[XCAR original information]
Mid-level cars have always been a battleground for the military strategists of major manufacturers. After the selling points such as business, large space and high configuration have been played by various models, major manufacturers have started the war of sports mid-level cars. In recent years, various companies have spared no effort in the development of such models. Without the technical strength and brand appeal, it is really difficult to really enjoy it in the market. Therefore, among the all-powerful sports mid-level cars, the strength gap is by no means a world apart, and the comprehensive gap between the main models of each manufacturer is very small.
Maneuverability Competition of Six Intermediate Cars
This situation in diamond cut diamond has brought a lot of confusion to consumers, and they don’t know what to do. In fact, the target users of each car are not 100% the same people. Only when we really understand the differences of each car can we choose the one that suits us best. It is the classic "there is no best, only better."
FAW Group CorporationMazdaRaptor
Price: 176,800-249,800 yuan
Mazda has been advocating the "Zoom-Zoom" sports style in brand concept for several years, and its outstanding sense of control is its ace skill. Now Ruiyi has continued this fine tradition. Looking at the current mid-level cars in the same price range, the handling of Mazda Ruiyi is still commendable.
Ruiyi’s first models are only equipped with 2.5L power. This engine is newly built by Mazda, with a maximum power of 124KW and a peak torque of 226Nm. The power output is good, but there are only five gears in the gearbox to choose from. For a sports car, there are inevitably some limitations. At the end of last year, FAW Mazda withdrew from Ruiyi 2.0L. Ruiyi 2.0L used the combination of the old mazda 6 2.0L engine and a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed manual transmission, with a maximum power of 108 kW/6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 183 Nm/4,400 rpm. Although it is not brand-new power, the power output of this engine can meet the needs of entry-level sports models.
FAW Mazda Ruiyi
Ruiyi adoptedDouble wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, the chassis adjustment is more pure and direct, and it still has its own unique place in handling performance, including the previous Laoma 6, which also has the reputation of "king of corners". In actual driving, the suspension of Ruiyi is still very tough in terms of the road information felt when passing through the road sill and other places. However, the comfortable adjustment of the shock absorber is exposed in the fierce situation of high-speed passing through sharp bends or encountering undulating roads. Although the sports style is not clear, in order to maintain good comfort, reducing sports is also the price of trade-off.
Ruiyi interior
5-speed automatic manual transmission
Ruiyi 2.0L will continue the power of mazda 6.
The previous generation of mazda 6 left a good reputation for braking, while mazda 6 Ruiyi replaced a larger brake disc, relying on the braking force distribution system to make good use of the adhesion of each wheel. The ABS system is also very dense and performs well in fierce driving. Unfortunately, domestic Ruiyi mostly adopts narrow tires from Han Tai. Although Han Tai’s tires are famous for their leather and wear resistance, it seems inappropriate to use Han Tai’s 205R16 on sports cars at this price, and tires have become a point criticized by many netizens.
Hankook tire used by Xinruiyi
Ruiyi advocates sportiness, so it’s no harm to reduce some cumbersome configurations for real drivers. However, Mazda is equipped with good equipment to take care of more passengers: DVD navigation, one-button start, front and rear 8-probe parking radar, dual-zone air conditioning, xenon lamp for corner auxiliary lighting, intelligent key, aluminum pedal, etc., and the richness is satisfactory.
RaptorFeatures: the chassis adjustment is pure and direct, the steering wheel function is convenient, and the overall control feeling is unique.
1. Advocate a mid-level car with outstanding sports control and handling sense.
FAW Toyota Reiz
Price: 181,800-365,800 yuan
Reiz’s car is 4735cm long, 1775cm wide and 1450cm high. But the wheelbase is 2850cm. In order to achieve such a long wheelbase, Reiz’s tires are arranged as close as possible to the four corners of the car body. Of course, thanks to the compact size of Reiz’s V6 engine and the design of front and rear drive FR, the weight ratio of front and rear bearings reaches 54∶46, which is close to the perfect ratio of 1∶1.
REIZ
REIZ
The 2.5L V6 engine used by Reiz has a maximum power of 145kW and a maximum torque of 242Nm, and the 3.0L engine is quite comfortable in both speed-up and normal driving. In addition, the rotational inertia of the V-shaped engine is relatively small, so the engine sound of Reiz is very light when driving.
REIZ
REIZ
The real technical highlight of this car is the 6-speed automatic manual transmission. Its wide speed ratio can give full play to the potential of the engine. When you step on the accelerator vigorously, the pointer of the tachometer will soar rapidly, and the gear ratio of the gearbox will greatly accelerate the reaction speed of the accelerator, and the acceleration will be quick and powerful. The cooperation between the 2.5-liter engine and the 6-speed automatic transmission is quite tacit. In the general driving mode, the shifting action is almost imperceptible.
REIZ
Reiz’s steering adjustment is very accurate and can effectively carry out the driver’s intention. The direction is very gentle, and it is no exaggeration to say that you can turn the steering wheel with one finger. It is easy to drive under urban road conditions.
