Brand-new power is stronger and more fuel-efficient. Analysis and shopping guide of Volkswagen LaVida 1.5T model.
As an evergreen tree in the compact sedan market, Volkswagen’s monthly sales have remained at the level of 30,000-40,000 for a long time, and it is not surprising that it exceeds 50,000 or even 60,000 in the peak season. However, the price war at the beginning of this year also affected its sales volume. In the first half of this year, the monthly sales volume remained at around 20,000, showing a significant decline. In order to enhance its competitiveness, SAIC Volkswagen launched the LaVida 1.5T model in early August, with five models priced at 138,900-151,900 yuan. The new car is equipped with a brand-new 1.5T engine, which uses new technology to achieve stronger power and lower fuel consumption. Today, we take the LaVida 300TSI DSG Star Forever Edition as an example to see what changes have taken place in the new car and how to choose it.
New car features:
1. The front face is available in two styles. The starry sky version is equipped with a lattice grille and a sports kit, which is more youthful.
2. Equipped with a 10.25-inch instrument and a 12-inch central control screen to support the interconnection between Apple and Baidu.
3. Class L2 driver assistance system is standard, and the rear row and trunk space are sufficient.
4. The new 1.5T engine has higher power and lower fuel consumption, matching the 7-speed dry powershift.
This generation of LaVida is based on the Volkswagen MQB modular platform. The shape of the newly added 1.5T model has not changed much, and it is still dignified, but it has added fashionable decorative elements. In terms of color, the 1.5T model offers four color schemes: prologue, Tianzhen Blue, Culture Silver and Mystery Black.
The front face provides two sets of exterior decoration, and the starry sky version adopts lattice grille, which is very fashionable and more in line with the aesthetics of young people than the ordinary version of multi-spoke grille. Headlights and grille are integrated, and the bottom daytime running lights are connected with the middle net through the decorative strips, which makes the front of the car look wider. Split low beam comes standard with LED light source, which lights automatically, but it does not support adaptive switching between far and near beams.
The side shape is a classic sedan structure, with a slightly shorter front suspension and a longer rear suspension. The proportion of the sedan is clear and elegant. The double waistline just passes through the door handle from top to bottom. The upper line connects the front and rear light groups, and the lower line is parallel to it, which makes the car body very smooth. This car is equipped with a sports kit, and blackened elements are added to the exterior rearview mirror, roof, trunk and other parts, which is a common technique for young decoration at present.
The body size, length, width and height are 4678/1806/1474mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2688 mm. Compared with competing products at the same level, the wheelbase is still the traditional compact size, but the length and height of the car body have certain advantages.
The all-black exterior rearview mirror integrates slender LED side lights, but there is no side camera, and the whole system comes standard with reversing images. Electric adjustment, folding, heating, automatic reversing and automatic folding of locking car are also standard.
The door handle with the same color on the body is decorated with a large area of chrome plating, and the keyless entry function in the front row is standard.
16-inch and 17-inch rims are available, and this car is the latter. The peculiar two-color five-spoke rim has a small central gap, which can reduce the wind resistance. Tyre size is 225/45 R17, with moderate tire width, which matches the series of Maxis Premitra 5 products that give consideration to comfort and handling.
Although the tail does not use the popular through-lamp strip, it is rich in horizontal elements and has a clear sense of hierarchy. Black trim is added to the tail box cover to play the role of spoiler. Independent taillights are more traditional, and the concave license plate frame has a connection effect. The bottom of the bumper is made of black bottom skirt with diffusion shape, and the "C"-shaped chrome-plated strips on both sides create the effect of exhaust pipe, which is also clever.
The layout of the carriage is calm, but the thick silver decorative board is added to enhance the exquisiteness, and the red element is added to the air outlet to enhance the activity. The center console is made of soft plastic, and the touch is not bad. Provide a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument and a 12-inch floating large screen, and the digital interactive experience has reached the mainstream level. The whole system comes standard with monochromatic atmosphere lights, and it is no longer monotonous at night.
Standard leather material, feel full and comfortable, the size is also very suitable, and the micro-flat shape is easy to control the corner. There are many keys in the transverse radiation, so it is difficult to realize blind operation. The left side is used to control the driver assistance system, and the new car comes standard with L2 system, including full-speed adaptive cruise, lane keeping and other functions.
The middle and high models are equipped with a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument, and the oil quantity and water temperature meters on both sides are backlit, and the screen can switch multiple display modes.
