Contents of the review:
- Appearance
- Salon
- BYD Tang characteristics
- Security systems
- Cost and configuration BYD Tang
At the beginning of 2015, the Chinese carmaker BYD rolled out its new model to the domestic market of China - the mid-size crossover Tang, the main highlight of which was the presence of a powerful 505-horsepower hybrid engine.
Despite the fact that at first the car was presented exclusively in the Middle Kingdom, it received a lot of flattering reviews from automotive experts and critics from around the world, who called the new product one of the best creations of the Chinese car industry over the past decade.
Note that BYD Tang owes its appearance to the S6 model released in 2010, which, as the manufacturer himself notes, became the first serial crossover fully developed by the efforts of its engineers. However, even an inexperienced look was enough to recognize in the external appearance of the BYD S6 a clone of the Japanese Lexus RX-300 crossover, a number of design solutions of which have successfully migrated to the Tang model. But in comparison with its predecessor, BYD Tang is not perceived as an unsuccessful copy, but looks quite distinctive, stylish and attractive car.
Exterior BYD Tang
The appearance of the new BYD Tang is attractive and modern, and it is not overshadowed even by the overall design style similar to the Lexus RX-300. The front part of the crossover attracts attention with its original and modern head optics, a laconic false radiator grille framed by a chrome frame, and a powerful front bumper, which houses a large air intake and original designed fog lights.
The profile of the car received smooth lines and contours, massive wheel arches, impressive side doors, which provide more convenient entry / exit, as well as the original shape of the rear pillars (hello Lexus RX).
Special attention should be paid to massive side skirts and original design alloy wheels R18. The stern of the crossover received large side lights, interconnected by a rather controversial chrome strip, as well as a massive bumper and trapezoidal exhaust pipes, as if hinting at the serious dynamic capabilities of the hybrid.
The external dimensions of the Tang crossover are:
- Length - 4.81 m;
- Width - 1,855 m;
- Height - 1.720 m.
The wheelbase is 2.72 m long, and the front and rear wheel track is 1.58 and 1.555 m, respectively. The height of the road clearance of 175 mm, although it does not disturb the mind, allows you to easily overcome speed bumps, railway crossings and curbs, and also feel more or less confident on rough terrain.
Potential buyers are offered a wide range of body colors, as well as several types of wheel designs made of light alloys.
Hybrid Tang interior
Despite its Chinese origin, the interior design pleases with a pleasant and modern architecture of the front dashboard, as well as high-quality finishing materials, which are still rare on Chinese cars. The driver's workplace has good ergonomics and is represented by a stylish three-spoke multimedia steering wheel, as well as a fully digital instrument panel, the design of which, unfortunately, is somewhat upsetting. However, the very presence of a digital panel, represented by a 12.1-inch TFT display, speaks volumes, since such solutions are still a rarity on cars not only in the Chinese, but also in the European car industry.
In the upper part of the central dashboard there are three rounds, in two of which are installed air duct deflectors, and in the third (central) - a color display that shows the time and a digital compass. Directly below them is a 10.2-inch touch screen of the multimedia complex, and even lower - a laconic, but intuitive microclimate control unit, represented by a two-zone climate control.
Huge front seats provide a high level of comfort and, thanks to a wide range of adjustments, can accommodate a person of any size. Between the front seats there is an impressive armrest, inside of which there are several niches for accommodating various little things.
The rear sofa provides equally high comfort and easily accommodates three adult passengers. True, the free space here, as they say, is end-to-end.
Especially impressive is the volume of the trunk, which in the standard position offers 1,084 liters, and with the second row seats folded down - as much as 2398 liters, which is comparable to the volume of the luggage compartment of some "minibuses".
The quality of the fit of the interior elements is at a fairly high level, and the materials used are natural and eco-leather, natural wood inserts and soft plastics.
BYD Tang - Specifications
Despite the presence of an attractive exterior and high-quality interior design, the main feature of the Tanga is its power unit, which is a symbiosis of a gasoline engine and a pair of electric motors. The gasoline engine is represented by a 2-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 205 "horses" (320 Nm of rotational thrust), and the electric motors are represented by a pair of 150-horsepower motors located on the front and rear axles of the car.
