GAC Toyota has “opened its heart and soul” this time – test driving the Vesa, which is armed to the teeth

While small and compact SUVs are competing for cost performance and space, the mid-sized SUV market has entered a stage of competing for “quality”. Especially after new forces “invade” the 200,000-300,000 SUV market with intelligence, how to explain that they are still irreplaceable in the market is obviously a problem that traditional car companies need to solve.

As the top Japanese brand, Toyota introduced the fourth-generation HARRIER to the Chinese market at the right time, allowing users to have more diverse choices. After the Introduction, GAC Toyota used the name VENZA.

Regarding Toyota models under the TNGA architecture, reporters have test-drove many before. Especially for SUVs, stable mechanical quality and reliable and worry-free daily performance are still the main factors that can best arouse consumers’ desire to purchase. However, in addition to the above-mentioned highlights, the Visa has more luxurious texture and unexpected dynamic performance. The most important thing is that the Visa tested by the reporter is a top-equipped four-wheel drive model, priced at 268,800. The mid-level SUV market is not only relatively close to the people, but its exaggerated configurations in the car are simply staggering. This is something I never thought of before testing this car.

Reject mediocrity and inject light luxury

If we talk about hexagonal warriors, then Toyota can be said to be the well-deserved ancestor. Even in terms of exterior design, few people can find fault with Toyota models. Therefore, in an environment where appearance is becoming more and more important, Toyota’s many SUVs are able to sell well both overseas and domestically.

But the appearance of Wei Sa is more special than other Toyota SUVs. When you first see the Vesa, if you block the logo, you will definitely not think that it is a Toyota mid-size SUV. Its body lines are more “radical” than Toyota’s models.

Viewed from the front, the front face of the Vensa is easily distinguished from other Toyota models. The closed grille has a feeling of moving closer to electric vehicles, while the inverted trapezoidal air intake grille and sharp LED headlights make the entire The front face looks like an eagle hunting for prey.

Turning to the side, compared to the slightly complicated design of the front face, the side lines are simpler to use. The simple double waist design makes Wei Sa’s side show a fashionable temperament. It is worth mentioning that the fastback body is the main highlight of the side of the Vesa’s body. In addition to taking into account the head space of rear passengers, it also makes the entire side of the body fuller. In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the Vensa are 4780mm/1855mm/1660mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2690mm.

The rear of the car body Is very powerful. The fastback shape is not as rigid as a traditional SUV. On the contrary, the emphasis on lines and layering makes the rear of the car look quite dynamic, echoing the front of the car. The through-type taillights and chrome decorative strips make it look more dynamic. The high-end feel of the tail is once again added points.

The appearance of the Vesa gives people a brand-new feeling. If Toyota official surrounds are added later, it will undoubtedly make the appearance and texture of the vehicle closer to Lexus.

Entering the car, at first glance it still feels familiar to Toyota, but from the details, you can also find that the whole car has a slightly “light luxury” flavor. First of all, the symmetrical design of the center console satisfies the obsessive-compulsive disorder’s pursuit of details, and the large area of leather wrapping satisfies many people’s definition of luxury. In addition, the resolution of the two 12.3-inch steering wheels installed on the top model tested is quite high. When it comes to pleasing consumers, Toyota, which has always been stubborn, can be said to have made a lot of “concessions.”

In addition, the newly designed leather seats continue the usual comfort of Japanese cars in terms of touch and wrapping. In addition, the ventilation and heating functions of the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat make it comfortable in weather with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Feel more comfortable.

It Is worth mentioning that Visa retains physical touch buttons for the air conditioning system, driving mode, lighting system, etc., which are indeed easier to operate during driving than the virtual buttons of many new energy vehicles. It has to be said that traditional Japanese car companies still have more in-depth and considerate thinking when it comes to ergonomic design and concepts.

△Variable light canopy open state

△Variable canopy closed state

The most exaggerated thing is that Toyota, which has always been “stingy”, actually equipped Wei Sa with a variable light canopy this time. Just press the button next to the reading light on the roof to change the light with one click. The most important thing is that even with the dimming function, GAC Toyota still equipped the car with electric sunshades, double insulation + seat ventilation, allowing reporters to feel the real coolness during the few days of test driving.

In terms of power, the Vesa Hybrid uses a 2.5L hybrid engine and offers two versions of two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The reporter tested the top-of-the-line four-wheel drive version. It is worth mentioning that compared with the two-wheel drive hybrid version, the four-wheel drive version is 95kg heavier. During a high-speed journey of nearly 100km, the reporter first tested the fuel consumption performance of the Yifanweisa.

It Is well known that the 2.5L Dynamic Force engine has excellent thermal efficiency, but the four-wheel drive and body weight of nearly 1.8 tons are obviously "contradictory" to fuel economy. However, during a few days of test driving, the fuel consumption performance of this car It is surprisingly stable. Checking other people’s previous test drives and my own driving fuel consumption records, none of them exceeded 6L/100km.

The reporter tried his best to simulate the daily use of the car. Therefore, he did not save fuel when driving on the highway. Instead, he overtook according to normal logic and drove under the speed limit. This is also the most normal vehicle usage condition for everyone’s daily travel on the highway. With the support of E-four four-wheel drive, the Vensa’s acceleration is more powerful than the Toyota hybrid I have tried before. Especially when accelerating from 80km/h to 120km/h, which is most commonly used on the highway, the excellent intervention of the motor and the four-wheel drive makes the entire acceleration "calm and unhurried”, giving a “silky feeling” when driving a large-displacement car. “Slippery” experience.

Finally, a fuel consumption of 5.3L/100km was tested on the highway. For a four-wheel drive model close to 1.8 tons, this high-speed fuel consumption is already quite good, and it is also quite close to the fuel consumption calculated by the official CLTC.

In addition to the consistently satisfactory acceleration performance and fuel consumption, the Vensa’s chassis even surprised reporters. Under slightly intense driving conditions, the Viza performed well both in terms of directivity and chassis toughness. The reporter believed that in addition to Toyota engineers’ excellent suspension adjustments, the Viza was equipped with Tongyi’s data of 225/55/19. European PROXES SPORT tires also provide excellent bonuses for its cornering performance. Therefore, when driving on mountain roads, the overall performance of the Vesa is even better than that of many independent compact cars that advertise sports. The Vesa can handle slightly intense driving calmly.

Finally, let’s talk about the performance of Vesa when driving in the city. Under the PCS pre-collision safety system and LTA lane tracking assist system, the driver’s assistance is quite user-friendly. When encountering blurry or difficult-to-recognize road lines, the LTA tracking assist system can continue to move forward based on the driving trajectory of the vehicle in front, and will provide appropriate steering assistance when necessary.

Urban areas with dense intersections, the PCS pre-collision safety system can detect vehicles and pedestrians ahead through millimeter wave radar and monocular cameras. If the driver fails to apply the brakes at a safe distance in time, the system will automatically activate the brakes to prevent a collision.

Write at the end

Under the “big tree” of Toyota, the emergence of Visa can be said to provide consumers who love Japanese models with a worry-free and unique choice. A hybrid model built on the profound TNGA architecture, coupled with the two seasonings of “luxury” and “elegance”, the Vensa has indeed stepped out of Toyota’s once unchanging appearance. At a time when independent brands are experiencing crazy involution, Toyota is inevitably involved. The selling price is nearly 270,000 yuan, and the actual landing price is around 300,000 yuan. With excellent configuration and stable quality, plus low fuel consumption without charging, Weisha’s dual engines have indeed solved many problems of new energy vehicles. Range anxiety issues. Would you consider such a model?

Writer Sahil Khan 

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