Test drive the second-generation Trumpchi GS4, subverting your impression of independent brands

As the fastest SUV model of its own brand to reach 1 million sales, Trumpchi GS4 finally ushered in a new generation at the end of 2019.

The second-generation Trumpchi GS4 was officially launched at Canton Tower with a guide price of 89,800 to 151,800.

From January to February 2020, Trumpchi GS4 sold more than 18,400 units, returning to the top ten in SUV sales rankings.

Trumpchi GS4 is a strategic model of GAC Passenger Cars. As the latest masterpiece, the second-generation Trumpchi GS4 is also the absolute main promotion model.

GAC’s GPMA platform architecture has innovated product design, quality, and performance, improving product power. The service evolution guided by the e-Time action plan has enhanced brand power.

Wonderful copywriting and gorgeous rhetoric are not as practical as driving a lap directly. Recently, we got a test drive of Trumpchi GS4. This is a black top-end version priced at 151,800 yuan.

Due to the good impressions brought by the pre-launch press conference and the display car at the Guangzhou Auto Show, we used more stringent standards to examine this car during the four-day test drive.

1. GAC Trumpchi’s real competitors

As a latecomer to independent brands, we once compared Trumpchi GS4 with Haval H6, Roewe RX5, Geely Boyue and BYD Song Pro , compare on price and configuration.

In fact, GAC Passenger Cars has always been committed to creating high-quality products. Its product positioning, especially product quality and workmanship, is no longer the independent brand that everyone remembers.

GAC Trumpchi has reached the competitive range of the joint venture Dongfeng Venucia and Volkswagen Jetta, and even some joint venture brands. Its direct competitors are independent high-end brands such as Geely Lynk & Co and Great Wall WEY.

Whether it is the world-renowned parts supply system or product design and quality that surpasses the past, we were surprised to find that GAC Passenger Cars is constantly improving both in terms of automobile manufacturing technology and automobile quality. Efforts and breakthroughs.

2. Quality inspection and functional experience

During the nearly four days of test drive experience, there were highways on the way to work, congestion on weekend outings, spring rain, and sunshine. Sunshine.

If we talk about the exterior design of Light and Shadow Sculpture 3.0, because the family style has many similarities with the first-generation GS4, the changes in the interior are subversive, and we can even see the luxury of Mercedes-Benz.

A self-owned brand model often has some details that cannot withstand scrutiny.

This time, whether it is the engine cover, fenders, or trunk lid, the performance of Trumpchi GS4's gaps and gaps is unexpectedly perfect, and even the spray-finished edges of the four door panels are perfect. .

The cockpit has two 12.3-inch large digital screens for instruments and central control. The visual effect is very stunning. Behind it is GAC’s independent and unified interface and content. All controls are concentrated on the large central control screen.

The center console retains a row of physical buttons for air conditioning control, which is simply a replica of Mercedes-Benz.

With an ultra-wide space of 1570mm, all rear seats can be folded down to achieve a flat rear space of 1560L. Coupled with Aisin’s 1.32-meter canopy-style panoramic sunroof, it creates a comfortable mobile space.

When traveling, it can be a children's paradise, a mobile tent, and can even be used as a bedroom when necessary.

We daily drive the beggar version of the joint venture model with the same price. The GS4’s automatic headlights, automatic wipers, welcome function, sensor key and 26 practical storage spaces bring a completely different high level. Quality car experience.

The luxurious design of the entire interior is a leapfrog upgrade compared to the first-generation Trumpchi GS4. It is also on par with competing products of the same level as Lynk & Co and WEY, and is even ahead of joint venture models such as RAV4. and Tiguan.

The second-generation Trumpchi GS4 is the world’s first model to be equipped with the WeChat in-car version. Press the WeChat button on the left side of the steering wheel and then scan WeChat on your phone to log in to the WeChat in-car version.

When using it, you only need to press the WeChat button on the steering wheel to perform operations such as broadcasting WeChat reports and sending WeChat voice messages. Even when driving at high speed, the voice sent is still very clear and without any noise.

It is true that a strict eye will inevitably find some shortcomings, such as a seat heating function but no more practical seat ventilation function.

For example, from the perspective of the driver's seat, the left part of the physical air-conditioning control button will be blocked by the steering wheel, which causes some inconvenience in operation.

Although there are only some minor shortcomings, I hope that these shortcomings can be solved through subsequent optimization in the future.

3. Driving control experience

The driving modes include ECO, Normal and Sport. The ECO mode is switched by pressing the button, and the sport mode is achieved by shifting to S gear. .

Sports mode brings a refreshing driving pleasure, and can quickly increase speed at 120km/h. I'm just used to Toyota's quiet engines, but the engine noise in sport mode is relatively loud.

The NVH performance of the entire vehicle is good, the noise filtering effect in the interior space of the vehicle is good, and there is no direct feedback that is too hard when passing speed bumps.

