If you have considerable experience in looking at cars, you will find that in the Chang'an series, there are often many options that are well-positioned, visually appealing, and "full of cost-effectiveness at first glance"—CS35/55/75, UNI-V, etc. This has also made Chang'an a very famous hit maker in the past few years.
And this time, they unceremoniously named their newly baked batch of annual models "True Fragrance Edition," which is much more direct than "Champion Edition" or "Glory Edition."
For example, this Qiyuan A07, which has both pure electric and range-extending options, with a starting price of only 135,900 yuan for the bare car. The appearance is elegant and grand, and there are almost no flaws in terms of aesthetics. It's not very eye-catching, but after you've seen it once or twice, it's hard to move your feet, and the bare car price gives you a huge blow. I can even often see some Far Eastern bloggers on Bilibili promoting it with their whole family...
So I went straight to the store to see for myself, and it was even more shocking in reality: the 200 PRO version is about 145,000 yuan, and the 200 MAX version is about 160,000 yuan, which is even lower than the guide price; then look at the "True Fragrance Edition" EV with a range of 515, the price is 155,000 yuan. Although this is the price considering the recent new policy of replacement subsidies, but you must know, this is a car that is 4.9 meters long and has a wheelbase of 2.9 meters, which can be considered a C-class car...
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The static appearance of the actual car is indeed worthy of this price. The appearance of the entire car's paint, especially on the front hood, shows some relatively obvious orange peel, but the overall appearance is indeed not bad. Although the appearance is moderate in style, the large body size and simple shape all well interpret what is called the moderate and grand style of the new era. Plus, the actual car is also black, which gives people a strong business atmosphere.However, while being steady, it also incorporates many elements with a sense of technology. For example, the ring-shaped light strip that runs across the front of the car is no longer an ideal patent; frameless doors and hidden door handles are also common practices for domestic electric vehicles nowadays; the slender body gives it ample space to create a smooth fastback line; the star-shaped wheels are very sporty.
On the contrary, I think such a wheel style would be more suitable for the Deep Blue SL03, while the A07 is actually more suitable for a relatively delicate multi-spoke wheel, thereby creating a differentiation between it and Deep Blue. Frankly, even if such a design is parked next to "old cadre" cars like the Passat and Magotan, it will not be at a disadvantage.
The interior design is even bolder. Almost all physical buttons have been "eliminated," including the start button, and the practice of powering up by stepping on the brake when seated is becoming more and more popular; the traditional instrument panel has also been eliminated, just like the Deep Blue S7. If you are considering at this price point and are encountering such a new energy vehicle for the first time, the empty feeling around you will not only refresh your eyes but also leave you somewhat at a loss.
If this is considered a youthful coupe, that's great; but if you view it from a more business-oriented or home-oriented perspective, it may seem a bit too aggressive.
Since all the physical buttons have been cleared, the A07 has obtained a very clean console, with a horizontal design divided into two layers by the air conditioning vents, and matched with a wood grain panel, presenting a very strong home-style visual impression.For the "purity" of design, it has spread to every corner of the cabin. The "wood grain + piano lacquer" design, akin to a coffee table, has also been applied to the operation area of the side doors. However, the most perplexing aspect of this type of lever-style window control is that when you first start using it, it's difficult to discern the relationship between raising and lowering the windows and the forward and backward movement of the lever, which can easily lead to confusion.
The physical door handle has also been sacrificed for the sake of styling, replaced by an opening button on the edge of the armrest, which adds a touch of class. However, be cautious as a slight leg tremor or a gentle nudge of the elbow could accidentally trigger it.
The two cup holders at the console have also been thoughtfully designed to be hidden. The base is finished with the same piano lacquer as the surrounding panel, and pressing down on it reveals the cup holders.However, to restore it, you can no longer press the base again; instead, there is a hidden button on the internal sidewall that must be pressed to allow the base to spring back up. This is something to pay attention to when handling it for the first time. Moreover, while this design may appear high-end, over time, the two bases are likely to become scratched, and the visual experience when they spring back up can be imagined.
The storage space below the Console has also been refined, with a soft rubber base to prevent wear and tear on items, and a lacquered panel cover for the USB charging port and fragrance dispenser.
It can be said that in terms of design, the A07 is a "devil" that orients all details towards aesthetics.
However, the actual workmanship is quite average.The plastic feel of the panel is particularly strong; applying a bit of pressure still results in a noticeably loose sensation, and there are also obvious flaws at the junction of the console and door panels. It can only be said that you get what you pay for. If better materials were used, this would be a quite aesthetically pleasing cabin design.
