2022 LanTu Dreamer: First Impressions

It’s the beginning of April 2022, and LanTu has just introduced the Dreamer, a sleek and luxurious electric MPV loaded with advanced features. Within two weeks of its launch, we had a chance to try out the seven-seater extended-range version of this vehicle, which is priced between 380,000 to 480,000 RMB. We were excited to see if the Dreamer could deliver on its promise to be an outstanding electric MPV.

Exterior

We were impressed by the innovative design elements of LanTu’s first vehicle, the LanTu FREE, and the Dreamer certainly did not disappoint in this regard. From the outset, the Dreamer’s massive size – dimensions of 5,315 x 1,985 x 1,820 mm – commanded attention, making heads turn even when parked by the roadside. When driven, the Dreamer exuded an aura of strength and power that was truly awe-inspiring. We wholeheartedly agree that the Dreamer can stand its ground alongside luxury MPVs like the Alphard and the Elgrand.

There were criticisms about the Dreamer’s design during its prototype phase, particularly its long front end. However, we feel that the length of the Dreamer’s front end, combined with the waterfall-like grille, highlights the car’s luxury attributes and gives it a commanding presence on the road.

Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The extended front end design of the Dreamer is a double-edged sword, as it provides generous crumple zones and better absorption during collisions, but at the same time, it reduces the cabin space, which we will discuss in more detail later.

One noteworthy feature of the Dreamer’s rear end is its spacious trunk, even when the third-row seats are not folded down. This is not always the case with MPVs of similar size. In the photo below, you can see that the trunk space can easily accommodate luggage for a short family vacation when the third-row seats are still in use.

It needs to be criticized that the flatness of the space between the third row seats and the cargo floor of the Langtu Dreamer is limited when the third-row seats are folded down. However, since most users have chosen the seven-seater version and use the third row frequently, the cargo space of the Langtu Dreamer is already excellent when the third row is normally used, and in most scenarios it will not affect use too much.

Interior

In terms of the interior, Langtu Dreamer inherits the advantages of the Langtu FREE, and creates a luxurious atmosphere quite well. This time, we got the version with a brown interior. This color is easy to maintain in daily use compared to light-colored interiors, while retaining its texture.

It is worth mentioning that on the day of our static shooting, the vehicle was exposed to high temperatures due to the strong sunlight at noon, but the cabin of the Langtu Dreamer did not emit any odor. From this perspective, Langtu has made efforts in the materials used in the interior. In addition, with the air management system and aroma system, the Langtu Dreamer provides a comfortable experience that can be smelled and ensures safety that cannot be smelled.

In addition to the standard configuration of the three-screen display for the main and co-pilot seats, Langtu Dreamer did not completely abandon traditional buttons. The air conditioning buttons, sunroof and sunshade switches, sliding door switches, rearview mirror adjustment keys, and so on have been retained, providing convenience for operation.

As an MPV, seat experience is essential. The comfort of the main and co-pilot seats of the Langtu Dreamer surprised me. The filling materials are moderately soft and hard, and the wrapping is good, providing a spacious and comfortable experience.

The second-row seats are not as impressive as the first-row seats. Although they are equipped with heating, ventilation, massage, leg rests, a separate table top, and rear air conditioning controls, limited by space and cost, the luxury and comfort can only be considered above average. It seems that if you want the ultimate rear seat experience, you still have to look at the 4-seater version of the Langtu Dreamer.

The surprising part was the third-row seating experience. The panoramic view from the third row of the Dreamwalker is excellent, without feeling suppressive. The backrest angle is noticeably taken into account for comfortable seating, and sitting posture is no longer rigid. The cushioning of the third-row seats is also much more comfortable than the commonly found third row in MPVs. Although there is still a problem of short cushions and insufficient thigh support, the third-row seating experience is still guaranteed if the second-row passengers do not “let loose.”

In summary, the front seat experience of the Dreamwalker is top-notch, the second-row independent seats are above average, and the third-row seats are not inferior.

Driving Experience

Initially, I did not think there was anything different about the Langtu Dreamwalker compared to traditional MPVs when it was first released. However, after driving the Dreamwalker, my opinion completely changed.

The most obvious experience is the powerful driving. The extended-range version of the Dreamwalker has a maximum power of 290 kW and a maximum torque of 610 N·m. It only takes 6.9 seconds to accelerate from 0-100 km/h, while the pure electric version achieves 5.9 seconds. Coupled with the four-wheel drive system, the stability of the Dreamwalker’s driving is further improved. With an emergency braking distance of 37 m, the driver has great confidence in the Dreamwalker. Compared to Langtu Free, the braking of the Dreamwalker has been greatly improved, which is very linear and powerful. With the abundant power output of the motor and excellent braking level among MPVs, the Dreamwalker can give drivers some driving pleasure while passengers in the rear seat can also enjoy themselves, making driving less boring.

