Speaking of Dongfeng Honda LIFE, some netizens who don’t pay attention to car information may not be able to figure out which car it is, but if Brother Cha takes out its photo, I believe everyone will suddenly realize it and be enlightened. . Yes, that’s right, it’s this model that everyone is very familiar with.
LIFE is Dongfeng Honda's first premium small car, but with five generations of Honda pedigree, there is no need to worry about its product maturity. But for the first time reporting, can it continue to follow the success of its predecessors?
Compared with its predecessors, the latest generation LIFE has a different understanding of appearance design. Compared with the extremely youthful and sporty style of the previous generation, the new LIFE adopts a cute and mellow style. , combined with LIFE’s nickname of “Laifu Sauce”, it is indeed the same thing.
It is worth mentioning that LIFE has also launched two models, SPORT version and CROSS version, for the first time. Among them, the SPORT version has more refined and sporty characteristics of a small car, with a body size of 4109*1694*1537mm and a wheelbase of 2530mm. The compact body is matched with characteristic designs such as a sports front lip and a tailgate spoiler, creating a good sense of sportiness.
The CROSS version that Brother Cha tested this time incorporates more of an SUV crossover style design. Its body size is 4111*1725*1567mm and its wheelbase is 2531mm. It is not difficult to see from the data that due to the addition of CROSSTAR-specific designs such as front and rear bumpers, wheel arch guards, and 16-inch wheels, the CROSS version is larger in body length and width than the SPORT version. In addition, the larger tire size increases the ground clearance of the vehicle body, which not only emphasizes the wildness of the CROSS version, but also improves the overall practicality of the vehicle. The black rearview mirror and the silver-black contrasting guard panel surrounding the body not only add a bit of texture to LIFE, but also set the gap between your car and other models on the street.
What surprises Brother Cha the most is that LIFE’s fuel tank opening has a more stylish design compared to the stereotyped round and square covers on the market. While its shape is irregular, it also matches the body design very well. Well blended and very clever.
Inside the cabin, I believe everyone is more interested in the space performance of the new LIFE than the interior design. LIFE continues to adhere to the MM concept of its predecessors, and on top of this, the seating position is also improved degree of freedom. The rear row continues to be equipped with Honda's unique magic seats. In addition to providing comfortable seating space, the cargo space is beyond your imagination for an A0-class model.
It is worth mentioning that LIFE is equipped with a new MAT structured seat. Through a more scientific structure and optimization of the seat track, not only the angle of the seat is more ergonomic, but the thickness of the seat cushion is also It has also been fully extended to improve the riding comfort of the cabin occupants.
As for the materials used in the cabin, due to the impact of car manufacturing costs, it is fanciful to want to see leather elements everywhere. However, under the circumstances of cost constraints, Dongfeng Honda LIFE has also shown good sincerity. The unique two-color combination and standard cabin workmanship will not make people feel cheap. It is commendable that Dongfeng Honda LIFE is also equipped with a central armrest box, which fully guarantees both the driver's comfort and the expandability of storage space.
In addition, the interior of the cabin is also filled with many small design details, allowing you to fully feel the intentions of LIFE, such as the cup holders on both sides that can be kept warm and cooled by air-conditioning air and the double glove box in front of the passenger seat. The design Science is also quite easy to use.
In addition to the decent space and smart layout, Dongfeng Honda LIFE has not fallen behind in terms of configuration. The addition of practical configurations such as cruise control, one-button start, and TPMS tire pressure warning system also makes this entry-level model no longer an entry-level model. LIFE is equipped with an 8-inch DA smart screen interconnection system, which not only supports radio, music playback, Bluetooth phone calls, but also Baidu CarLife mobile phone interconnection functions valued by Chinese users. Overall, the central control system is simple, clear and easy to use. If the page design is more beautiful and a navigation system is added, I believe it will be more popular among Chinese consumers.
Intelligent driving assistance is also worth mentioning. The Honda SENSING safety system is not absent from this entry-level model.
