Would it be useless to travel in an MPV?

No car model is useless for self-driving travel, because there are many ways to travel, the planning of routes is different, and different routes require different cars.

You can use any car model for a self-driving trip, it all depends on your hobbies:

So different car models have different driving experiences, and no car model can be evaluated with a tasteless rating. The needs are just different.

The MPV is not only suitable for self-driving as a bed and truck for personal travel, but it is also an ideal choice for group travel of less than or equal to seven people. Most of the seven-seat MPVs have a 2+2+3 layout, and the body length is usually more than 5 meters. Although it has a front engine, its shape is close to that of a flat-top car, so most of the space is reserved for the passenger compartment.

MPVs with these obvious advantages are almost the most ideal car for road trips, especially for large families or groups; therefore, MPVs are also the most frequently borrowed car. MPV car owners should have a deep understanding of this. However, MPV is only suitable for road trips, because no matter how tall the MPV is, it is a car chassis. The technical term is a load-bearing body or a cage body.

The overall frame of this kind of body structure is the chassis, and the so-called chassis under the feet is just a layer of steel plate and reinforcement of cross and longitudinal beams. Other parts will also be reinforced because the strength needs to be ensured to carry the gearbox and engine. , steering gear, suspension, etc., all the weight is carried by the frame, so it is called a load-bearing body.

This kind of body structure is also used in cars and ordinary urban SUVs. The common feature of these cars is that they have no off-road capability, even if they have four-wheel drive; because the torsional stiffness of the frame is very low. , twisting and turning on rough roads can easily deform the vehicle body. The prototype of MPV is a station wagon, and the prototype of station wagon is a sedan, so this kind of car is only suitable for roads. If you want to travel outdoors, you must choose an off-road vehicle ORV with a non-load-bearing body, an independent chassis and beams. Currently, there is no such vehicle that can It is an off-road MPV, so the choice should be based on actual needs.

(The above article was written by Tianhe Auto and represents only my personal views; reprinting outside the site is prohibited, but reposting within the platform is welcome.)

I often drive my family on self-driving trips. MPV is definitely a self-driving artifact. The biggest feeling when a family travels by car together is to be happy. I feel that in addition to being comfortable driving myself, the most important thing is that my family is comfortable riding in it. I have driven through most provinces across the country with my family, driving many models of cars, SUVs, and MPVs. But to say that it is comfortable for me to drive, and it is this MPV that is comfortable for my family to ride in.

I use a Buick GL8 (Fat Head Fish 28T). It is easy to drive, comfortable to ride, large in space, and the Big Head Fish version has a higher chassis and good passability. If there are no special off-road requirements, it is suitable for long-distance self-driving. The GL8 is the most suitable for traveling, so I am more inclined to recommend this car. And now 7-seater cars also enjoy the 6-year inspection-free policy. In the first 10 years, they only need to be inspected online in the 6th and 8th years. GL8 has firmly occupied the top spot of joint venture MPVs for so many years. The sales volume of more than 10,000 units per month can speak for itself. The sales volume in March 2021 was 16,500 units. It is an absolutely powerful model. I think it will not go wrong to follow the sales volume. If you have enough budget, go for the Lu Zun version 653T or Ivia version. For those who are more affordable, choose the business class version 652T. The business class version also has welfare models.

Old model GL8: I have driven the classic 2.4, 2.4 and ES version of 28T before. Although GL8 is not perfect, there are many people who like it. I drove the classic 2.4 before, which had average workmanship, few configurations, poor power, and high fuel consumption, but it had plenty of space and a comfortable ride. I once drove a classic 2.4 with my family to Shaanxi for 10 days. It was very comfortable. The elderly and children at home liked it very much. The elderly sat in the second row and the children in the third row. After playing enough, they slept. The classic model was discontinued in early 2017, but it remains in large numbers. There are still many classic GL8s running on the streets. Friends who like GL8 are probably similar to me. They know that it has many shortcomings, such as fuel consumption, gearbox, etc. No one is perfect, and no car is perfect. We just want a large space so that the family can sit comfortably.

