Wuling Hongguang S // Old School
It is one of the best-selling vehicles in China and has been the best-selling vehicle in its class for some time. Half a million a year still seduce them among buyers. Cause? Spaciousness, price and simplicity. Well, except for the name, which can boldly complicate the language of the average European.
photo: Internet news agency (www.news18a.com)
Hongguang was created with the cooperation of the Chinese concern SAIC and General Motors (therefore, it is mechanically very similar to a bunch of Daewoo, Chevrolet and other models). He appeared on the market nine years ago, and only last year, at the end of the year, when we seduced him, did he have a successor. Well, not completely: the new Hongguang replaced the old one, while the old Hongguang S (that is, the car we tested) remained on sale as an entry-level model of sorts. In short, many European manufacturers knew how to do it - you remember the models with the Classic label and the like, don't you?
Hongguang S is a classic seven-seater minivan. Well, given the exterior length of just 4,5 meters, it's clear the seven-seater is mostly by Chinese standards, as there's little room between the seating rows, and the trunk is of course a tiny variety - as expected. But since the Chinese, for the most part, are also not very big ... There are almost no auxiliary systems - except for the rear view camera, for example. However, this is a modern infotainment system. In China, you simply cannot do without it, regardless of the class and price of the car.
The transmission is an extremely tried and tested classic: it has found its way into some Chevrolets (such as the Cruz, which was not unknown in our country), Buick and several Chinese Wuling and Baojun models. A smaller 1,2 liter version was also used for the Avea. In the Hongguang S, it can produce 84 kilowatts or 112 "horses", which, of course, is quite a lot for such a light car (it is only about 1.150 kilograms empty). The torque isn't great, just 147Nm, so at the lowest revs (especially when the car is loaded) it's not very lively, but if the driver seriously grabs the lever of the five-speed manual and turns into the red box. , Hongguang S is surprisingly lively. And since it also has rear-wheel drive, a line for keys soon arose at the racetrack next to the Guangzhou Elephant Exhibition Hall. The organizers of the selection for the Chinese Car of the Year Internet News Agency could not believe how popular they were among the world's journalists invited to the jury.
The reason is simple: the car is driven (of course, it should be borne in mind that this is a rather narrow and tall minivan), as before. Without electronic aids (except ABS), with tires that do not provide good grip (size 195/60 R 15), with a sufficiently communicative steering wheel and with a position on the road that in modern Europe could be described as a little dangerous, because that the back loves to help with styling. Only the brakes deserve a little criticism: I find it hard to imagine that a driver descending a steep mountain road in rural China with a fully loaded Hongguang S gains more confidence.
And this car was created just for those clients and clients who value reliability and ease of use. Therefore, when it hit the market (the S version hit the roads in 2013), it was not represented in the largest cities in China, but it was smaller and also very small (which for our situation still means a population of hundreds of thousands and millions ). ...
You will find a car, whether old or new, with or without an S, everywhere, around every corner, usually not in its best condition (look what our test was like), with clear signs of use, but very rarely ... at the locksmith, the locals say. It will have quilted leather or "leather" floor mats (the kind that are becoming popular in more advanced parts lately), which are an integral part of Chinese cars as there are many knickknacks hanging from the rearview mirror (and elsewhere) and a bunch of kitsch accessories. Also because it basically only costs a good five thousand euros (but if you reach for the S and "better equipment", up to eight). Most drivers don't even notice that driving is really fun. But it's fun, it's okay. Old school drive and car.
