How about Zotye z300?

How much does it cost for a car with various advanced configurations, such as electric seats for the driver and passenger, automatic air conditioning, electronic handbrake, etc.? Audi said, "You have to get 170,000 to 80,000 yuan anyway." Zotye said: "Just give me 70,000." This is not bragging. The Zotye Z300 premium model (sub-top configuration) priced at only 75,800 yuan is indeed much higher than the aggressive Audi A3 Sportback35TFSI priced at 184,900 yuan, and even much higher than independent competing products at the same price. But how practical are these configurations? Did Zotye maintain quality and quantity this time? Please read on.

Configuration: You can get so much for less than 70,000 yuan!

As mentioned before, Audi purely wants to "catch people" in the introduction and make you have the urge to continue reading. I like to conclude first so that I can write more clearly and you can see more clearly. Is Zotye Z300 worth a grocery shopping cart worth RMB 56,800-75,800? The answer is: worth it! To say it is a grocery cart is not a derogatory term. We need this kind of transportation in life to get us from point A to point B. It doesn’t need to be fancy or strong. It's enough to afford it and drive it steadily. What's more, the Z300 also has a configuration that can be described as incredible. Since it is always said that configuration is awesome, let’s start with configuration.

The 2016 1.5MT premium model I tested is the second top model in the series, priced at 69,800. You can’t buy the entry-level version of Roewe 360 ??at this price. If you only look at the configuration list and say this is a car costing more than 100,000 yuan, some people will definitely believe it and even ask me to ask the question "Can I get my money back?"

Many problems were also discovered during use. First, the brightness of the screen is too dark and it does not look clear enough at its brightest point; second, the screen angle is too vertical. These two points lead to the screen's average anti-glare ability, and even using more anti-glare matte materials on the surface cannot solve the problem.

And I still can't figure out why the "driving mode" click in the lower left corner of the screen is actually a radio... This is completely the wrong visual sense of the set.

In general, Zotye's multimedia system is rich in functions, easy to use, and almost in line with the mainstream level of the market. However, the screen's anti-glare capability is insufficient, which may cause some inconvenience during daytime operation. I also hope that the manufacturer can quickly fix the "driving mode" bug. After all, this thing is a bit too weird. If you want to be more picky, quickly find a good designer to clean up the system UI. The entire system is like Android 2.0 seven years ago, looking too "retro". After all, this is the Android 7.0 era.

On second thought, maybe I am too busy. In the face of limited costs, manufacturers will definitely provide consumers with more "dry goods" between functionality and aesthetics. The next dry goods really surprised me.

This is the first car I have seen that provides electric seat adjustment for both the driver and passenger for less than 70,000 yuan. Opponents either have full manual adjustment, or top models only have adjustment for the driver's seat. In fact, Zotye gave them both at once as a gesture of goodwill.

To describe this Z300 as incredible is not an exaggeration. Although there are still small flaws in the details, the various functions are easy to use and can reach an excellent level when considered comprehensively. However, it seems that the manufacturer is not satisfied. They will equip the Z300 with keyless entry/start in the future.

For Zotye’s models, the biggest highlight often remains at the appearance level. They are simply the “visual-kei” players in the automotive industry. However, the Z300 is uncharacteristically, even a bit "low-key". The new car continues the old design, with only minor adjustments in the color of the chrome trim strips of the front fog lights, wheels and calipers.

As Zotye’s “first pot of gold”, the Z300 not only has no disruptive changes in appearance, but its size has also remained basically unchanged in recent years. Even today, the 2700mm wheelbase still has certain advantages.

As a grocery cart, the Z300’s appearance really doesn’t need to be too conspicuous. It's best to dress simply. The manufacturer did not provide "new equipment" for the Z300, and it still looks like a solid and reliable guy. However, the red-sprayed calipers and two-color wheels are a bit disruptive to the style of the car and don’t fit in well with the overall temperament. However, no one can give an absolutely correct answer to appearance, it is just a matter of personal preference.

Like the appearance, it continues the old style, with a few simple lines outlining a strong home style. In addition to the black interior, the new car also has a lighter beige interior.

It is worth mentioning that the better-looking brown interior of the old New Vision version has not been inherited. Instead, the imitation wood decorative panels have been replaced with black and gray decorative panels, giving the overall atmosphere a youthful look.