Such a "hybrid" works in tandem with a modern 6-level automatic transmission, supplemented by a dual clutch system, transmitting a total power of 505 "mares" to the proprietary all-wheel drive transmission. By the way, the crossover has 4 operating modes (EV, HEV, Eco or Sport), each of which is activated using a special switch located next to the checkpoint.
The car is equipped with rechargeable batteries with a capacity of 18 kW, supporting the possibility of recharging from a household power supply and allowing to overcome about 85 km on electric traction alone.
The dynamic characteristics of the crossover are impressive: it takes less than 5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100, and the maximum speed is limited by an electronic "noose" at around 180 km / h.
At the same time, the manufacturer focuses additional attention on such a parameter as fuel consumption, which is no more than 2 liters for every 100 km of track.
Separately, it is worth highlighting the presence of a special Ultimate Edition version, equipped with electric motors similar to the usual BYD Tang and a forced 2-liter gasoline engine, the power of which has been increased to 255 hp. As a result, under the hood of such a car there are 555 "horses", capable, as shown our BYD Tang review, accelerate the car to "hundreds" in 4.4 seconds and give out 870 Nm of torque (are not the characteristics of a supercar?).
At the heart of the crossover is an all-wheel drive bogie, represented by fully independent front and rear suspension with classic MacPherson struts, which provides a high level of comfort and good handling. Disc brakes are responsible for braking, and the steering is represented by an electric booster.
A few words should be said about off-road capabilities, which, despite the presence of all-wheel drive, do not stand out in anything special. The crossover feels confident on slippery roads and country terrain, but frankly fails even on average off-road conditions.
BYD Tang security
The level of safety is a parameter that has long been the weakest link in any Chinese car, but the Chinese auto industry is not standing still and modern cars from the Middle Kingdom, including the new BYD Tang, have noticeably succeeded in this direction. So, a hybrid crossover is equipped with:
- Anti-lock braking system and ESP system;
- Front and side airbags, as well as curtain airbags;
- Central lock;
- Cruise control;
- Rear parking sensors;
- Rear view camera;
- Side-view camera with steering wheel control;
- Emergency deceleration system;
- Side mirror heating system;
- Xenon optics;
- LED running and rear parking lights;
- ISOFIX mounts.
Despite the fact that the list of active and passive safety systems is inferior to many European and Korean competitors, BYD Tang does not look like a "schoolboy" and has a minimal gentleman's set that allows you to safely use the car as a family transport.
Complete set and price BYD Tang
In the domestic market of China, the price of the most powerful Chinese crossover starts at 300 thousand yuan, while the BYD Tang price in Russia exceeds 48 thousand dollars for the standard version. And to become the owner of the limited edition Ultimate Edition, a potential buyer will have to pay twice as much, ranging from 95-96.5 thousand dollars, which makes the car also the most expensive crossover in the Chinese auto industry.
Already in the basic version, the machine offers the following set of equipment:
- Xenon head optics;
- LED running lights and taillights;
- Leather interior trim with natural wood inserts;
- Multifunctional electric power steering wheel;
- Electric sunroof;
- Lighting sensors;
- Full power accessories, as well as heated and electrically adjustable side mirrors;
- Fully digital instrument panel;
- Advanced multimedia system with 10.2 ”multi-touch display;
- Dual-zone climate control;
- Surround camera system;
- Cruise control;
- Stop-Start system;
- Front / rear parking sensors;
- Starting the motor from the button;
- Keyless entry function to the salon;
- Electric drive and heated front seats;
- ABS, ESP system;
- Central locking;
- Hybrid engine and drive system on both axles;
- Safety curtains, as well as front and side airbags;
- Light alloy wheels R18;
- ISOFIX mounts and more.
The exclusive Ultimate Edition is additionally equipped with an aerodynamic body kit, R20 alloy wheels wrapped in specialized Pirelli P-Zero tires, and an uprated engine.
Conclusion
The electric-petrol BYD Tang is a striking, high-tech and well-equipped crossover SUV that surpasses the capabilities of the original Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid. Of course, the minimum price of 48 thousand dollars makes the car inaccessible to the majority of Russians, and, frankly, few people are ready to give such a high sum for a "Chinese".
But it is worth giving BYD its due, as the hybrid Tang clearly demonstrates the capabilities of the Chinese car industry, which is already able to compete not only with budget cars, but also with premium cars.
BYD