The system integrates ACC active cruise control, CMBS collision mitigation braking, LKAS lane keeping assist, RDM lane departure suppression and many other functions. Not only can it accurately grasp the surrounding environment information of the vehicle, but it can also respond in advance by predicting possible dangers, ensuring the active safety of the vehicle.
In terms of dynamic driving, Dongfeng Honda LIFE is a pure electric car killer. Pure electric models benefit from faster power response, and I believe everyone knows a little bit about how easy it is to drive in urban areas. Dongfeng Honda LIFE not only provides similar power response, but also is equipped with a driving vision that is rare in its class. It is quite flexible when driving on narrow roads in the old city or finding opportunities in residential parking lots. When you see a car that is easy to drive and use, you can't just see its bright side, you also need to understand the hard work behind it.
As for Dongfeng Honda LIFE, its visual transparency is also not something that falls from the sky. The newly developed 7-inch TFT color LCD instrument panel is standard on all series. This instrument panel uses high-visibility TFT LCD and eliminates the instrument sun visor, making the front view wider. In addition, LIFE also adopts a double A-pillar design, in which the A-pillar has been reduced to less than half the previous thickness, combined with a 90° panoramic windshield with a new structure, which not only reduces blind spots, but also maximizes the forward field of vision. Spend. During the test drive in urban areas, Brother Cha found that the overall field of view was really more transparent than the speakers in "Infernal Affairs".
In terms of power, Dongfeng Honda LIFE is equipped with a 1.5L direct-injection DOHC?i-VETC water-cooled four-cylinder engine with a maximum power of 96kW/6600rpm and a maximum torque of 155?N·m?/4600rpm. It is matched with It is a CVT continuously variable transmission, and the fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is only 5.6L.
Honda’s reputation of buying an engine and delivering it to the car is not false. Do you think just good-looking data and low fuel consumption are enough? Of course not. Honda has also made many optimizations for power. "Upshift control for full-throttle acceleration" improves acceleration performance and feeling by expanding the applicable range of low-speed ratios and controlling the speed during full-throttle acceleration.
"G-Desigh? Shift", this technology previously used in XR-V has also been applied to LIFE. The installation of this technology can make throttle operation and CVT transmission control more precise and dynamically responsive. It will also be faster. "Brake operation controlled downshift", while braking, the vehicle will increase the engine speed and achieve deceleration through engine braking.
The above optimizations are all aimed at improving the driving experience. During the test drive, Cha Ge also found that the LIFE can control the vehicle quite freely and the power is very consistent when driving on medium and low-speed sections in urban areas. foot. Of course, due to the limitations of the basic displacement, full throttle acceleration on highway sections can only reach a sufficient level.
In terms of chassis adjustment, LIFE uses front McPherson struts and rear torsion beam suspension. With the support of low-friction technology, it is obviously more comfortable than the previous generation model. When passing through fine pavement, fine vibrations are effectively controlled, and the cabin's silence is also well guaranteed. All in all, whether it is driving comfort or driving control experience, Dongfeng Honda LIFE can be described as "decent" when compared with competing products of the same level.
Cha Ge’s words:
Previously, people’s impressions of entry-level models from Japanese brands were mostly at an adequate level, but Dongfeng Honda LIFE is obviously not willing to stay there. Whether it is the black technology of the engine or the friction optimization of the suspension, they all illustrate Dongfeng Honda's intentions in creating LIFE models.
If you are wondering whether to buy a pure electric model to travel in the city, then you really should take a look at this dynamic Dongfeng Honda LIFE. The new car not only has the dynamic response of an electric car, but also shows stronger product strength in terms of seating space, driving vision, cruising range, technological configuration, and driving quality.
Is LIFE worth buying? From a product perspective, it’s worth it. However, the new car has not yet been officially launched. If the official pricing is as generous as the model configuration, I believe Dongfeng Honda LIFE will make waves in the A0-class market.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.