REIZ
REIZ
For the front-mounted rear-wheel drive model, the driving pleasure is of course more reflected in the corners. Generally, you can indulge in driving Reiz at a corner of 40 or 50 degrees. In the absence of the right car, you can walk out of a beautiful curve by following the slow-in and fast-out cornering method, and obviously feel that Reiz’s accelerated response is faster than that of ordinary front-driven cars when turning. The front double wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension can keep the direction of high-speed driving stable, and there is no feeling of drifting. At the same time, braking is also very sensitive, and the pedal force that tends to be linear makes people easily adapt.
Reiz features: front and rear drive, 6-speed automatic manual transmission, accurate steering adjustment.
2. The front rear drive mainly controls the mid-level car.
Dongfeng Honda siborui
Price: 194,800-271,800 yuan
Since Platinum Core is positioned as a high-end sports car, the sense of strength and movement should naturally be put in the first place in the design. Platinum Core inherits the design style of Honda’s high-end brands in appearance. Slender headlights, silver-edged shield-shaped chrome-plated air intake grille and other elements are all derived from Acura, thus shaping the simple and capable front shape of Platinum Core. Compared with the competing model of the same brand, it is indeed younger and more dynamic.
Siborui
The generous wheel eyebrows on both sides of the car body are full of strength, the rising waistline is more visually impactful, and the 17-inch five-spoke rim style is also relatively sporty, and 225/50R17 Bridgestone Turanza ER370 tire is used. In actual driving, this tire also performs well.
Siborui
Spiro uses a 2.4-liter engine, the maximum power of 133 kW /6500 rpm and the maximum torque of 225 Nm /4300 rpm are larger than those of mainstream Japanese cars of the same class. This engine is widely used in domestic Honda models, which means that the cost of repair and maintenance will be lower, but to truly reflect the sportiness, Spiro really needs a more powerful engine. With the 5-speed automatic manual transmission, the acceleration time of 100 kilometers is close to 9.4 seconds.
Siborui
Siborui
In actual driving, the steering adjustment of Spiro is very accurate, and even if it is fast and large, the driver can deeply understand the direction of the wheel. As well as the load of the car body, of course, as a front-wheel drive, understeer will still occur when the speed is too fast, but Spiro is easy to control, because the suspension can provide excellent support, and when the limit comes, the car body will not swing easily. Especially the short tail, the follow-up performance is very good, and it rarely causes trouble to the driver during driving.
Siborui
Siborui
The attitude of the car body is well controlled during emergency braking, and the front of the car is not obvious, which also benefits from the good support of the front double wishbone suspension system. During the braking test, the gearbox will automatically downshift intelligently, and the braking effect will be enhanced by engine braking. Through the pedal, you can feel that the ABS system is working hard, and at this time, the direction and the body will not swing uneasily.
Siborui
Siborui
Compared with competitors, Spiro’s driving sense is indeed better, and the driving quality is more delicate. The tiny potholes and cracks on the road surface will be suspended and filtered to inform the driver. Of course, the premise is that you have higher requirements for driving control.
Features of Platinum Core: rich configuration, exquisite workmanship, accurate steering and adjustment, good suspension support of front double wishbone, 225/50R17.
3. High-profile mid-level cars in niche markets
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
Price: 1560-263800 yuan
FAW-Volkswagen launched a 2.0-liter model when Magotan was just listed, but for various reasons, the main sales models were concentrated on the version equipped with TSI supercharged engine, and 1.4TSI, 1.8TSI and 2.0TSI became the main sales models of Magotan.
FAW-Volkswagen Magotan is a B-class car that emphasizes power and handling performance. With the meticulous workmanship of German cars, many people have a strong desire for it. Because of the advanced technology and complex structure of Magotan’s in-cylinder direct injection, turbocharged engine and DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, the maintenance cost is higher than that of its peers.
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
The domestic 1.4L turbocharged engine with the maximum power of 130Ps and the maximum torque of 220N·m works with the familiar 7-speed DSG powershift. This powertrain has been installed on almost all domestic Volkswagen models and has become a symbol of Volkswagen. The 2.0TSI turbocharged direct injection engine and the 6-speed DSG powershift still ensure a strong power output. As a benchmark for the public, this 2.0TSI turbocharged direct injection engine has a maximum power of 147KW and a maximum torque of 280N·m, and its performance is excellent.
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
DSG transmission is still "lazy" in D gear, but the ideal fuel consumption value can be obtained by rapidly raising the gear, and it is very simple to drive eight oils without traffic jam. The new Magotan adopts Goodyear Excellence three-energy tires, which is very intuitive that the noise of the inner tube becomes more obvious, but the durability has been greatly improved.
Magotan’s front suspension is a relatively common McPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension is a four-bar linkage. In terms of handling, the predecessor Magotan is not superhuman, but thanks to the good support of the suspension system, the heavier body can also be well controlled.
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
The interior of Magotan is not so good without a car. The interior configuration is complete and practical, and the design is simple and generous, but the workmanship is average, and the back row space is still slightly crowded.
