Let Fit no longer be alone, test drive Honda LIFE SPORT

[Autohome original test drive] Among overseas brand small cars, the Fit can be said to be a shocking name. In terms of home use, it has leapfrog space and ultra-low fuel consumption; on the sporty previous generation Fit GK5 "civilian supercar" "Its reputation is outside, and the potential for modification is infinite, so such a car should be loved by consumers. However, with the popularity of the "sister car" in the past two years, the Fit also ushered in its own "sister car", which is LIFE from Dongfeng Honda. It also has a very cute nickname "Laifu Jiang" (informal Chinese name). ).

Like the Fit, LIFE is divided into two versions, SPORT and CROSSTAR, namely the car version and the crossover version. Because the time for the test drive experience is very limited, we will focus on the SPORT version. After we get the test drive, we will analyze the CROSSTAR version in detail. The appearance of

is difficult to distinguish between "male and female"

LIFE's lighting configuration started very high, and all systems are equipped with integrated LED headlights with far and near beams, which are very rare in small overseas brands. Auto headlights and adaptive far and low beam functions are also equipped on the test drive models, but these two configurations should only appear on high-end models.

The front enveloping mold of LIFE is exactly the same as the fit, except that the color matching and decoration are differentiated. The black front lip in the middle is made of carbon fiber-like elements, and red line embellishments are added to match the fangs on both sides. The lines are very sporty.

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In terms of car body color, LIFE does not provide the option of two-color car body, which is different from Fit. From the perspective of body size, the LIFE of the SPORT version is exactly the same size as the Fit, while the CROSSTAR version has some differences with the Fit in terms of body length and wheelbase.

All LIFE series are equipped with 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels as standard. According to the on-site engineer's explanation, this set of wheels is designed with noise reduction, which can reduce the noise generated by the wheels to a certain extent. In addition to the differences in rims, SPORT and CROSSTAR have different tire configurations. The SPORT version is equipped with Bridgestone Terran ER370 tires, with specifications of 185/55 R16; CROSSTAR is equipped with Dunlop ENASAVE EC300+ tires with specifications of 185/60 R16. The former is more comfortable-oriented, while the latter pays more attention to energy-saving performance.

To be honest, I think the designers of LIFE are a bit lazy. According to reason, LIFE should have some relatively individual and independent design elements, but from the final result, these elements are only Only the difference in color matching. Think about it from another angle, the design of Fit itself has strong plasticity. Changing the color matching of different parts can form different styles. This unified mold design can reduce production costs and provide consumers with a more reasonable price. .

The interior is stylish and practical.

If the difference in appearance is not obvious enough, then you can hardly find the difference between LIFE and Fit when you come into the car. It is a bit more extreme in the same way, but the difference is really very limited. Even the materials used are the same.

LIFE, a two-spoke steering wheel, requires a process of adaptation. The tires will not return to the correct position at the first hand, but in addition, the grip of this steering wheel is still worthy of praise, there is no sense of cheapness, and the sides are white. The multi-function buttons also add some visual refinement.

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On the LIFE SPORT model, we saw an 8-inch central control screen. In addition to the conventional multimedia functions, it also supports mobile phone interconnection, although I know it must be a high-end The model is exclusive, but compared to the Fit, this configuration is considered an advantage. After all, Fit can only see this configuration on CROSSTAR models.

I am very fortunate that LIFE does not use leather seats. In my opinion, if there is no ventilation and heating function, the comfort provided by fabric seats is much greater than leather seats. However, as a high-end model, the main driver's seat is fully adjusted manually, and the rear seat does not have a central armrest and a central headrest, which really should not be.

The magic seats in the rear row only appear on CROSSTAR models. In addition to lowering the backrest, you can also lift up the seat cushion to form a relatively high storage space in the second row. I guess this configuration only belongs to a small number of consumers who choose high configuration, users of low configuration and SPORT version are definitely missed.

The interior space of Honda has always been a specialty of Honda's small cars, and it is the same on LIFE. Our 172cm height experiencer has a very spacious ride in the front row or the back row. If four 180cm big men sit here In the car, it should not feel crowded.

LIFE’s designer designed the front row of cup holders in front of the air outlets on both sides of the center console. This design can keep the beverage warm or cool through the air conditioner, enjoy a bit of coolness in summer and feel a ray of warmth in winter. The design of the co-pilot glove box is also very clever, because the airbag is arranged at a higher position, so two glove boxes are formed, and the storage capacity is good. Of course, we can also see these two storage designs on Fit.

LIFE's trunk performance disappointed me a bit. Although the space is not small and regular in the normal state, the large platform drop has a great impact on the practicality after the rear seats are down. For Honda, known as the "space magician", such a trunk performance is difficult to satisfy.

Excellent driving performance at the same level.

We are very familiar with the L15B engine. It used to shine on the GK5 (the previous generation of Fit). The two Fit racing cars of our Autohome team also use this engine, regardless of durability. The modification potential is still very strong.

Because I am no stranger to this engine, its performance is basically not beyond my expectations. The torque is sufficient at low speed, and the explosive power at high speed is not weak. The only thing that needs to be adapted is that LIFE adjusts the throttle in the early stage relatively sensitively, so when you start, you need to control the throttle more delicately, otherwise it will feel a little bit rushing.

For home use, this gearbox performs well enough. Every smooth and stable power transmission is its silent work. The transmission ratio changes sufficiently accurately, and the transmission ratio can be locked quickly even after stepping on the accelerator. , The understanding of driving intention is in place, and even when you have some sports demands, you can also be satisfied by shifting paddles. The only dissatisfaction is that LIFE, like the Fit, does not provide a manual transmission. For "ADHD patients" who like to drive, the manual transmission GK5 may be more attractive.

During the test drive, some people felt that this set of shock absorbers was harder and that the family car should be softer. On the contrary, I think this set of shock absorbers is more reasonable. I can give a pass evaluation for both vibration absorption and roll suppression. Compared with the setting of soft collapse or hard state, I think that the adjustment of both can be adapted. More consumers.

At the explanation meeting before the test drive, I saw that the CROSSTAR model has more sound insulation materials for the wheel arches than the SPORT model. My heart was a bit cold at the time. There is actually a different treatment here, but after the test drive, LIFE's control of wind noise and tire noise in the front and rear rows can reach the mainstream level of the same level, and it has little effect on the comfort of driving.

Summary:

The emergence of LIFE will certainly inevitably compete with fellow brothers Fit, but this competition is somewhat different from the competition between Guandao and UR-V, CR-V and Haoying, because the two have different appearances. Higher phaseIn contrast, the entry configuration of LIFE will be slightly higher than that of Fit, but if there is a preference for two-color body, LIFE may not be satisfied. The relationship between the two can be regarded as complementary or competitive. Because LIFE has not announced the price yet, it is not clear whether the price will become a factor that influences consumer choice.

Regardless of the fit, LIFE is considered a very individual product among overseas brand small cars. Its round and cute shape will definitely capture the hearts of many female consumers, and for young male consumers, whether it is a Honda brand or L15B The names are all faith-like existence. On the other hand, its opponents, whether it is Volkswagen POLO or Toyota Zhixuan, or the previous generation products, it is not easy to compete with LIFE in terms of product strength, so if LIFE can give a reasonable price, it should not be hot. Things to avoid. (Picture/Text/Photo by Zhang Yijia, Car Home) Related links: