Is the Lavida an upgraded version of the Santana?
2 Answers
Lavida is not an upgraded version of the Santana. There are many differences between the Lavida and the Santana. Different body dimensions: The Lavida's length, width, and height are 4670mm, 1806mm, and 1474mm respectively; the Santana's length, width, and height are 4475mm, 1706mm, and 1469mm respectively. Different braking systems: The Lavida has four-wheel disc brakes; the Santana has drum brakes on the rear wheels. Different weights: The Lavida weighs around 1.3 tons; the Santana's body weight is only about 1.1 tons. Different engines: The Lavida's engines include a 1.5L engine, a 1.2L turbocharged engine, and a 1.4L turbocharged engine; the Santana's engine is a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine.
As someone who loves studying automotive history, I can say that the Lavida is not a direct upgrade of the Santana. The Santana was introduced to the Chinese market as early as the 1980s, based on the Volkswagen B2 platform, becoming a classic and practical model. The Lavida, on the other hand, is an independent model launched in 2008, designed for the A-segment family market and based on the PQ34 platform. The two differ in both technology and positioning: the Lavida features modern electronic systems and efficient engines, with larger dimensions and greater comfort, while the Santana maintains an entry-level, economical positioning, with later versions like the Santana Gran Santana based on the PQ25 platform. In Volkswagen's product lineup, they are parallel branches rather than successors. Users often misunderstand this due to brand similarity, but in actual driving, the Lavida feels more like a completely new evolution. It's worth paying attention to platform differences to avoid confusion.