As mentioned before, this year’s changes are mainly focused on configuration, and the old model is basically retained at the design level. Although it does not provide much stimulation in terms of visual freshness, it is also the right choice to prefer configuration in the face of cost. It's just that the "dead spots" in the process are too abrupt, and the uneven seams on the dashboard really affect the score. In this regard, Zotye should learn from a German brand. The craftsmanship is exquisite where you can see it, but you can be lazy where you can't see it. It not only gives consumers a wonderful experience without increasing costs, it can be said to be the best of both worlds.

For Z300, space is also a special topic to talk about. Compared with all the advantages of competing products, the 2700mm wheelbase also adopts an outwardly expanded interior design, further ensuring the interior space of the Z300. Seat comfort also directly affects the driving experience of the entire vehicle. The Z300 performs satisfactorily in this regard. Both the design and materials and workmanship have reached a very high level, and the comfort level is not even inferior to that of the higher-spec Z700 model.

Nissan's Sylphy has always been the benchmark for rear seat comfort in A-class cars in my mind, and the Z300 can indeed compete with it in this regard. The filling is soft, and the seat cushion can be felt to be thick, ensuring riding comfort; the backrest is made of hard filling material, which can support the back well. In particular, the lower protrusion of the backrest will support the waist, and the waist will not be sore after riding for a long time, which is very comfortable. Corner pads are added to the connection between the two ends of the seat and the door to support the shoulders and give passengers a soft tactile experience.

The headrests in the back are thick and cute, like pieces of toast. Unlike many headrests that are only responsible for supporting the back of the head, this is really a "pillow." While supporting the head, it can also fully support the neck to prevent the "whiplash effect", ensure the safety of passengers, and give the cervical spine adequate rest. However, the care for the middle passenger in the rear row seems a bit inconsiderate, as no central headrest is provided. Riding space display

The empty riding space of the Z300 is very spacious, and drivers and passengers with a height of 177cm can get a comfortable riding experience in both the front and back rows. In addition to the contribution of wheelbase size and seat design, the overall outward expansion design of the interior further ensures the empty space in the car. However, the lack of a center armrest in the rear row still reduces some comfort in the rear row to a certain extent. Storage Space

An empty storage room is another indicator of a shopping cart. At present, manufacturers have managed to squeeze in higher configurations at limited costs, but whether the storage space can be fully utilized is another issue worthy of attention.

If you only focus on the front row, from the large storage compartment on the center console to the storage slots on both sides of the center console, as well as the card slots and the central armrest box with good volume, it is enough to show that the manufacturer uses Every corner that can be used for storage is provided, fully meeting the storage needs of front-seat passengers. But at the same time, the rear row is also ignored. There is no central armrest box or independent cup holder. The only thing in the rear row that can be used for storage is the door panel. This feeling of "differential treatment" is really uncomfortable.

The power is still a combination of 1.5L5MT, but the engine is not the 4A91S of Shenyang Mitsubishi in the old model, but the TNN4G15B of China Ruizhan. It is not difficult to see from the code name that this engine still uses Mitsubishi technology, but has changed its "birthplace".

In terms of parameters, this TNN4G15B is exactly the same as the previous 4A91S. According to the manufacturer, this engine has been optimized based on Mitsubishi's, especially the silent part. At the same time, the manufacturer stated that it will not abandon Mitsubishi engines, and the 2016 Z300 will still provide models equipped with Mitsubishi engines. About Ruizhan

Ruizhan is an engine manufacturer located in Tongling, Anhui Province, established in 2006. It mainly introduces Fiat technology to produce 1.3L-1.8L small displacement engines. Even the introduction on its official website has only a few words, and relevant reports are even rarer. Why does Zotye use this seemingly unknown product?

It is not difficult to find from the genealogy of Zotye and Ruizhan that their parent companies are both Zhejiang Tieniu Group. Therefore, Ruizhan and Zotye are members of the same family, and using their own products can be regarded as "the good news does not flow to outsiders." To put it another way, Lanwei Automobile, the parent company of the "domestic Ferrari" Hanteng Motors, was also invested and constructed by Tieniu Group. So...it's a big game. ...

Then come back to this TNN4G15B.

In terms of power parameters, compared with competing products, it reaches the same maximum torque of 141Nm as the Roewe 360. The power is slightly lower, but overall it is higher than Arrizo 5.

