The "Heaven and Earth is the Journey" 2020 Mercedes-Benz SUV journey officially started on September 7, and just the night before (September 6), the new G?350 was completed in Dunhuang Released to market. Therefore, the new G?350 has become the most popular model in this year's "Heaven and Earth is a Journey" journey. Zhijiajun also conducted a 500km driving experience on this controversial new car.
Article丨AutoR Smart Driving? Zhang Xin
The route of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz SUV trip of "Heaven and Earth is the Journey" is from Dunhuang to Xining, and the entire trip is planned in *** 1888km, completed in 5 days.
The journey starts from Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, passing through Daqaidan, Shuiyadan, Kunlun Mountain Grand Canyon, Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai Lake, and finally ends in Qinghai Guide National Geopark.
This year’s fleet consists of the new GLA, GLB, long wheelbase GLC, GLC COUPE, GLE, GLS, EQC, Denza X and the new G?350, Mercedes-Benz’s SUV family Gathered together, the models cover all market segments of compact, medium-sized, medium-large and large SUVs, and the power forms also include the three mainstream categories of fuel, plug-in hybrid and pure electric.
A huge fleet of 79 Mercedes-Benz SUVs traveled nearly 2,000km. So far, it is the largest test drive event in 2020. It not only has the largest number of models, but also has the longest mileage. The fleet itself is a "living advertisement" traveling long distances, attracting great attention wherever it goes, which is very beneficial to boosting the post-epidemic auto market.
What makes Zhijiajun (ID: zhinengqiche) most excited is that in the 5-day trip, the longest section from Daqaidan to Golmud was completed with me by the new G?350. I had the opportunity to conduct an in-depth test drive of 500km on this new car that attracted the most attention among the fleet.
Before the launch of the new G?350, fans had many questions surrounding this new entry-level luxury off-road vehicle - will the 2.0T four-cylinder engine be as powerful as the G?500? Engine sound effects? Can the power of the 2.0T engine be used? Will the G?350 compromise on off-road performance?
The first question was answered the moment I started the engine - the 2.0T four-cylinder engine does not have the sound effect of a V8 engine, and the sound it makes is no different from other engines of the same level. In fact, this answer is expected by many people. After all, the structure of a four-cylinder engine is very different from a V8 engine. The rich sound effect like a yacht can only be possessed by V8 and above engines.
The answer to the second question was also quickly obtained. After the team set off from Dachaidan, it experienced regular urban road conditions and medium-level provincial and national highways. The 2.0T four-cylinder engine drove the equipment. The car body with a mass of more than 2.3 tons can be regarded as easy to handle. After all, its maximum torque of 370Nm is already a relatively high power level among 2.0T engines.
When you need to accelerate and overtake, the engine will respond well without pressing the accelerator pedal deeply. The entire acceleration process can also be described as light, and the engine does not sound laborious. Moreover, this is the performance when fully loaded with four adults and luggage.
Therefore, in urban driving scenarios, the vehicle speed is basically below 90km/h. The power performance of the new G?350 is excellent enough, and there will be no drag when overtaking. Even compared with the V6 naturally aspirated engine, it will not be inferior.
When the vehicle speed is in the range of 100-120km/h, the power output can also give people enough confidence, but at this time the engine speed will increase faster and the engine sound will become obviously louder. Only when the vehicle speed reaches more than 120km/h, the power reserve of the 2.0T engine will feel slightly insufficient. To accelerate again, you need to step on the accelerator deeply, and the increase in engine speed will also slow down.
However, it needs to be emphasized that the performance characteristics of the new G?350 in accelerating at high speeds are not only caused by the engine, but also have a lot to do with its body shape. The "square box" body has disadvantages in terms of aerodynamics. The low-pressure area behind the rear of the car at high speed will generate a lot of pulling force to "drag" the body. Therefore, even if it is equipped with a 2.0T engine, the new G?350 will bear much greater air resistance than those SUVs of the same level with smooth lines.