Even at a speed of 120km/h, tire noise is still well isolated, but the noise from the engine still has room for improvement.

The Normal mode, which combines energy consumption and performance, is sufficient for daily use. When running at a speed of 120km/h, the feeling of pushing on the back is still there.

We also like the design of the aerospace pull-rod gear handle. When your hands are tired of holding the steering wheel, your right hand can get real support through the gear handle and armrest box. The scroll wheel volume button design is also very convenient and practical.

The steering wheel is very light when turning. It is more intuitive to describe it as "silky" like in chocolate advertisements. We were worried that the vehicle would not be stable when driving at high speeds, but in fact the steering wheel is as stable as rock.

The slight lack of control is still a common problem of fuel vehicles. The power is slightly insufficient at the moment of starting. Especially when we recently tested a pure electric vehicle, there was a very direct comparison.

Soon the GS4PHEV plug-in hybrid version will also be launched, and electrification technology will enhance the acceleration experience in the initial stage. If a four-wheel drive version can be launched, the power performance will be even more perfect.

The fuel consumption of fuel vehicles seems to be getting less and less attention. The second-generation Trumpchi GS4 has a comprehensive fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km. Our car has run 6,900 kilometers, and the fuel consumption is 7.4L/100km. 100km.

Trumpchi’s third-generation 1.5TGDI turbocharged engine, coupled with Aisin’s world-famous 6AT automated manual transmission, achieves a balanced control experience, power performance and energy consumption.

4. Automatic driving assistance system experience

If new models in 2020 are not equipped with L2 automatic driving assistance systems, they will be too behind.

On the Guangzhou Ring Expressway with a speed limit of 120km/h, the traffic flow is sometimes heavy and sometimes small. The ACC full-speed adaptive cruise and lane keeping assist systems can liberate your feet very well.

By setting the speed and distance from the vehicle in front through the steering wheel, the vehicle can achieve quasi-autonomous driving on the highway.

There was almost a collision at high speed when a Changan SUV in the right lane suddenly cut across.

Before we were about to hit each other, the GS4's forward collision warning system FCW was activated and prompted a collision warning through sound and dashboard images. I braked urgently and the other party ran back to the original lane, thus avoiding an accident.

The experience of the ADiGO autonomous driving assistance system is as satisfying as ever, and it will be even more perfect if the details are optimized.

For example, when the automatic driving assistance system is turned on, I don’t know where to put my feet.

Since the brake and throttle positions of the GS4 are relatively high, if your feet are on the floor, it will take time to react in an emergency that requires taking over.

The lane keeping assist system LKA can provide reverse resistance to the steering wheel when you forget to turn on the turn signal, or there is a sudden traffic jam and you need to make an emergency lane change. When there is no time to turn on the turn signal, the system brings reverse resistance to the steering wheel. Comparative experience unexpected.

This lane keeping assist function can only be turned on and off by entering the central control screen and finding a secondary page, which is a bit inconvenient.

I remember that on the center console of the new second-generation Trumpchi GS5, there is a touch button that can turn on and off the automatic driving assistance system. I think the GS4 can learn from it to make the control more user-friendly.

As for the AEB active braking assist system, there is no chance to activate this time. Even if we are as close as possible to the car in front, the system should sense that the driver is already braking.

Because we previously drove a Toyota car, even if there was only a reversing image and no reversing radar, as long as the reverse gear was engaged, the vehicle would continue to emit a reversing beep. This is not the case with the GS4. We hope it can be implemented through OTA upgrades.

In terms of reversing operation, if you have never used panoramic reversing, you still need to get used to it.

In an underground garage with limited light, if there are cars parked in both the left and right parking spaces, the car in the image will be pulled very high, making people feel dizzy. However, this problem can be solved through OTA upgrade.

5. Summary of test drive experience

Since it is a test drive, the driver’s experience of the ADiGO smart driving interconnected ecosystem such as Super ID, Trumpchi APP, and Smart Trumpchi T-BOX Not much, but the intelligent network connection and OTA upgrade functions are very exciting.

The appearance of the second-generation Trumpchi GS4 inherits the design essence of the Trumpchi family, but the impact of interior changes is more severe, and the improvement in workmanship details is very significant.

The luxury car-style design and complete automatic driving assistance system were what we expected, but the perfect quality control and enjoyable driving experience were beyond our expectations.

GAC Trumpchi always puts quality and service first. The second-generation Trumpchi GS4 has excellent quality, luxurious design and rich configurations. It is definitely worthy of the title of "successor" of a star model. .

Many times, buying a car is an emotional matter. In the face of facts, we hope that our rigorous test drive can give you a new perspective on car purchasing choices.

Is the second-generation Trumpchi GS4 worth buying? The answer is obvious.

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