Modern Yuxiang - a new weapon that is strong when it is strong

In fact, as early as 2004, when the new generation Sonata was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show, we were wondering when Beijing Hyundai would bring it to China. This is not only because it is a replacement for the existing domestic Sonata, but also because it is a re-engineered work that has been redesigned from the inside out. It is very different from the existing Sonata, so we are looking forward to it. Of course, some official pictures and limited text introduction can not satisfy our desire.

Fortunately, Beijing Hyundai is very fast. A year later, this much-anticipated new car rolled off the production line of Beijing Hyundai. On the night I arrived in Beijing for the test drive, I couldn't wait to chat with the Hyundai staff, the friendly Korean man told me with a smile: "It's no longer called Sonata, but has a brand new Chinese name."

Meaning behind the name

"Yuxiang" is a very beautiful word in Chinese: viewed separately, "Yu" has a noble royal demeanor, and it also implies that it is from the capital, " "Xiang" represents the meaning of spreading wings and flying high; the combination of the two means controlling and flying. The metaphor of Beijing Hyundai is very clear. It not only hopes to show the noble status of this car, but also expects this car to bring the feeling of flying to the driver and passengers. The Korean also told me that although Beijing Hyundai introduced NF into the country under the name of Sonata, the existing Sonata will continue to be produced, while Yuxiang is defined as a mid-level luxury sedan higher than Sonata, so Beijing Hyundai has high hopes for this car.

We also learned from Beijing Hyundai's information that Yuxiang's target customer group will be social elites and business customers with a monthly income of more than 10,000 yuan. It seems that Beijing Hyundai's "ambition" this time is not small. Accord , Mazda 6 and other mainstream mid-level luxury cars will be its challenges.

The style is gradually approaching Europe

Although I have an impression of the overall appearance of the NF Yuxiang from the pictures, the new car in front of me still surprised me. Compared with Sonata, Yuxiang's appearance breaks through the mediocrity of traditional Korean mid-size sedans. The tough front and rear light groups and the atmospheric roof arc make Yuxiang have the compact feeling of European cars. However, after scrutinizing it in detail, the design of some parts of Yuxiang reminded me of some cars of the same class. It can be seen that the traces of imitation in the design of Korean cars are still heavy, but the overall effect has become more brilliant, and the photographers in the same class even think that Yuxiang is very good to shoot, because from many angles, the body posture is very beautiful.

Compared with changes in appearance, the improvement of interior quality is more likely to resonate with people. Yuxiang's center console design is quite satisfactory. Although there are some fresh elements, it still fails to get rid of the stability and conservativeness of Korean cars. But think about it from another angle, too avant-garde design is not suitable for the taste of this consumer group, not to mention the material and workmanship of Yuxiang's interior have improved significantly, which is not inferior to European and Japanese rivals at the same level. This is where mid-size car buyers are more concerned.

The bright light yellow leather and the deep deep sea blue center console match the interior of the cabin, which is elegant and simple. The large imitation peach wood trim that Korean cars of this class liked to use in the past are gone, and the imitation carbon fiber trim is used instead. Feeling old-fashioned and much younger. The front and rear seating space is quite reasonable, the seats are well wrapped, and the softness and hardness of the seats are moderate. The only thing I am not satisfied with in the cabin is its steering wheel, which is too thin to provide a full grip, and its leather material feels more like plastic and looks cheap.

Mechanical progress is obvious

Anyone who has sat in the old Sonata will feel this way - except soft, soft, soft seat, soft suspension. But driving Yuxiang on the road, the previous soft feeling was swept away. The change of the Yuxiang suspension system is what I have experienced the most. Its absorption of vibration is no longer as simple as "soft treatment" as before, but has become more tenacious and high-quality.

Whether it is a fine vibration or a strong impact, the suspension can handle it calmly, the action is fast and clean, and the comfort level has reached an excellent level. During the test drive, there was a rough cobble road similar to a cobblestone road. We drove the Yuxiang repeatedly across the road at a relatively fast speed. The suspension handling the vibration was still orderly, and the overall rigidity was maintained very well. loose" feeling. We were amazed by this kind of off-set effort, and it also made us look forward to its detour performance.