In addition, the area where Zhijiajun tested the car has an altitude of about 3,000m, and the air contains insufficient oxygen, which also has a certain impact on engine power. If you are driving in plain areas, the new G?350 will perform better.
However, the performance of the new G?350 in terms of fuel consumption is much better than that of the G?500 equipped with a V8 engine. Its comprehensive fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 10.7L, while Zhijiajun drives on the highway. The average fuel consumption is less than 10L, which can be regarded as a quite fuel-efficient "tough guy" model.
As for the third question, the new G?350 has completely inherited all the technologies of the G?500 in terms of off-road configuration, including a non-load-bearing body, three mechanical differential locks in the front, middle and rear, and no off-road low-speed gear. One is absent, so there is no loss of its off-road genes.
Even when fully loaded, the new G?350 has a maximum gradeability of 100, a maximum wading depth of 700mm and a ground clearance of 241mm. The approach angle, departure angle and maximum roll angle are respectively 31°, 29.8°, 35°.
In the Kunlun Mountain Grand Canyon, the factory specially arranged an off-road experience for the new G?350 to cross the canyon. The new G?350 drove down a narrow steep slope to the river bed in the canyon. The water depth did not exceed the axle. , but the vehicle is still on the ground.
Such off-road intensity is actually not difficult for a G-class car.
If there is any difference between the new G?350 and the G?500, it is that in extreme cases, the new G?350 may have difficulty passing because it is not as powerful as the G?500. However, the chances of such a scene happening are not high. Except for those senior off-road enthusiasts, most users will probably never encounter it.
In Zhijiajun’s opinion, the selling point of the new G?350 is not just its tough guy temperament and off-road performance. Once you sit in its cockpit, you will find that it is actually a car armed with technological configurations. .
Dual 12.3-inch displays, 64-color ambient lighting, 16-speaker Burmester sound system, Internet of Vehicles services and voice interaction are all configurations that a luxury car should have. Its front and rear seats can be heated, and the front seats also have ventilation and massage functions, which makes long-distance travel more comfortable.
What surprised Zhijiajun the most is the rear seat space of the new G?350. Compared with the previous generation model, the new car has been substantially improved. The softness and hardness of the seats are moderate, making it easy to ride for a long time. The optimization of the backrest lines of the front seats has increased the legroom in the rear seats. Even though I am 1.75m tall, I don't feel cramped sitting in the back seat.
In terms of intelligent driving control, the new G?350 comes standard with intelligent pilot distance limit function, blind spot assist, intelligent parking, preventive safety system, active braking assist, active lane keeping assist, etc. , reaching L2 level automatic driving assistance capabilities, which is basically the highest level currently available on the market, and is even more top-notch in the off-road vehicle camp. When driving long distances on the highway, drivers can also experience the same relaxed feeling as a smart car.
Currently, the new G?350 is attracting a lot of attention, but consumers have mixed opinions about it. The reason is mainly focused on the 2.0T four-cylinder engine. Some people have doubts about it and habitually believe that small-displacement engines are not enough to support the name of "Big G".
What Zhijiajun wants to emphasize is that the new G?350 is a new car that joins the big G family. It is "joined" as an entry-level model, not for " Replaces "G?500.
The value of the new G?350 is that it lowers the threshold of G-class cars to a certain extent and reduces the fuel consumption and emission indicators of G-class cars. It is for those who not only love the temperament of big G but also pay attention to practicality. Consumers are given one more choice.
Its audience base is likely not to be too broad. After all, a price of more than 1.42 million yuan is still not acceptable to ordinary consumers. But even so, we should also see the market value of the new G?350 as an entry-level model. It shows an attitude, a travel attitude that embraces the vast world while pursuing environmental protection and energy conservation.
This is actually the attitude that Mercedes-Benz's "Heaven and Earth is a Journey" SUV journey wants to express - respecting nature, caring for nature, and bravely pursuing the beautiful world in our hearts.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.