【Car Buying Experience】I have been following the Tank 400 and 500 since they were launched. I think they are invincible in the entire off-road vehicle world, and there is a reason for saying this. Previously, I gave up on the Tank and chose a JK Wrangler. I liked the Wrangler's dominance, but after driving it, I found it wasn't my ideal off-road vehicle. It just had a good look, and I really couldn't experience the fun of driving it, so I sold it after half a year. I had a baby last year, and this year I got the idea of buying an off-road vehicle again, wanting to take the child out more. I didn't consider other cars, only looked at the 400 and 500. I think the 400's appearance is very good, but I compromised considering the family's riding comfort. After a month of price comparison, I thought the price was very reasonable, so I didn't wait and果断 bought it. The earlier you buy, the earlier you enjoy.
【Driving Experience】I picked up the car on April 29th, and as of today, I've driven less than 5,000 kilometers. I think I can make a relatively objective evaluation. First of all, in terms of power, I am very satisfied. The 2.0T with electric motor assistance feels very light, with quick acceleration. It doesn't feel like driving a 2.8-ton car at all—steady as a mountain when stationary and agile as a hare when moving. Because I drive more aggressively, I have to be the first to rush out when the light turns green. This power is more than enough on the highway, which is very satisfying.
If the steering feel is scored out of 10, I would give 9 points. The reason it's not full marks is that when turning at low idle speed, the steering wheel feels a bit hard to turn; you have to turn hard or increase speed. Other than that, it's very good: light in the city and stable at high speeds, much better than those million-level "bull-head" off-road vehicles.
When this powertrain is out of electricity, there will be顿挫 between the second and third gears. Sometimes pressing the accelerator doesn't make it move, and pressing again makes it jerk forward. It requires a bit of skill with the accelerator pedal. I don't mind this though. I'm used to driving German cars, and I charge it every day, trying to keep it in a charged state when driving.
Let's talk about energy consumption. First, the driving conditions: I drive a fixed 80 kilometers every day, occasionally take three people out for a trip. The air conditioning and ventilation are always on. There's always fuel in the tank, and I charge it when it's out of electricity. When driving long distances, I use up the electricity and then rely on fuel; I don't charge deliberately. Currently, I've driven over 4,500 kilometers, with a fuel mileage of about 2,500 kilometers. Electricity and fuel each account for about half. The comprehensive fuel consumption is 7.0L/100km, and when the battery is depleted, the fuel consumption on urban and rural roads is about 10.0L/100km. I rarely drive in the city and rarely use pure electric mode. I feel a bit of power不足, but mostly use hybrid mode. I refuel once a week on average, for reference.
I can't just say I'm satisfied with this fuel consumption; I'm extremely satisfied, giving 100 points plus 10 more. For such a big car, I don't think it's necessary to be both powerful and fuel-efficient, not to mention it's not picky about fuel. The fuel price here is 6.5 yuan/L, and the off-peak electricity price at night is 0.3 yuan. I used to drive a GTI with an average fuel consumption of 10L/100km, which worked out to about one yuan per kilometer. This car is really much more fuel-efficient in comparison.
Overall vehicle feel: The chassis is well-tuned and solid, with good rebound performance over potholes and speed bumps. There is some body roll when cornering, but I can accept it; after all, it can't be compared with a sedan. The high ground clearance is my favorite part. I used to have to be very careful driving a hot hatch, afraid of potholes, stones, steps, and even couldn't get on curbs. But driving this car gives me the feeling of riding a horse galloping on the grassland—fearless, driving over potholes and onto high curbs. The sound insulation and quietness are among the best in all off-road vehicles, no exaggeration. I haven't driven many luxury cars, but compared to the A8, it's not inferior. A tall car usually means high wind noise, but the double-layer laminated glass of this car solves the problem: opening the windows is like being in a busy city, closing them is like in a quiet night. The sound system is average. Since I like listening to music, I did three-layer sound insulation on the four doors, added a high-power DSP amplifier to drive these 12 speakers, and now the sound is very clear and not dull.
I'm also satisfied with the infotainment system and assisted driving. I think new energy vehicles should focus on convenience, practicality, and simplicity. I haven't driven other new energy vehicles, but for this car, the infotainment system is passable. I mainly listen to music and watch TV, so I don't have high requirements for it. The assisted driving is very practical. After turning on intelligent cruise on the highway, it centers the lane and automatically follows the car. You just need to hold the steering wheel, which saves a lot of effort. I won't go into more details here.
One thing I want to complain about: sometimes when I get in the car a few minutes after turning off the engine, adaptive cruise occasionally can't be activated. I need to stop, turn off the engine, open the door and then close it to resume normal use. If this happens on the highway, it will waste a lot of time. I don't know what logic this is; the specific reason needs to be checked later.
The rate of回头率 is really high. I've been to the super charging station about ten times, and half the time, someone comes up to look at the car and ask how it drives, if it's fuel-efficient, and how many kilometers it can run. If someone likes this car, I will recommend it without hesitation.
【Most Dissatisfied】Summarize a few unsatisfactory points: 1. The steering wheel is a bit small and thin, with a poor grip. I hope it can reference the design of American cars. Also, the position is relatively low; even when adjusted to the highest, it still hits my legs. 2. Adaptive cruise and intelligent cruise sometimes can't be activated, hoping for improvement. 3. What I can't accept most is that the headlight brightness is insufficient, almost like being blind. I have currently added a pair of黄金眼 fog lights, and the low beam is barely acceptable. I plan to modify a pair of lenses in autumn.
The space is more than enough for me. Even with three people in the back row, it's very spacious. Usually, only my wife and child sit in the back. Some people think the trunk is small, but I don't think so. One should be content and happy. Every car has shortcomings; there is no perfect car, but why not look at the advantages more? The sea is vast because it accepts all rivers! At least in my opinion, I can completely accept the shortcomings of this car. The quality will be seen in the future; we'll cross the bridge when we come to it!
This is the second domestic car my family has bought in more than ten years. I bought a Haval H2 in 2007, which was a very good car and left a deep impression. The manual Corolla bought in 2009 has been driven until now and I'm reluctant to sell it; it has run 300,000 kilometers. The C7 A6 bought in 2012 has run 360,000 kilometers without any problems. Adding other cars, the total mileage is nearly one million kilometers, and they all deserve a rest.
Support domestic products! The Great Wall never falls, and domestic products should strive for self-improvement! Let domestic cars take me all over the streets and alleys of China!
