Are the chassis of Santana and Lavida the same?
3 Answers
Santana and Lavida have different chassis. The following is a detailed introduction to Santana: 1. Exterior: The overall design is relatively simple, without exaggerated lines. The waistline running from front to rear gives the body a strong sense of tension. The chrome trim under the windows is simple yet aligns with Chinese consumers' aesthetics, and it also helps enhance the vehicle's grade to some extent. The multi-spoke wheels match the body well, while the rear wheels still use large drum brakes, which might be mistaken for disc brakes at a glance. 2. Powertrain: The new Santana is equipped with EA211 engines with displacements of 1.4L and 1.6L.
As a mechanic with decades of experience, I often get asked whether the Santana and Lavida share the same chassis. They're definitely not the same! The Santana uses Volkswagen's older PQ25 platform, which is sturdy and durable but delivers a noticeably bumpy ride, reminiscent of old-school cars. The Lavida, on the other hand, has been upgraded to a newer platform like the MQB series, featuring a softer suspension and better stability during turns. Design-wise, the Lavida's chassis is more refined, incorporating new materials for improved shock absorption, which significantly enhances the driving experience. If you frequently drive long distances, the Lavida offers much better comfort. However, when it comes to repairs, Santana parts are cheaper and easier to find. The difference in chassis doesn't just affect driving—it also impacts safety, as newer platforms often come with stronger crash protection. I recommend test-driving both models to compare the ground feedback; it's quite an interesting experience.
I've been researching Volkswagen models online for quite some time, and the conclusion is that the Santana and Lavida chassis are completely different. The Santana chassis is based on the PQ25 platform, which is simple and economical in structure; as for the Lavida, most variants use derivatives of the MQB platform, with a more intelligent chassis layout that makes driving flexible and smooth. According to the materials I've read, these differences stem from their positioning—the Lavida is an upgraded version developed by Volkswagen for the Chinese market, with higher ground clearance and more advanced suspension tuning than the Santana. In actual driving, the Lavida's chassis absorbs bumps much better, especially in city traffic where it doesn't wobble around. From a maintenance perspective, different chassis mean parts are less interchangeable, and replacing suspension components on a new Lavida might be more expensive. Before buying, it's advisable to look at photos of the undercarriage structure—the differences are obvious at a glance.
