Wuling Article
2008-03-06 15:21:18
Posted by: Abatayo, Dennis
Updated by : Quioco, Fatima
Bringing in a new player was indeed a brave and bold move for Granstar, the local distributor of the Wuling van you see here. The meticulous Filipino consumer takes into consideration a lot of other factors as well when purchasing a new vehicle, such as quality, reliability, parts availability, after sales support, and resale value among other criteria.
Do not get wrong, China made products have improved a lot over the past few years and they deserve serious consideration too when shopping around. Perhaps China is just in a stage where they are still establishing their rank among the major contenders in the world market. All things considered, China already proved themselves capable of producing high quality and cost-effective electronic products like televisions, computers, mobile phones, DVD, VCD, MP3 players among other popular consumer products, albeit with funny brand names. It is probably safe to say that Chinese products has now come of age and are beginning to establish their home-grown brand names in the world market, one such brand is Wuling.
Established in 1996, Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co., Ltd. Is a state-owned company and is one of the largest among 500 machinery enterprises in China. On June 4, 2002, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co., Ltd. Was founded together with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and General Motors (China) (GM). Initially, Wuling is engaged in the production of mini special-purpose vehicles such as golf carts and sight-seeing vehicles, but they have already expanded their vehicle line-up to include small passenger vans like the Wuling 6371 you see here on this issue.
In size, the 6371 is comparable to the new Toyota Avanza if not to your typical multi-cab which is a notch smaller. The styling is functional and the large windows allow all occupants inside a grand view of the world outside. Inside, the 6371 cans seat 8 passengers in relative comfort but it better be for short distances only because the seats are not only small, it is also thinly padded and all lacks headrests that are essential for long trips except for two front seats. Legroom on the other hand is adequate for normal size human beings and entry and exit made easy courtesy of two sliding doors on both sides. The second and third row seats can be removed completely, or just configured separately to increase cargo carrying capacity. What surprises us the most is the effective dual air conditioning system that actually works even in the harsh afternoon heat. At least your passengers have less to complain about.
In front, the driver and passenger are greeted by a plain but functional dashboard where all the necessary controls are within arms reach of the driver. Fit and finish on the other hand can still be improved upon as well as the a/c control dials which has a tendency to vibrate. The basic dashboard layout is clean and uncluttered, but do not expect a soft touch to the surface as it made of textured hard plastic. A nice touch is a beautiful but rather out of place in this price range Italian made Magnetti Marelli instrument cluster which emits an attractive blue and red colored hue at night. A good thing since you will be starting at this instrument cluster most of the time when driving. Overall, the cabin of the Wuling 6371 is a pleasant place to be in.
Power from the 1100cc fuel injected 4-cylinder engine is more than adequate to move the 6371 briskly, but you need to rev the engine to a high rpm before shifting gears to maximize its peak torque, otherwise the engine will bog down and tends to pick-up speed slowly, especially when the van is fully loaded with passengers or cargo. Once used to this driving style, the Wuling 6371 can be driven much like any regular automobile. The transmission of the Wuling 6371 is also impressive for being well spaced and smooth, finding the right gears is not a problem. The engine on the other hand is eerily smooth but the absence of a tachometer sometimes makes me wonder if i already stalled the engine, a quick tap at the accelerator reveals the engine is still running.
Ride quality of the Wuling 6371 is no different to other passenger vans equipped with a leaf-spring rear suspension set-up, while it is not too harsh, but neither can you call it sedan smooth. Ride quality will definitely improve when the van is fully loaded with passengers of cargo, but be ready for a bumpy ride if you are riding alone. Around the city, the Wuling 6371 copes well with patch-work road surfaces and potholes, but the limited time of the van with us did not allow us to drive the van in an open roads to evaluate its high-speed performance, perhaps next time. However, what I like the most about the Wuling 6371 is its compact size. Driving in dense city traffic allows it squeeze through tight gaps as quickly as it appeared between cars, and the commanding view of the road ahead is a big help as well. Too bad the steering is not power-assisted, but nevertheless it is easy to maneuver even at slow speeds.
With all the wonderful attributes of the Wuling 6371 minivan, I am saddened because it might become a victim of prejudice against China made motor vehicles. But if you look beyond prejudices, you will discover a car with great value and a high level of versatility. It may be a bit expensive compared to 10 year old second-hand Japanese or Korean made minivans but what you will get is a brand new vehicle covered with a warranty. So if you are shopping for a minivan for home or business-use, do consider taking a closer look at the Chinese option, you might become a Wuling convert.
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