for passengers, the steering wheel that can only be adjusted up and down is only suitable for the lazy driving posture, and the taller driver feels this especially obviously, no matter how to adjust, the steering wheel always keeps a distance from you.
The overall driving experience can be summed up in "good driving", which seems a bit irresponsible and seems a little sorry for years of test driving experience, but in fact, this AION S PLUS feels like this. All of its performance is at the normal level of the same price model, and there is no deep memory point at the same time, and it will not make you complain.
The 224-horsepower electric drive system is competent, the daily use of the scene of the power is abundant, different driving modes can give you different power response, in the 120km/ h legal speed limit range, there will be no feeling of fatigue. The biggest complaint is the automatic energy recovery system, the kinetic energy recovery system of the AION S PLUS is very primitive, if the single pedal mode is not turned on, then it can not achieve kinetic energy recovery - even the brakes will not charge the battery.
This design undoubtedly brings a certain risk, if you turn off the kinetic energy recovery system in the long downhill section, there is no means of restricting the speed of the car except for the brakes, just like a manual gear model with a neutral gear taxi, and anyone who has been to the driving school knows how dangerous it is. Fortunately, the logic of the single-pedal mode is not bad, even if you suddenly loosen the electric door, there will be no strong sense of deceleration, and you have a better understanding of the operation of your right foot, provided that you like this anti-human driving style.
Compared to the slightly stiff riding experience of AION S, PLUS has been improved in texture, the suspension has more toughness for the treatment of the road surface, and the control of the body attitude is obviously better. As for the handling aspect, don't have too many illusions, the steering wheel only has the function of turning, the sense of existence in the rest of the case is quite low, don't think about what subjective driving experience.
summary
After a more upgraded test drive, the AION S PLUS is quite obvious compared to the AION S, the exterior design can be said to have been upgraded by a grade, and the interior has also been transformed in line with the times, which is more convenient to use. On the whole, there may still be some shadow of online car-hailing, but compared to AION S, it has faded a lot, and the proportion of private users on the road is also increasing, and AION S PLUS can still see the effect after making up for the shortcomings of AION S.
However, if compared with the horizontal opponents, AION S PLUS will be slightly mediocre, although compared to AION S, the attributes of the ride-hailing car have been diluted a lot, but compared with the opponents of the same level, it seems to have less uniqueness. There is neither an impressive form factor nor too many high-tech features to brag about, and everything is mainly about use. If your demand for a car only stays at the level of vehicles, then this AION S PLUS will be a qualified family car, but it will not give you much feeling.