The kinetic energy recovery of the Dreamwalker has three adjustable levels. The low level is basically the same as that of a gasoline-powered car, and there is no obvious drag sensation in the high level. However, for drivers who first encounter kinetic energy recovery, it takes some time to adapt to the driving habits when using high kinetic energy recovery to avoid a jerky feeling.

The suspension part of the Langtu Dreamwalker is of top quality. The front double wishbone and rear five-link air suspension, coupled with the CDC adaptive “magic carpet” function, provide a good driving and riding experience on both city roads and slightly bumpy roads, with very good shock absorption.

The CDC adaptive suspension allows the Dreamwalker to get more support when changing lanes and turning, effectively suppressing the body roll. However, on relatively larger bumps such as potholes or speed bumps on the road, the vehicle still experiences jolting sensations caused by road vibrations. The CDC and air suspension effects are not as astonishing as expected when encountering large bumps, and the riding experience cannot be considered top-notch, still inferior to the feeling of a million-dollar MPV smoothing over the road. However, considering the price of the Dreamwalker, the performance of this suspension is still commendable.

Infotainment System

As a smart new car enterprise, the usability of the infotainment system is crucial. The Dreamer’s infotainment system equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 runs smoothly, with a clear and logical hierarchy of the overall system. The number of available apps can meet daily needs, and the built-in quick apps can also satisfy different requirements.

In terms of voice control, Dreamer has put in extra effort. It not only meets the daily needs of adjusting vehicle functions, navigation, and air conditioning settings, but also adds “visible and talkable” and partition control functions, which are comparable to leading models.

The supplier of the car navigation system is Baidu, and it is worth mentioning that the augmented reality (AR) navigation system is more complete. In the middle of the instrument panel, the real-time road surface image captured by the camera will be combined with the navigation arrow of AR technology, making it very intuitive even for drivers who are not familiar with the road. The experience of this feature is excellent, but unfortunately, Dreamer does not have a head-up display (HUD) system, which restricts the full play of the AR navigation system. It is hoped that Landtu will introduce HUD in the future.

I think the usability of the infotainment system depends on the details, especially for the passenger screen. Many car companies often neglect the optimization of the passenger screen, but the Dreamer’s passenger screen impressed me in two aspects. Firstly, although there is room for improvement in the richness of the application functions, Landtu thoughtfully prepared a screen mirroring function for the passenger screen, which is very efficient. I suggest that every car company learn from this.

Second, the passenger screen of the Dreamer can operate the navigation system, and after starting, the navigation can be directly cast to the central screen. This is the ultimate way to open the passenger screen.

Advanced Driving Assistance System

Dreamer uses the Mobileye EyeQ4 chip with a total of 22 sensors: 5 millimeter-wave radars, 5 cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars, which can provide L2+ level of advanced driving assistance.Except for the common assisted driving functions such as ACC adaptive cruise control, LKA lane keeping assistance, and AEB active braking, the Voyah’s Dream Car is also equipped with a night vision driving system for dreamers. By utilizing infrared cameras to achieve night vision, Dream Car can provide certain visual advantages when visibility is poor at night. At the same time, Dream Car also has a lane-changing function with indicators, which makes Voyah a new force in the automotive industry and distinguishes itself from traditional automakers. In actual use, there are no major problems and it can provide a good experience on ring expressways and other roads with no pedestrians or electric vehicles.

Of course, there is still room for improvement in Voyah’s L2+ assisted driving level, such as the turning ability in LCC is not as good as the first-tier, the strategy for lane changing is too conservative, and the lane-changing action is a bit rough. The visual interface also needs refinement. However, thanks to Dream Car’s OTA capability, Voyah’s engineers expressed that assisted driving functions are still being improved and will have better performance in the future.

Overall, in a situation where the hardware is fully adequate, we have already seen the excellent assisted driving capabilities and determination of Dream Car in this almost mass-produced test drive vehicle. Therefore, Voyah’s assisted driving is worth looking forward to.

Summary

As an MPV, if you want to balance family needs and not give up on driving experience, Dream Car is an excellent vehicle. I think Dream Car can be a product that satisfies both the “fish” (family needs) and “bear’s paw” (driving experience) categories in the MPV category.

If there is a demand for commercial use, Dream Car’s appearance is not inferior to million-dollar models, and the backseat experience can also be assured. Most importantly, as a new force, the Voyah brand may better align with the values of emerging companies compared to some of its outdated competitors.

So, what would you choose?

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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.