However, in the middle of the corner, Yuxiang's weakness in handling was exposed. Although its frame is rigid enough, the front double A-arm and rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bars have also reached a high level, and the 215/60 R16 Michelin tires have a good grip, but the vague direction points but exposed the problem. Although the steering of the Yuxiang has a good sense of the road, the direction in the corner is seriously lacking in precision and the response is slow, which reduces the feeling of the Yuxiang's cornering limit and also makes the driver lack confidence. After successfully addressing the chassis and suspension issues, perhaps the next target for Hyundai's engineers is these aspects of handling feel.

Light and smooth power

There are two types of power configuration - 2.4L and 2.0L, and the 2.4L version will be launched in advance. This 4-cylinder engine belongs to the third-generation "Theta" engine series newly developed by Hyundai Motor and is equipped with a CVVT continuously variable valve timing system. The strength of the accelerator pedal is very light, but it has a delicate response. It is cruising at a speed of about 110km/h on the highway. At this time, as long as the accelerator pedal is lightly pressed, a relatively obvious acceleration push back feeling can still be obtained. It's just that the noise of the engine is a little too loud at this time, which disturbs the passengers in the compartment.

The good mid-way acceleration ability also comes from the 5-speed manual gearbox equipped by Yuxiang, which not only shifts smoothly, but also responds quickly to the instructions issued by the driver, but it can still feel when shifting. Very slight shock. In manual mode, the gearbox is more obedient to the driver's command, but when the speed is too high, the computer will still issue a forced shift command for the protection of the gearbox.

In contrast, the 5-speed manual gearbox equipped with Yuxiang is more popular with us. Not only does it have a short travel, but the gears are also very clear and feel good in the hand. The reverse gear is set at the upper left and has a protection device. The locking ring must be lifted up to be engaged to prevent shifting the wrong gear during driving. However, its gear ratio setting makes people a little dissatisfied: the 1st and 2nd gear teeth are relatively tight, I believe this is due to the need for more power to increase the speed; however, after the 3rd gear is engaged, the power output is significantly reduced by a step , the connection with the 2nd gear is not smooth enough, and the gap is large, which affects the smoothness of driving to a certain extent.

The configuration is the best in its class The rich configuration is the traditional advantage of Korean cars, and Yuxiang has carried it forward: not only the DVD satellite navigation touch screen, the dual-zone automatic thermostatic air conditioner, the steering wheel Audio control buttons, negative ion air purification system, these "leapfrog" equipment, and some more thoughtful designs, such as the height of the accelerator and brake pedal can be electrically adjusted, this is definitely an attractive design for people with short stature ; There is also a warm voice prompt system. When the car is ignited, a gentle female voice rings in my ears: "I wish you a pleasant journey" and I feel very considerate. But don't underestimate such details. Whenever the speed increases over 110km/h, she will gently remind you that "you are overspeeding". At this time, we will willingly reduce the speed, after all, it is for the sake of our own safety!

When it comes to safety gear, Yuxiang is no slouch either. Front and side dual airbags and side curtain airbags are standard equipment, and ABS+EBD is also a regular configuration. In addition, the ESP electronic stability program is installed to improve the level of active safety protection. In the trunk of Yuxiang, an escape handle is also equipped to prevent the accident of children being locked in the trunk. In fact, this is only a North American requirement for vehicle safety. The possibility of such an accident in China is also very small, and the probability of use should be very low.

Strive for the mid-level powers

In the mid-level luxury car market where there are strong players like forests, the strength of all competitors is on par, and the competition is particularly fierce. If you want to gain a foothold in this camp, you must It is necessary to show the ability to not lose to any opponent. Overall, Yuxiang's progress is very obvious, especially the concise and compact overall image and high-quality finishing skills are unprecedented for Korean cars, and this is the source of confidence for Beijing Hyundai to make a high-profile attack on the mid-level market.

Our conclusion is that the Yuxiang has been completely transformed from the current Sonata, but the lack of handling performance makes it still a certain distance from its competitors in Europe, America and Japan. Of course, this gap is not out of reach, and Yuxiang's advantage in configuration can save a lot of lost points. Therefore, in front of the mainstream intermediate powers, Yuxiang already has the strength to compete with them, but before the price is announced, it seems a little too early to draw such a conclusion. However, according to the consistent style of Korean cars with high quality and low price Look, Yuxiang is still worth looking forward to.