GL8 facelift: In the past, GL8s were mostly used for commercial use, but now many GL8s are bought for home use. Whether the current GL8 is the currently sold GL8 business class 652T, Lu Zun 653T, or the GL8 28T from the past two years , ES28T, regardless of power, fuel consumption, gearbox or configuration, has been greatly improved compared to the GL8 of previous years. The biggest feeling of driving this car is: large space, comfortable ride, and good driving experience. The whole family has fun traveling in the same car. I use the Fathead Fish version 28T, which is now called 652T. As for the luxury model, the price of the new 652T has increased by 6,000, from 252,900 to 258,900. The appearance changes of the new model are mainly reflected in the head and tail lights, but the overall changes are not big; the interior has become younger, and the central control LCD screen has also become suspended; the 260 horsepower of the 2.0T engine has been changed to the variable cylinder 237 horsepower, and the horsepower has dropped slightly, but The fuel consumption is more economical; the transmission is upgraded from 6AT to 9AT; keyless entry, steering wheel shifting, OTA upgrade, and LED headlights are also added.

Among all the upgrades of the 652T compared to the 28T, I think LED headlights are the most needed. The high beam of this car is okay, but the low beam is indeed not bright enough at night. Although it has improved a lot, compared with the configuration of domestic MPVs, GL8 still needs to continue to work hard.

This 2.0T car with a displacement of 28T is from 2019. It has not run much till now, only more than 20,000 kilometers. The furthest I ran was Qinghai Lake and Chaka, and I also ran in Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Bashang, Chengde, Hebei, and Beidaihe. I'll briefly talk about my experience using the car, and I'll forgive any shortcomings.

Appearance: Everyone has different tastes, so everyone has their own preferences for radish and greens.

Fuel consumption: The current comprehensive fuel consumption is 10.2, which is quite satisfactory. I have run more than 20,000 kilometers so far, and the lowest 4.4 was from Chaka to Xining, which is related to the fact that there are many downhill roads. Usually when you stop and go in the city, the fuel consumption is relatively high. In the city, the fuel consumption is basically 13-16, and when driving more gently, the fuel consumption is 12-14. On the highway, the fuel consumption is quite low at cruising speed of 100-110 km/h, 7.5-8 km/h, and the fuel consumption below 100 km/h is less than 7 km/h. For such a big car and so heavy, I think the combined fuel consumption of 10.2 is pretty good, which is much lower than the previous GL8. The combined fuel consumption is about the same as that of many urban SUVs.

Power: The power is quite sufficient, especially when overtaking at speed, it is very confident. This is completely different from the previous GL8. Turbocharging and 260 horsepower are not empty talk, they are there. Driving in urban areas, it feels almost like a car. If you press the accelerator deeper, there will be a little push on the back. The new 652 has a variable cylinder with 237 horsepower, which is about the same power and has slightly lower fuel consumption. Few people drive this car violently, it is just smooth, but the power reserve of this 2.0T engine is still good. The gearbox occasionally stutters, but it's not obvious.

Configuration: Compared with ES, 652T, and 653T, the luxury model’s configuration is not high, but it is basically sufficient, including automatic headlights, keyless start, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, ABS, EBD, and ESP. , uphill assist, side airbags, right-hand power door, sunroof, leather seats, reversing image, remote start, etc. The whole car has four USB interfaces, which are enough. It has not been modified much. It has added wooden floors, second-row small tables, third-row slide rails, welcome pedals, recorders, seat cushions, iPad holders, magnetic sunshades, etc. It is also practical and comfortable. There is no car TV installed, but there are two iPad holders, one on each side of the second row when going out, so that each can watch his or her own headphones without affecting each other. Children like the third row, mainly because they like to sleep in the third row (but also wear seat belts when sleeping, safety first). This car does not have leg rests. It is a pity that I bought inflatable leg rests. After inflating, they took up too much space. I used them once and then stopped using them. The air conditioner works very well in summer, and the water temperature comes up quickly in winter. This is a good review! The two-row small table is very convenient for eating when traveling. I ate instant noodles on the small table near Qinghai Lake. It can also be used as a study table when transporting children to tutoring classes, which is more practical.

Driving experience: The GL8 steering wheel is slightly larger, so you will get used to it. The multi-function steering wheel is very light and easy to use. The ground clearance of this car is higher than that of ES and 653T, which is similar to that of an SUV. The sight line and passability are acceptable. After all, it is an MPV. The length of this car is definitely not as easy to park as a sedan in urban areas, but it is the same if you get used to it. After all, large sedans and SUVs are also more than five meters long. Just pay attention when parking, there are reversing radar and reversing images. There is no 360 panorama installed, but it feels more convenient to have 360.

