This article is reproduced from the Autocarweekly WeChat public account.
Author: Linghuchong
Every time I sit in front of my computer typing, the idea of quitting my job and traveling always comes to my mind as a 90s child. After all, if you don’t go crazy now, you’ll grow old.
The life that those born in the 80s yearn for is being practiced by the 90s generation. They seize every opportunity to travel, see the vastness and freshness of the world, learn a foreign language, master a skill, such as painting, photography, musical instruments, handicrafts, or others. They also engage in a fully devoted love, and do not sink in the mud of a failed romance. They work hard, and are also willing to try new jobs, as well as drive a car that reflects the attitude of the youth.
“The key isn’t to buy a car, but to decide what to do after buying it, and what you want to play with.”
“Buying a car is not a necessity, my life is. “
Owning a new car designed for young people is worthy of a young person’s experience. This is a lesson learned from “Born in the 80s” and a consensus among the “Post-80s” and “Post-90s”.
The attitude towards car buying changes quickly, and this may be why the Chang’an UNI-T sports version, with its “trendy modified car” charm, has rapidly exceeded 100,000 in sales.
This young new species was launched online during the “Fun·Formula” trend theme not long ago. From the cross-border variety show of that day, you could feel the ambition of this car. It is not just a commuting tool for young people, but it will also become an ICON of their life. Young people do not need to be defined, but they like to show their taste with their own clothing, lifestyle, etc. Everything can be omitted, but trendy dressing and lifestyle cannot be ignored!
This reminds me of another fashionable SUV that impressed the previous generation of young people – the Honda XR-V. This second-generation Dongfeng Honda XR-V was introduced to the market in 2014, and was a SUV that satisfied young people’s individual choices. Times have changed, will young people have more choices?
Design: Whose Youthful Vitality
The design of the Honda XR-V was revolutionary in 2014, and it even used the design of hidden rear door handles to create a bit of a two-door coupe feel. After the mid-term facelift, it mainly attracted young people with four new body colors. Although the tree is old, it can still bear new flowers.
In contrast, the UNI-T designed for young people has a more avant-garde and dynamic design language, full of youthful vitality. The newly added sports version adds a brand new Bright Night Aurora Sport Package to the already rounded and plump body. Yes, a sport package, the killer feature that attracts consumers to luxury car models such as BMW and Audi, has also appeared in the Chang’an UNI-T.Although many people have not modified cars due to practical constraints, they can easily come up with anime memes and internet fads like “drainage ditch turns”, “2nd gear 7000 rpm”, “catching prawns”, and “that car drifts through turns so fast that I can’t see the license plate”.
Speech is attitude.
It is difficult to resist the impact of the low-slung body, 20-inch smoked matte blade wheels, vertical tail wings with V-shaped air deflectors, and trendy color schemes of the UNI-T sports version with a completely redesigned sports surround that expands the body by 360° and has 10 flexible color combinations that can be picked at will. After all, who can resist owning a legal trendy modification car without spending much money?
Moreover, color is the most capable of creating a sense of novelty, and the UNI-T sports version is not afraid of you being picky, but afraid that you will get lost in the 10 flexible color combinations.
Cabin: Design and Configuration are Indispensable
Honda XR-V’s lethal weapon back in the day was the unbeatable rear space. A small SUV could have back space that exceeded that of a compact SUV, making it perfect for family use.
Nowadays, for young people, cabin experience is no longer just about space. In their minds, more weight is being allocated to design and color schemes.
After all, sporty contours and trendy colors can make young people feel excited on their way to their beloved cars. Once they step into the cabin and hold the steering wheel, the first thing they care about is the atmosphere.
The UNI-T sports version’s sports luxury cabin inherits the excellent workmanship and materials that Changan has always maintained. The seat made of a mix of leather and suede feels good to the touch. Additionally, the sports style cabin also uses contrasting colors, presenting a more trendy style, which meets the visual and tactile demands of young people these days.
In the same price range, the UNI-T sports version enjoys more perks such as heated front seats, electric adjustments for both the driver and the co-driver, and more advanced technology such as full-speed adaptive cruise control, front and rear radar, and a 360-degree panoramic image. The leather steering wheel also offers a better grip.Not to mention, compact SUVs are increasingly emphasizing space planning. The length of the Changan UNI-T sports version is 4580 mm, and the wheelbase is 2710 mm, while the Honda XR-V has a length of 4328 mm and a wheelbase of 2610 mm. The natural advantage of these numerical values enables Changan’s design team to better plan the ergonomics inside the car while ensuring a more spacious rear row, truly achieving practicality and fashion.
Handling: Who doesn’t want to be the protagonist of speed
Another difference lies in the driving experience.
The redesigned Honda XR-V is equipped with two power options: 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and 1.5T turbocharged engine. The 220TURBO version of the “high-end power configuration” has a maximum power of 130 kW and a maximum torque of 220 N·m for the L15BS engine. The Changan UNI-T sports version, with model number JL473ZQ5 and a 1.5T engine, has a maximum power of 132 kW and a maximum torque of 300 N·m, with natural numerical advantages.
Blue Whale Power is well-deserved.
What’s more, its chassis and suspension tuning are in line with the preferences of young people. The lower center of gravity and firm suspension with quick rebound provide better feedback and control, especially during fast driving. The independent multi-link rear suspension ensures a certain degree of comfort and copes well with bumps and small vibrations, providing better care and thoughtfulness for rear passengers.
In addition, the launch mode further releases the potential of this sports car.
Switching to SPROT mode, stamping on the brake pedal, shifting to D gear, and stepping on the accelerator pedal to the fullest, after the appearance of the “launch mode activated” prompt on the dashboard, letting go of the brake pedal will make the Changan UNI-T sports version achieve the exciting and comfortable launch that is presented in movies like “Fast and Furious” or professional racing games such as “Forza” and “Gran Turismo.”
Final thoughts
Our generation of young people is the luckiest because there are more choices and we can choose as we please.If you don’t like HEYTEA, there are also LELECHA options. The queues for CHAYANYUESHE are too long, so you can cool down and relieve the heat with a Starbucks. For those who love rock and roll, there are many music festivals such as MIDI, Strawberry, and Simple Life. Walking on the street, you can also discover many treasure folk singers. For those who love electronic music, the New World is not lacking in excellent DJs.
This is an era full of choices, and also an era for young people. To live a happy and enjoyable life, you need a younger car.
For domestic use, those who are conservative can choose the classic XR-V. However, if you are like me, who enjoys playing role-playing games on weekends and occasionally having fun on the spacious elevated roads on the way back from work, then the Changan UNI-T Sport Edition, which looks pleasing to the eye and provides a luxury sports cockpit as well as sufficient driving fun, is definitely your cup of tea, after all, it is a “trendy and dynamic car” that fits more with our modern and young preferences.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.