The mid-high model is equipped with a 12-inch floating central control panel. The car comes with 4G network connection, WiFi hotspot and OAT upgrade. The voice assistant can control multimedia, navigation, telephone and air conditioning, and support the remote control of mobile APP and the interconnection of Apple CarPlay and Baidu CarLife. The interaction is convenient.
The shape of the bar stand is very traditional, and the in-line mechanical bar is centered, which has an influence on the storage compartment of the front mobile phone. There are many physical buttons around, including one-button start, electronic handbrake, automatic parking, automatic start and stop, economic mode, parking radar, and 12V power interface. The air conditioning touch panel is reserved in front, but the position is low. There are Type-C and USB interfaces in the storage compartment of the mobile phone. There are double cup holders and storage slots at the back.
It is divided into leather/fabric and imitation leather, and the middle and high-end models are the latter. The filler is moderate in hardness, the cushion and backrest have good lateral support, and the contact part with the body has rich lines to enhance friction. In terms of function, the main driver’s seat supports electric adjustment of front and rear, backrest, height (2-way) and waist (2-way), the co-pilot supports manual adjustment of front and rear, backrest, and the front seat has heating function.
The back row is the same as the front row, the cushion length is average, and the backrest has good lateral support. In terms of space, Kan Di is 175cm tall, with more than two punches in the leg space and just one punch on the top of his head, which is basically enough for three people to ride horizontally. Provide folding handrails with double cup holders, platform air outlet and USB interface, and the roof is an ordinary skylight.
The conventional volume of the rear compartment is 510L, and the depth, width and height are good, and the opening is relatively large. The rear seats support a 4:6 ratio, and the flatness is high. There are non-full-size spare tires and maintenance tools under the floor.
In terms of power, the brand-new 1.5T in-line 4-cylinder turbocharged engine is a new member of EA211 series. It uses advanced technologies such as VTG variable cross-section turbocharging, MAP dual-channel thermal management system, 350bar high-pressure fuel injection system, continuous variable flow oil pump, APS plasma cylinder coating, etc. The compression ratio is increased to 11.5, and the Miller cycle can be realized by adding a central VVT regulating valve. Compared with the 1.4T engine, the maximum power of 1.5T increased by 7.3%, from 110kW to 118kW, the thermal efficiency increased by 8.6%, and the fuel consumption of WLTC was 5.4L/100km. The rotation speed range of the maximum torque is increased from 1750-3000rpm to 1750-4000rpm, so that the durability of high-speed torque is better and the confidence of running at high speed is more sufficient. Matching the engine is still a 7-speed DSG dry powershift.
The chassis is still a suspension combination of front McPherson independent and rear torsion beam non-independent, both of which are in layout.
There are 5 models of LaVida 1.5T, but the Star Edition is different from the regular edition only in the exterior kit and the configuration is the same. We can only compare the price and configuration differences of the Manyi version, the leading version and the forever version.
The price of 300TSI DSG Manyi Edition is 138,900 yuan, and the price of 300TSI DSG Leading Edition is 143,900 yuan, which is 5,000 yuan more expensive. In configuration, 4 ultrasonic radars are upgraded to 8, 8-inch central control panel is upgraded to 12-inch, 8-inch instrument panel is upgraded to 10.25-inch full LCD, leather/fabric mixed seat is upgraded to imitation leather, and manual air conditioner is upgraded to automatic. Added, satellite navigation, sports appearance kit, voice recognition control, OTA upgrade, 2-way adjustment of lumbar support of main driver’s seat, electric adjustment of main driver’s seat, front seat heating and temperature zone control. The above configuration is very practical, and the upgrade cost of 5000 yuan is worth it.
The price of 300TSI DSG Forever Edition is 151,900 yuan, which is 8,000 yuan more expensive than the leading version of 300TSI DSG. In the configuration, the 16-inch rim is upgraded to 17-inch, the tire width is increased from 205mm to 225mm, and the manual anti-glare of the inner rearview mirror is upgraded to automatic, which increases the side warning of the reversing car and the auxiliary line merging. Obviously, this cost is not cost-effective.
Conclusion: The most cost-effective version is the leading version of 300TSI DSG with 143,900 yuan.
Brother Kan’s comments:
LaVida’s practicality and reliability have been widely recognized, but the 1.4T engine is really old, and it can’t meet the higher expectations of current users from power to fuel consumption to emissions. The brand-new 1.5T engine is blessed with many new technologies, achieving stronger power and lower fuel consumption. In addition, as a high-profile model of the whole department, the standard L2 auxiliary is worthy of recognition, and the digital interaction has also reached the mainstream of the same level. Overall, the new car will play a positive role in maintaining the sales of LaVida.