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Today's competitive analysis, let's take a look at a Lexus known as the Toyota label - GAC Toyota Wesa.
In the past two years, with the deepening of consumption upgrading, China's high-end automobile consumption has continued to grow, according to relevant statistics, the sales volume of more than 250,000 models in 2021 increased by 2.1% compared with 2019, reaching 21.4%. Such a trend also makes the joint venture brands realize that they must increase investment in the mid-to-high-end market to cope with the future market change layout.
Gac Toyota launched a new medium-sized SUV model Weisa, and changed the previous conservative design to create a new luxury car that caters to the needs of consumer upgrading in the new era and integrates technology and texture.
Although Wesa is not a particularly familiar name for Chinese consumers, it is the culmination of Toyota Harrier's 25-year evolution in the global market. As the fourth generation of Toyota Harrier, Weisa relies on Toyota's flagship platform TNGA-K to further optimize the sense of luxury for the Chinese market, interpreting Toyota's understanding of new luxury. Such sincerity has also impressed Chinese users, and many people have recognized its sense of luxury as the lexus NX.
Indeed, in terms of design, Wesa continues the elegance of Japanese luxury cars. "Refined-tech Simplicity" design concept to create a look, a change from the previous Toyota conservative, the front face using a very three-dimensional X-shaped surface design, the hood and grille to form an enlarged X shape, with a very design of the dual L light group, the whole vehicle is very stylish.
The body design of Weisa is very simple, the large area of curved surface and the muscle line of the rear wheel arch reduce the visual center of gravity of the whole vehicle, with the popular back-up shape, so that this medium-sized SUV shows a strong sense of movement.
In the interior that can better reflect the sense of luxury, Wesa uses a large area of leather fabric and soft wrapping, with a stitching process, showing a stronger texture. In addition, the combination of chrome, baking paint and other decorative parts that Chinese users like in the car further enhances the sense of luxury.
In terms of technology, the dual 12.3-inch LCD instrument and central control screen, together with the HUD system, also create a more technological cockpit. Even the sunroof of Wesa has adopted an adjustable panoramic canopy with a sense of technology, which is the first model in its class to adopt this configuration.
At the same time, as a product of the TNGA-K platform, Wesa uses Toyota's iconic TNGA 2.5L Dynamic Force engine in terms of power. The maximum thermal efficiency of 41% makes the WTLC fuel consumption of this luxury medium-sized SUV as low as 5.25L per 100 km, which is more in line with the energy-saving and economical needs of modern families.
So, in the end, is GAC Toyota Wesa competitive in the joint venture mid-size SUV segment?
Today, we will compare the GAC Toyota Wesa dual-engine two-wheel drive premium version with the same main design and quality SAIC Volkswagen Tiguan X 330TSI two-wheel drive prestigious flagship version to see which car is more in line with the needs of young users' new luxury cars.
In terms of brands, Toyota and Volkswagen are both domestic first-line joint venture brands. However, if you pay more attention to the retention rate, then Toyota Wesa, which has long occupied the retention rate rankings, is obviously better than the Volkswagen Tiguan X, and the sense of brand value will be stronger.
In terms of price, both cars are mainly quality users, and the overall configuration level is relatively high, so the price range is not low in the joint venture brand. Although the starting price of Weisa is slightly lower, the main sales models of both models are concentrated at about 250,000 yuan. We can think of the two cars as having a direct competitive relationship in the market.
Space largely determines the comfort of a car, and both cars have reached a relatively good level in this regard. Relatively speaking, Wei Sa's captain and body height have certain advantages, so that it has more tail box space and better head space. Tiguan X's advantage in wheelbase will give it an advantage in legroom in the back row.
In terms of power, the THS hybrid system used by Wesa is undoubtedly better than the 2.0T+7DCT of Tiguan X. With the blessing of the motor, the comprehensive power of The system of Wesa reaches 160kW, which is leading the Tiguan X 23kW performance, and the more direct and smooth power output of the motor also makes the WOSA have a stronger performance than the Tiguan X in terms of the advanced sense of power.
Another advantage of Weisa Power is fuel economy, its NEDC working condition fuel consumption is only 4.5L/100km, which is more than 30% more fuel efficient than the 6.6L/100km fuel consumption of the Tiguan X 2.0T engine.
Whether you're more focused on fuel continuation or power quality, Wesa is a better choice.
In terms of configuration, as a product that emphasizes the sense of quality, the two cars are relatively complete with various auxiliary driving configurations and luxury configurations, and they basically reach the common comfort and technology configurations such as L2 level assisted driving, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, and electric tailgates.
On Weisa, we have obviously seen Toyota's progress in technology, in which the control screen is not only in place, but also this 12.3-inch LCD screen also supports a wealth of voice control functions, which is more comprehensive than the Tiguan X function. More importantly, it also supports OTA upgrades, car home interconnection, etc., and the technology configuration in the joint venture car is a leading position.
And in the creation of a sense of luxury, the configuration of Weisa is also more comprehensive, with JBL's 9-speaker sound system, and the rear row also has privacy glass and seat angle adjustment, which is more suitable for the user's habits. In addition, the sense of refinement and atmosphere of its design is also stronger, and I believe that this will also become the core reason for users to choose Weisa.
Compared with the previous Toyota products, the design and configuration of the car has been comprehensively upgraded, and even the design feels that it is not like Toyota and like Lexus, and such a value is believed to impress many users who want to have reliability and also pursue the value. However, for users with strong space needs in the back row, Weisa's short wheelbase may become a concern, or they have to go to the store to experience it for themselves to know whether it is suitable for themselves.
Summary: With the upgrading of China's automobile consumption, luxury brands have made high-end breakthroughs with Chinese brands, and joint venture cars have also borne greater pressure. Now it seems that these pressures have indeed promoted the upgrading of the quality of joint venture models in the Chinese market, creating products that are closer to the aesthetics of the Chinese market, the most representative of which is Wei Sa.
It not only inherits the advantages of Toyota's product reliability, excellent ergonomics, reliable power system, etc., but also integrates more modern design and more avant-garde intelligent technology configuration, making the entire product look brand new.
I believe that with such product strength, Wesa will inevitably quickly establish brand recognition in the Chinese market, set a benchmark for the same level of market again, and send the most powerful impact on the German mid-size SUV market in the joint venture. At the same time, this high-value, high-quality product will also become the fulcrum of GAC Toyota's continuous breakthrough to higher value, laying a more solid foundation for Toyota's sustainable development in China and the transformation of brand high-end.