Experts test drive FAW-Volkswagen Magotan &; GAC Toyota Camry

When it comes to mid-level cars in China auto market, FAW-Volkswagen Magotan, which represents German, and GAC Toyota Camry, which represents Japanese, are absolutely two very representative players, and their sales are among the best in the mid-level car market. Although we won't fight each other because of different personalities, it's still important to make moves.

It is easy to see the difference between the two from the appearance, but it seems that the word "difference" cannot accurately describe the difference between the two, and it may be more appropriate to use "different styles". Magotan in a formal suit is full of straight lines, which gives people the same feeling even when you get into the car. In the eyes of Germans, this is what a medium-sized car should look like. If you are still as steady as a little boy in your thirties, the Germans will definitely not accept it. Interestingly, Camry happened to be the teenager who sang "I'm still that teenager, and I haven't changed at all". The sporty design is more like a performance car. Perhaps in the subconscious of orientals, people always wear red and green to look young after middle age, no matter how they actually behave, at least they still look young.

More straight lines make Camry look bigger than Camry, but the fact is that Camry is wider, longer and shorter than Camry, which is in line with Toyota's desire to make Camry younger. This body proportion also makes it look more sporty, and the movement is also reflected in the design of aerodynamic deflector under the car. Of course, as a medium-sized car, Toyota has not forgotten to give it a sense of luxury, at least in some ways, it is easy to think of Lexus.

Also endowed with a sense of luxury is Magotan, which just completed the mid-term change at the end of last year. The redesigned Magotan has injected new family elements and looks more refined and luxurious. For example, the letter logo "Magotan" under the Volkswagen logo at the rear of the car is easily reminiscent of the once flagship model Phaeton. The calm style makes Magotan stand in sharp contrast with the younger Camry, which makes people involuntarily divide it into two completely different camps: Magotan has a stronger business color, while Camry is more focused on home use.

When you open the car door, you will find that the height of their car conforms to the two camps divided above. Sitting in the driver's seat of Camry, a curve from left to right on the center console becomes the visual center. This design style also reminds people of Lexus for the first time. Soft design can give people a warm feeling, so does the family car. The 9-inch multimedia display and 7-inch TFT LCD display in the middle of the dashboard create a sense of science and technology necessary for modern home life. Short bars are no longer as old-fashioned as the previous generation, and functional configurations such as head-up display and wireless charging are also available.

Entering the driver's seat of Magotan, a strong industrial wind blows against my face. Simple creases are outlined in a straight line, and similar designs fill the entire cockpit, giving people a strong sense of security and admiring the exquisite design and manufacturing technology of the Germans. If it is used as a family car, it may be a little cold. If it's for business, it will be much more suitable.

Although Camry has more advantages in body circumference, the wheelbase of Magotan is nearly 50 mm longer than that of Camry, and the length of wheelbase determines the leg space of rear passengers. Entering the back of Magotan, in addition to the absolute advantage of leg space, the higher body makes the rear passengers have more ample head space, which also makes the tilt angle of the back of the second row of seats in Magotan smaller, and the upright sitting posture is more in line with business travel needs. In contrast, Camry's slightly tilted sitting posture is more like "paralysis" on the sofa at home, comfortable and cozy.

In sharp contrast to the appearance, it is their dynamic performance. Camry has always had three power configurations to choose from, namely 178 HP 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine with CVT continuously variable transmission, 178 HP 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle naturally aspirated engine with E-CVT transmission, and 209 HP 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with 8-speed automatic manual transmission. We test drive the most representative hybrid car.

Camry looks like a "pig eats tiger", but he doesn't know that under the appearance of youth movement, he is a family-oriented and economical man. Its 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine has a thermal efficiency as high as 465,438+0%. With the cooperation of E-CVT gearbox, the average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is only 4. 1 liter. Even a car with a 209 horsepower 2.5 liter naturally aspirated engine has only 6 liters per 100 kilometers. It can be said that any Camry can perfectly adapt to the cautious family life.

At present, this hybrid version of Camry is also in a state of no hurry. The power output is not direct, and the gearbox response is slightly slow. Do you think I'm talking about shortcomings? No, no, no, this personality has become its advantage in this economical man, because it can get linear power output and comfortable driving experience. Of course, its chassis is still very solid and stable, and it is very heavy. The front McPherson rear multi-link suspension smoothes the subtle vibration of the road very well, and can provide the driver with a sense of road while suppressing the vibration of the car body as much as possible when facing large vibration or bumps. Whether it is defined as home or business, this is a very obvious advantage, unless you are still the "former teenager".

The seemingly more commercialized Magotan seems to be more suitable for the "former teenager". After the mid-term change, Magotan still retains three power outputs, namely, 280TSI with 1.4 liter turbocharged engine, 330TSI with low-power version of 2.0 liter turbocharged engine and 380TSI with high-power version of 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The maximum power of the three engines ranges from 150 horsepower to 220 horsepower, which is matched with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Today, we just test-drive the top model-380 TSI DSG flagship.

Compared with the Camry around us, the power output of Magotan with 220 horsepower and 350 Nm is even a bit excessive for a mid-to high-level executive car. With the dual-clutch gearbox and DCC dynamic chassis control system specially designed for top-mounted models, this dress-up mid-size car adds sports performance that cannot be underestimated. More responsive, more stable steering, more suitable for mid-level car users who pursue driving quality. Some people may think that its suspension is hard, but in fact, its chassis feedback has softened a lot compared with the previous generation. Maintaining enough toughness for the chassis may be the last bottom line for the Germans.

Today, with the convergence of various products, it is nice to see that these two models of the same class still retain their distinctive personality characteristics. Although Magotan has made many adjustments to the China market, its precise control and excellent power are still full of German flavor. As a representative of Japanese cars, Camry makes drivers and passengers feel as warm as home with humanistic care. As said at the beginning, the unique skill of the two masters is not a tit-for-tat battle, because the differences in personality make them both winners in their respective worlds, but this brings a problem to consumers. Who would you choose?

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.