Central control: Except for the electronic touch screen in the middle, there are basically physical buttons. I prefer physical buttons. Once you are familiar with them, you basically don’t have to look down, and there is no problem in blind operation. Of course, most functions can also be solved by electronic touch screens, but they always feel not as direct as physical buttons.

Ride experience: I rarely have the opportunity to sit in the second row. The seats are comfortable and well supported. The chassis is thick and the ride is relatively quiet. The wind noise and road noise on the highway are acceptable. Overall, the family enjoys it. Very satisfied.

Space: Everyone is familiar with the space. It is spacious. The space in the front and rear of the second row is slightly smaller than that of the ES and 653T. The third-row slide rails are quite practical. The three-row slide rails are usually pushed to the end, and the legroom in the third row becomes very spacious. The height is also increased by a few centimeters, and the sitting posture is improved. When traveling long distances, you have to push forward and back a little. After all, safety is the most important thing, and you must maintain appropriate trunk space.

Storage: There is not much storage space. The central armrest box is very deep. I bought an armrest box storage box online, which is separated up and down, which is very practical. Among other water cup holders, the mobile phone slot is more user-friendly. I bought two mobile phone holders online. The trunk is spacious. When I went to Qinghai, I brought two storage boxes, three trolley cases, two trolley bags, three backpacks, plus water, a thermos and miscellaneous things. It was full, and the trunk was very powerful.

Shortcomings: There are still some shortcomings, mainly due to the low configuration. The halogen lights are dim, but the new 652T has improved the lights by replacing them with LED lights; the sound effect is average; the third row cannot be folded down proportionally; and the automatic start and stop is useless.

The farthest place I took my family to was Qinghai, covering a total distance of 5,000 kilometers, including Taiyuan, Yinchuan, Zhongwei, Lanzhou, Xining, Qinghai Lake, Chaka Salt Lake, Tianshui, Xi'an, Huangling, and Yan'an. With my wife, old people, and children, I didn’t have to rush much. I drove alone on the road. I took a rest when I was tired, had a good meal, rested well, and had fun. Overall, my family is very satisfied with this car.

In fact, as long as the family is together, no matter how they play or where they go, they will be comfortable and happy. This is enough!

Overall evaluation: This car is not only suitable for business use, but also very suitable for home use, and is more suitable for self-driving trips with the family. I wish all car owners a happy car ride, safety and happiness!

It is actually very convenient to buy an MPV. I have one. It is very good for pulling people and things, and it has a lot of space.

Is it worthless? In terms of ride comfort, MPV is definitely the first choice. It’s almost fun to drive.

It’s definitely not a good choice for off-roading, but it’s still very convenient for daily travel. It has a lot of space and plenty of seats, so you can bring your friends and family with you.

I am currently researching MPV roof-top RVs, and I can answer this question.

Choosing an MPV to travel instead of traveling directly in a B-type or C-type RV must be due to height restrictions, as well as the function of daily use and short-term camping. So at this time, a suitable MPV is very important.

The space of MPV models is guaranteed. At present, many domestic manufacturers have launched roof-top RVs based on MPV modifications. The height is 2 meters 1. They are also equipped with batteries, water tanks, and portable toilets. Some even can Transformed into a small bathroom, it has the basic functions of a B-type or C-type RV. So, if you are like me and want to try a simple RV life, short-term camping on weekends, and at the same time, you can enter the basement, take care of business, travel in the city, and are not afraid of height restrictions, I suggest you choose a roof-mounted MPV RV to ensure that you It won't feel useless when traveling. After returning, the car can be parked in the basement. The appearance is low-key and will not affect daily use. It kills two birds with one stone.

Below is the roof-top RV I plan to buy. For details, please see the content I posted before.

I hope my answer can help you.

Yes, you can’t carry much luggage with a full seat.

This is still not possible, but you have to look at the car. Some MPVs still support self-driving tours. . I have a client who often posts photos of him traveling in his Tourio on his WeChat Moments.

No, it depends on what you think!

1. This type of vehicle is suitable for multiple people. If there are only three people, it may be better to choose a car or SUV;

2. This type of vehicle is not suitable for off-roading. , so most of them are driven in the city or suburbs;

3. This kind of car is more convenient if you have a lot of items.