This 5-speed manual transmission is also an old partner of the Z300. There is no automatic transmission product launched this year. From communication with manufacturers, we know that the possibility of launching automatic transmission models in the future is not ruled out. However, the manufacturer has not given a clear answer to the two questions of whether it will continue to use the modern 4AT transmission of the previous automatic Z300, and the specific launch time of the automatic model.

The clutch engagement point is very wide and easy for novices to find, but the low torque output of the engine does not create a "car-saving" feeling in first gear like many small-displacement Japanese and Korean cars. . The power release tends towards a soothing rhythm. If you follow the daily driving habits of 2000 gear shifting, you will feel that the output is a bit tepid. It is often necessary to apply a little pressure on the accelerator pedal and increase the speed by more than 2,000 rpm to obtain satisfactory power.

In addition, the 4/5 gear ratio is relatively dense, and the speed drops very little when returning from 5th gear to 4th gear. When overtaking, you often have to shift to third gear to obtain full power. Overall, this is not a car that can give you any driving excitement. Its job is just to get passengers to their destinations smoothly.

For manual transmissions, shift feel is an important factor affecting driving quality. This 5-speed manual transmission performs well in terms of feel. The shifting stroke is not long, the shifting is easy and does not feel jerky, and it cannot provide any clanging sound of shifting. In line with the dynamic performance, ease and relaxation are top priorities.

However, the clarity of the gears is a bit blurry. It is easy to shift the 1st and 3rd gears wrongly and lack a bit of firmness. Occasionally when downshifting from 5th gear to 4th gear, the gears are not smooth and you have to push up the gear. Requires more strength.

I personally prefer mechanical hydraulic power steering, which not only provides a richer road feel, but also has more stable performance. And in the case of poor regulation, the electronic sense of electric power distortion is unacceptable. Although the Z300 is driven by mechanical hydraulics and has a lighter shock absorption feel, the in-situ/low-speed wheel drive is not too heavy and the road feel is retained enough. Although the directivity cannot be achieved by "moving the knife from hand to hand", it can also provide clear directivity in daily driving, and the front of the car can execute the steering wheel quickly enough.

In terms of chassis, the front MacPherson and rear torsion beam structure is sufficient for this grocery truck. The overall adjustment is also highly consistent with the style of the entire vehicle and is absolutely comfortable. The suspension travel is too long, and small bumps on the road can be softened and transmitted to the car. The shock absorption is not sufficient, but it can be said that the road feel is fully retained.

The shock absorber spring is soft, but its rebound is not positive. It's acceptable to filter out ordinary road bumps, but it seems a bit hectic when faced with continuous bumps. There was a long stretch of cement road on our test drive, and every joint could be clearly felt by the butt. After a big bump, the rear suspension can get a little uneasy. Although the overall performance of the chassis is not loose, the texture creation needs to be strengthened.

The sound insulation cotton in the hood is really helpful in terms of sound insulation and noise reduction. Most of the noise during driving comes from wind noise and tire noise, while engine noise is basically isolated.

Automatic handbrake is generally used in actual driving. The first is a matter of habit. When the driver stops the car, every time I wait for a red light, I have the urge to pull the handbrake. When the red light starts, the handbrake automatically releases half a beat slower. Push into first gear, step on the accelerator lightly, and the handbrake will always be there to think about life. It often requires following a pedal and then releasing the brake after some hesitation.

Summary:

I gave an argument for the value of this car at the beginning of the article. After all, who else could buy a car with a configuration equal to 170,000 yuan for less than 70,000 yuan? In addition, there is also class-leading performance in the air. As far as the Z300's opponents are concerned, this lethality comes from three aspects: price/configuration.

But this does not mean that the Z300 is a single piece. The interior workmanship is slightly rough, the rear storage space is relatively scarce, and the power performance is slightly mediocre. However, these can all be explained by the word "limited cost". Manufacturers will always maintain a balance between cost and profit, and any empty talk without cost is just a rogue.

When the budget is limited, it is necessary to choose the most necessary one among the power supply/configuration/control points and give up the others. This is often the most difficult part for consumers to choose. The significance of the appearance of Z300 is that it allows you to have more choices to meet more diverse car needs.

However, that doesn’t mean all the rules and regulations can be ticked to meet family/affordability needs. That's enough.

One million car purchase subsidies