Faw-Volkswagen magotan
Volkswagen’s car-making is typical of German rigor, and it entered the China market earlier, so its position in the automobile industry and popularity among the masses need not be said.
Magotan features: high brand awareness, calm and atmospheric appearance, good reputation with TSI and DSG, and good workmanship.
4. Golden Partner Combination Sports Intermediate Car
Suzuki Kizashi
Price: Not for sale
Small car manufacturing is Suzuki’s strong point, and it is also the main impression of Suzuki in the industry, but Suzuki is not satisfied with this. The brand-new Kizashi is a test for Suzuki to set foot in the high-end market. After its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this year, Suzuki has started to promote this model nonstop. China market is one of the first markets for Suzuki Kizashi to enter, and Suzuki will introduce this model in China by way of import.
Suzuki Kizashi
With a more dynamic body enclosure design, Suzuki Kizashi is positioned as a sports sedan, aiming at the consumer groups who are keen on sports and pay attention to driving pleasure. The length, width and height are 4650mm, 1820mm and 1480mm, and the wheelbase is 2700 mm. The body size can only be said to have just entered the threshold of the current mainstream B-class car. The front face looks simple and plain, with the popular U-mouth shape, honeycomb net and eye-catching Suzuki logo, giving people a just right feeling. However, the slightly mediocre design of the headlights and fog lights makes this car look quite satisfactory in appearance.
Suzuki Kizashi
Suzuki Kizashi’s tail design does not have too many exaggerated elements. The well-behaved taillights and embedded double exhaust pipes create the flavor of a sports car, and the upturning of the duck tongue tail still shows some dynamic elements. This tail design should be worthy of recognition for Suzuki.
Suzuki Kizashi
The 18-inch sports wheels with double ten frames are very exciting. But on the whole, the appearance of Suzuki Kizashi is not as attractive as the concept car. It is hard to think that this is a sporty model because of its plain appearance, and his opponent has made great efforts in selling it.
Double ten-frame 18-inch sports hub
In terms of chassis, Suzuki Kizashi adopts the independent suspension of front McPherson and rear four-links, emphasizing handling performance. The application of stabilizer bar and subframe makes the whole vehicle work harder, effectively absorbs the road vibration and ensures the driving track, which greatly improves the driving limit. Moreover, the swing arm of the rear suspension of the new car is made of aluminum alloy, which is lighter but has greater strength, making the suspension have stable performance in harsh environments. It is said that Suzuki has carried out a large number of road tests in German highways, newberg Woods, Alpine highways and other places, emphasizing the driving pleasure of interacting with drivers during the whole vehicle tuning process.
Suzuki Kizashi interior
In addition, Suzuki Kizashi will launch a four-wheel drive version, using Suzuki’s new generation i-AWD intelligent left-right symmetrical four-wheel drive system. Its opponents are all front-wheel drive models, and Suzuki Kizashi’s four-wheel drive version can meet the higher needs of users.
Suzuki Kizashi
Suzuki Kizashi Kaizexi is equipped with a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder all-aluminum engine, including the piston-connecting rod mechanism, which is made of lightweight materials. In addition, this engine has double balance shafts and a unique variable valve timing system to pursue better driving performance. This car shares the engine with Super Vitera, which can provide the maximum power and torque of 122kw/6000rpm and 225Nm/4000rpm, and has two versions of front drive and four-wheel drive.
Suzuki Kizashi
In the subdivision range, this data is not excellent, even a little shabby. However, the predecessor version of 2010 Suzuki Kizashi also offers six-speed manual transmission and CVT stepless transmission, which adds a lot to its sportiness. Considering the domestic situation, another CVT gearbox may win the favor of most consumers. Moreover, in the four-wheel drive model, CVT gearbox will become the only choice.
Suzuki Kizashi
In the mainstream sports mid-size car market in China, only Sunlion is equipped with CVT gearbox, and Suzuki’s new generation i-AWD intelligent left-right symmetrical four-wheel drive system does not fall in the wind, and Subaru’s full-time four-wheel drive system is no longer unique.
Suzuki Kizashi
In addition, the flagship model will be equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a maximum horsepower of more than 300 horses. It is reported that the new engine will evolve from the engine of Suzuki Racing Business and WRC R&D team.
Suzuki Kizashi features: i-AWD intelligent left-right symmetrical four-wheel drive system, CVT gearbox, and 18-inch sports wheels with double ten frames.
Conclusion:
In the highly competitive domestic mid-level car market, many excellent products are sold by handling or sportiness, and the technical parameters we see are higher than one, but now consumers are more and more clear in their actual purchase. If you like the European driving style of hard bridge and hard horse, most people will not consider Japanese cars, but buyers who pursue comfort and comfort will take Japanese cars as their first choice. It is really far-fetched to distinguish the advantages and disadvantages of cars of the same level, and the products that suit them are the best.
5. I-AWD intelligent left-right symmetrical four-wheel drive sports intermediate car