Intelligent upgrade, test drive 2024 FAW-Volkswagen Maiteng

In the era of fuel vehicles, Maiteng is definitely the "leader" in B-class cars. But with the impact of new energy, it has brought a lot of pressure to Maiteng. And just last week, FAW-Volkswagen finally brought us a new generation of Maiteng. The new car has not only been upgraded in terms of appearance and interior design, but also made great efforts in intelligence. It adopts a new electrical architecture, is equipped with a smart cockpit based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, and adds a passenger entertainment screen. At the same time, it is also equipped with the L2 + level IQ. Pilot intelligent driver assistance system, with 0-130km/h full-speed autonomous driving technology.

Appearance: Inheriting classics, details are innovative

The new generation of Maiteng retains the classic atmospheric style of its "predecessors" in appearance. Even if it is some distance away from the car, it can still be recognized as a Maiteng according to the approximate outline. In addition, the front of the car is joined for the first time with a through light group, and the illuminated LOGO also makes it more recognizable. The design of the side of the car inherits the classic, and the design of the parallel waist line gives it more layers.

In the rear part of the car, the new generation of Maiteng has done a head-to-tail echo treatment, and the addition of through taillights makes it more delicate. In addition, the new car also has a slightly upturned tail shape above the tail, which also enhances the sense of movement of the whole car.

In terms of details, the new generation of Maiteng headlights use IQ. Light matrix headlights, which are not only brighter, but also look very vivid. There is also a naked radar under the front of the car to further demonstrate its technological attributes. The logo on the rear of the vehicle also supports lighting, which has a higher degree of recognition. In terms of tires, the evaluation car is equipped with Goodyear EAGLE F1 series tires, which have the characteristics of long service life, good drainage and wear resistance. The tire specification is 245/40 R19.

Interior: simple and stylish, full of technological sense

The new generation of Maiteng adopts a more simple and fashionable design in the interior, and joins the passenger entertainment screen for the first time. At the same time, the position of the gear shifting mechanism has also been changed. The previous traditional layout has been replaced by an electronic pocket gear, which not only makes it more convenient to switch gears, but also leaves more storage space in the car. The HUD head-up display can display information such as vehicle speed, traffic signs and navigation to enhance the driving experience.

The review car is equipped with a 15-inch 2K central control screen and a built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, which gives the car powerful computing power and smooth actual operation. And under the center console, the new generation of Maiteng is also equipped with a wireless charging panel for mobile phones and a heat dissipation port, which has better practicality. In addition, the review car is also equipped with 15 Harman/Kardon Harman card speakers, and the central control screen can also adjust bass, treble and other sound effects, so that it can bring an immersive auditory feast at any time.

In terms of comfort configuration, the evaluation car is equipped with a panoramic sunroof that can be opened. Both the main and passenger seats support 12-way electric adjustment. And the evaluation car is also equipped with front/rear seat heating, which improves the comfort in the car. Although the air conditioner panel is screen touch, the driver in the car can adjust the air conditioner temperature and air volume functions through the voice assistant "Hello Volkswagen" to improve driving safety.

Power: better performance, lower fuel consumption

The review car uses a 2.0T turbocharged engine, which is matched with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This powertrain has been used for a long time on previous older models, so the quality is relatively reliable. And this time FAW-Volkswagen also added a variable valve lift system to this powertrain, which can ensure smooth intake and improve power performance under different working conditions.

The evaluation car offers four driving modes: economy, comfort, sports and personalization. Among them, the economy mode will start slightly slower, while the comfort mode is moderate, and the acceleration in the middle and rear stages also has a good performance. In the sports mode, the speed response of the whole vehicle is very positive, and if you press the accelerator pedal deeply, it will burst into a strong power. Especially at the start, if you press the accelerator pedal deeply, the evaluation car will even have the sound of ringing tires, and the sound of the engine will also be transmitted into the car, further increasing the driving pleasure. And these are characteristics that new energy vehicles cannot match.

In terms of braking, the adjustment of the brake pedal of the evaluation car should be softer, and there will be some empty positions when you step on it, but with a little contact, you can grasp its braking characteristics. The linear braking output can ensure the comfort of the passengers in the car at any time. In the sports mode, although the braking force comes faster, there is no abrupt feeling, and everything is just right rhythm, which can bring people a pleasant driving experience.

The new generation of Maiteng adopts the combination of front McPherson independent suspension + rear multi-link independent suspension, which can handle the vibration caused by bumpy road very well. And FAW-Volkswagen has also made exclusive adjustments for it, so that the driver in the car can get a more comfortable driving experience. However, when continuously passing through the speed bumps, the vibration feedback is more obvious. It is worth mentioning that the roll suppression of the vehicle is significantly improved compared with the old model when cutting and turning at high speed. In terms of NVH, the tire noise and wind noise of the whole vehicle are within an acceptable range, even if it is cruising at a speed of 120km/h, there will not be too much noise into the car.

Space: Diverse layout, comfortable ride

In terms of space experience, after the 175cm-tall experiencer enters the car and adjusts the seat, the front row of the head space is about two punches away, and the space performance is relatively generous. Keeping the front row still, the experiencer comes to the back row, the head space is about one punch, the leg space is about half an arm, and the overall riding space performance of the back row is better.

In terms of storage space, the review car has 14 storage spaces and 4 cup holders, but the rear cup holders are not equipped with limiters. The wireless charging panel of the front mobile phone is located under the center console and is equipped with a heat dissipation port, which is very convenient to hold and put the mobile phone. The internal volume of the front armrest box is reasonable, so it is not a problem to place daily items.

The trunk of the evaluation car is very flat, and it is also expanded to both sides to ensure the placement of daily items. However, the trunk is not equipped with anchor points, 12V power supply, etc., which is a slight pity. It is worth mentioning that the evaluation car is equipped with a non-full-size spare tire. At a time when the new car has abandoned the spare tire and only comes standard with tire repair fluid, it is not bad to provide a spare tire option opportunity.

Security: Rich configuration and high coverage

In terms of safety configuration, the evaluation car is equipped with a relatively complete range of safety features, such as active braking/active safety system, DOW door opening warning, front side airbags, etc. In addition, the 360-degree panoramic image display of the evaluation car is very clear, and it also supports multi-angle viewing, which is convenient for drivers to anticipate the surrounding road conditions in advance.

Summarize:

Through this test drive, it can be seen that the new generation of FAW-Volkswagen Maiteng has indeed undergone many changes. While moving towards a younger age, it has also upgraded its intelligent configuration. Even compared with the current mainstream new energy models, the new generation of Maiteng can be said to be at a disadvantage in terms of intelligence. Upgrades in comfort configuration and safety configuration may help it regain its position as the "leader" of B-class cars.