Original by Bitauto Friends who know me well know that I am a racing fan. I follow F1, WEC and WRC, and of course the Dakar Rally, which takes place once a year, is indispensable. I remember that when I was still in school, Lu Ningjun drove a modified Paladin racing car to participate in the Dakar Rally. Seeing this news at that time made us Chinese very proud, and it also made the Paladin SUV popular. Although the name "Paladin" has gradually faded out of the Chinese auto market in recent years, this year Zhengzhou Nissan has brought the new Paladin. Can it reproduce the glory of the year?
Actually, I don’t think I have much to say about the appearance of the new Paladin, because even if I don’t say it, you can still tell which car it looks very similar to. Of course, it just looks similar. The interior of the Paladin has been completely refreshed. By the way, the new car logo design used by the new Paladin this time is inspired by the dragon head and the flag, and incorporates Chinese elements. What do you think of this new car? How about the mark?
When we come inside the car, we can see that the interior of the new Paladin has its own design language. Although it follows the trend and uses a large 12-inch central control screen to replace the traditional central control design, the overall design is not blindly consistent. Pursue the so-called "sense of technology" brought by minimalist design. Personally, I think the relatively traditional interior style is more suitable for the exterior styling of the new Paladin. At the same time, the beige and brown dual-color interior also brings a warm interior atmosphere to the new Paladin, which is strong on the outside and soft on the inside.
Except for the entry-level two-wheel-drive luxury version, all other models of the New Paladin are equipped with leather seats. The configuration level of the front seats is relatively average. Only the main driver's seat can be electrically adjusted, and the seats have ventilation and heating functions. Just don’t think about it. The rear seats also don’t have many highlights. All models are equipped with rear armrests with cup holders. In addition, the angle of the seat backrest can be adjusted in multiple levels to meet the riding needs of different passengers. In terms of seating space, an experiencer with a height of 178cm can have 4 fingers of headroom in the front row, one punch of headroom and more than two punches of legroom in the back row. The overall performance is quite satisfactory.
Okay, next is the power system that I think is most worth talking about in the new Paladin. The New Paladin is equipped with a power system consisting of a Mitsubishi 2.0T engine (4K31) and a ZF 8AT gearbox. The 2.0T engine has a maximum power of 168kW (228Ps)/5600rpm and a maximum torque of 360N·m/1300-4000rpm. The new Paladin adopts a non-load-bearing chassis, adopts a front double-wishbone independent suspension and a rear multi-link integral axle non-independent suspension. It is equipped with a part-time four-wheel drive system and has electronically controlled front/rear axle differential lock + transfer case. Central locking supports 7 driving modes.
As for the test drive experience of the new Paladin, let me start with the road driving experience. Mitsubishi's 2.0T engine has good power data, so it will not be insufficient to drive the "big guy" like the new Paladin. At the same time, the maximum torque of the engine is at 1300rpm can be fully output, so there is no need to deliberately step on the accelerator when starting. Of course, if you want a more enjoyable power experience, it is recommended to step on the accelerator more. When the engine speed reaches 2500rpm, you can feel a small burst of power. As the speed further rises, the engine will not Showing fatigue.
The adjustment of the new Paladin's accelerator and brake pedals are relatively "fit". It is easy to know how much accelerator or brake force to press. That is, there is a certain empty position in the early part of the brake pedal's stroke, or the brakes are soft. Drivers need to get used to it. The 8-speed automatic transmission has a very mature and tacit understanding with the engine. In daily driving, it actively upshifts to ensure fuel economy, and in sports mode, it also downshifts to ensure power output. However, this gearbox is given the logic of not liking downshifting. When you need to accelerate to overtake, the gearbox must step deeply on the accelerator to understand your intention. Otherwise, it will slowly wait for the engine speed to increase in the current gear. Of course, that doesn't mean that this logic is bad, it just doesn't suit my taste.
Regarding suspension adjustment, for the new Paladin, the sporty suspension adjustment is definitely not suitable. At the same time, the new Paladin also has a long suspension travel, but as long as the vehicle speed is controlled well, the side of the vehicle when turning will be The tilt is not very obvious, and the suspension's support for the body is quite good. When we drove the new Paladin to the Gobi Desert, we got a better feel for the performance of the shock absorbers. No matter whether it was a washboard road or a bumpy dirt road,The shock absorbers can control the car body very well and will not cause unnecessary shaking of the car body.
According to the official introduction, the new Paladin has as many as 31 NVH sound insulation treatments in the entire car. Although the leading car dominated the test drive today, it also reached a speed of nearly 100km/h on the national highway. At this time, the car was There was not much wind noise inside, thanks also to the front windshield with double-sided soundproof glass. On the Gobi Desert, the vehicle's NVH performance was equally excellent, but some minor problems that occurred during the test drive showed that the assembly process of the new Paladin still has room for improvement.
Another thing to talk about is the steering feel of the new Paladin. If the steering feel of the new Paladin is a bit vague on paved roads, then in the Gobi Desert or when driving off-road, such a steering setting is actually a "filter" "There was a lot of vibration coming from the front wheel. Due to some previous incidents, this time our test drive was also moved from the desert to the Gobi Desert. The new Paladin has an approach angle of 32°, a departure angle of 27°, and a ground clearance of 215mm, so the overall road conditions do not require switching to low-speed four-wheel drive mode. Can be easily conquered. All we have to do is to turn the knob counterclockwise to enter the high-speed four-wheel drive mode when entering the Gobi Desert, and then control the speed and direction of the vehicle.
Due to the relatively tight test drive process and the change of venue, I did not have a particularly in-depth experience with the new Paladin’s four-wheel drive system this time, nor did I experience the new Paladin’s tank U-turn function, which can reduce the turning diameter from 11.4m to 10.4m, further improving the vehicle’s flexibility. Of course, there is still the possibility of the car getting stuck on the road surface covered with soft sand. After the car is stuck, you cannot continue to press the accelerator. First try to reverse to see if you can get out of the trap. If it doesn't work, you will need the help of others. Fortunately, during this test drive, no car required any external force.
Editor’s comments:
The above is what I said this time about the newThe first experience of Paladin is a bit rushed, so please bear with me if I haven’t written anything. Just a few hours ago, the new Paladin was officially launched, launching a two-wheel drive model and two four-wheel drive models. The guide price range is 169,800-216,800 yuan. What do you think of this price? If you have a car purchase plan, then I would definitely recommend buying the top model, which has the richest configurations and driving assistance functions, and the most powerful four-wheel drive system in the entire series. "Paladin" was once the memory of countless people when they were young. There is no denying that Zhengzhou Nissan's decision to resurrect it is based on sentiments. So whether the sentiments can be converted into sales, time will give us the answer.
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