Since the dashboard has been eliminated, the design of the central control UI has also become similar to that of the Model 3/Y, with basic information such as gear selection, speed, warning lights, and energy consumption statistics integrated into the left side of the screen. The bottom Dock bar is divided into three parts, with the settings interface entry, air conditioning, and multimedia occupying the left, center, and right sections, respectively, creating a visually clean and easily navigable interface.
The panoramic sunroof is almost becoming a standard feature in many new domestic vehicles. However, no matter how manufacturers advertise the light transmittance and insulation rates, nothing is as reassuring as an electric sunshade. Moreover, the eyeglass case is also almost disappearing from new cars, and even the interior lights have become reliant on thermal-sensitive touch controls. Only essential functions like the hazard lights and E-CALL still retain a few physical buttons.In terms of seating, both the front and rear rows, one can clearly perceive that the battery pack under the car has raised the floor height. The mounting points for the front seats are slightly higher, making it very easy to see the front of the vehicle, and the steering wheel is also noticeably closer to the lower position; the rear floor is also on the higher side. Although the performance of the seats themselves is quite good, they are as spacious as a sofa, and the angle of the seat cushion is also moderate, but due to the limited space under the front seats, it is difficult to tuck one's feet in, resulting in an elevated angle of the thighs and a lack of support from the seat cushion.
The trunk performance, on the other hand, is quite impressive. According to official data, the volume is only 450L, which may not seem particularly large, but the A07 has adopted the same hatchback tailgate as the Deep Blue SL03, so it has a very large opening. Coupled with the very flat interior, the utilization rate is high. Moreover, the rear seatbacks support a 40/60 split-fold, so in emergency situations, it is even possible to lay them flat to set up a small bed for a nap.
Next, let's briefly discuss the dynamics. The test was conducted on an extended-range 200 MAX model. Although the test drive was not very long, I got a good understanding of the basic characteristics of the car in the city, except for not driving at high speeds.Firstly, the linearity of the power output is excellent, with a very good response under Tip-in, almost without any delay. The acceleration to 90 km/h is also seamless, and it is definitely sufficient for daily use.
In terms of energy regeneration, it can only be adjusted in the custom driving mode, with two distinct levels: "Standard" and "Strong". The difference between the two levels is very noticeable. The deceleration effect of the "Strong" level is quite significant; once you release the accelerator, the car's speed drops rapidly, which might even cause some motion sickness. However, the deceleration effect in other driving modes is relatively gentle, almost indistinguishable from that of a gasoline vehicle, so I personally do not recommend adjusting the energy regeneration.
Upon further research online, I found that the Qiyuan A07 models around March supported infinite adjustment of energy regeneration, so perhaps the software version of the test drive vehicle was an earlier one.
Regarding noise insulation, the pure electric "true fragrance edition" comes with a set of Michelin Primacy tires, with a size of 245/45 R19, which gives it a very striking visual effect. However, the extended-range version uses Hankook tires, with a specification of 225/55 R18, which is not as high-end. Fortunately, the tire noise is controlled within an acceptable range. But due to the use of frameless doors, wind noise becomes noticeable at speeds of 70-80 km/h, even overshadowing the engine noise.
Now, let's take a look at the chassis. The steering is soft and light at low speeds, but the damping of the steering wheel gives a sense of stickiness, which also affects the steering wheel's return speed, and the gain with angle and speed is not very obvious. The suspension can be described in one word—soft.It's almost like "a chest out at the start, a bow at the stop." No matter at what speed, as soon as the gas is given, the car's head-raising action always comes earlier than the power; during the journey, just a light touch on the brake will make it nod; when rolling over the various fine debris and bumps on the road, the amplitude left behind is almost all from the aftershocks of the suspension, like driving a boat, and even the HUD projection screen is shaking along with the car body; even when the AUTOHOLD is released, the rear of the car can feel a noticeable shake.
Conclusion by the driver:
This A07 once again interprets the development philosophy of many popular models from Changan—
It looks 90 points, feels 80 points, and drives 70 points, thoroughly understanding the mentality of "appearance control parties."
Although I personally don't quite agree with such a method, it has to be said that it does fit the mentality of the general public. Even if it's not a very good "soul mate," as long as it can accumulate more than 50% of the attention in front of relatives and friends, or among passers-by, you will inexplicably feel that the money you spent is worth it.However, I still want to say that the design philosophy of "emphasizing the external and neglecting the internal" seems to remain an unspoken "unwritten rule" among many domestic car manufacturers. Sacrificing functionality and practicality to some extent, in pursuit of "cost reduction + high-end feel + novelty," is it really good to manufacture such a major consumer item as a car with this philosophy?