Why does a Toyota have the GAC badge? Test drive Guangfeng iA5

Recently, GAC has been making continuous efforts in new energy vehicles and has successively launched many attention-grabbing products, such as the Aion? ?S.

Both cars have many bright spots: for example, the original nominal cruising range has finally reached a number that everyone can be satisfied with; the price also fits the budget of most people today when buying a car. The range; the exterior and interior all have good original recognition; but in this article we are not going to talk about GAC’s Aion, but Guangfeng’s iA5. At the 2019 Chengdu Auto Show, GAC Toyota launched the sister model of the Aion S - iA5. They are called sisters because they have one most important thing in common.

The same platform

The Guangfeng iA5 and GAC’s Aion? , motors and motor controllers all use the same specifications and are treated equally without favoritism.

So someone asked, will Guangfeng’s reputation be dragged down by domestically produced cars? In fact, I think we can actually be more confident, because the iA5 uses Japanese permanent magnet synchronous motors and CATL's ternary lithium batteries. At least these two products still have a certain weight in the industry.

Everyone may have questions again here: Isn’t this just a product that Guangfeng took from GAC and put its own name on it?

Here I want to point out their biggest differences.

Different concepts

I don’t know if you have been to Guangzhou. Maybe you will find that there are a lot of GAC Aion?S operating vehicles on the road in Guangzhou recently, that is, online ride-hailing vehicles. Take a taxi.

In fact, the official also admitted that the flashy version of Aion?S is actually specially built for operating vehicles. Its purpose is to achieve longer battery life and lower vehicle costs at the lowest price. And achieve a better ride quality within the capabilities.

Admittedly, I have taken several Aion?S online ride-hailing rides, and I have to lament that the quality of GAC’s cars has improved a lot in recent years, but I always feel that it is lacking when sitting in the back row. What should I order? Is the seat too hard? Is there excessive bounce in the suspension? Or is the pedal slightly sensitive?

Later, I found the answer when I test-drove iA5. Although Aion?S and iA5 have the same foundation and the same three-electric system, the iA5 seems to be better after being adjusted by GAC Toyota. Each item scored an extra ten points, so the average score of the entire car was raised.

For example, under ECO, the iA5's electric pedal is very linear, and there is no sudden burst of torque like an electric vehicle.

For example, on potholed roads, the iA5 has a sense of weight that you have not experienced in a Toyota for a long time. At that time, I was sitting in the back seat and told other colleagues who were doing the test drive that if this car If it can carry the Toyota badge and sell at this price, it is estimated that the sales volume of Camry will drop a lot.

This is the difference in concept, or it can be said to be the difference in positioning. Aion?S still has the meaning of a tool cart more or less, but iA5 does not want to be just one that can help you save money. car, but I hope to build a car that allows you to find the quality of life.

So how is its market?

In November 2019, the sales volume of iA5 was 865 units. Is this result considered good? Of course it doesn't count, but I think the significance of the emergence of this car is not only how many units it sells, but also has certain positive significance for Guangfeng and GAC.

For Guangfeng, there is no pure electric vehicle product of its own in the domestic market. The launch of iA5 will not only expand the market, but also perfectly cater to the dual-point policy.

For GAC, it is a good thing that its flagship products can be recognized by its big brother Toyota. Such a thing can also improve its brand image. It is no longer a matter of domestic cars to establish their own world. Just talking.

For us consumers, the cooperation between Guangfeng and GAC can provide each other with technology and experience that it does not have, which is very good news for the technological improvement of automotive products.

So, what does it mean if a Toyota carries the GAC logo?

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.