What are the differences between Lavida Start and Santana?
3 Answers
Here is the relevant information about Lavida Start and Santana: They have different appearances: Both Volkswagen Santana and Volkswagen Lavida are compact family sedans, but their segment positioning is different. Volkswagen Lavida is an entry-level model, while Volkswagen Lavida is a standard compact car. Therefore, the two cars are different in terms of body size, interior space, and overall driving experience. Volkswagen Lavida has superior strength and a higher price. Volkswagen Santana is a classic model with very distinctive features, being more practical and highly reliable but lacking some sense of fashion and comfort. Volkswagen Lavida, while ensuring reliability and practicality, also meets the needs for fashion and comfort, offering higher comprehensive performance. They have different configuration information: Lavida's cruise speed is higher than Santana's. Although both cars are compact models in terms of price, in the positioning system, Lavida is one grade higher than Santana. Whether in terms of wheelbase, chassis, Lavida's MQB platform, or powertrain, Lavida performs better than Santana. Santana only has one displacement option, a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, while Lavida offers three displacement options: 1.2T, 1.5L, and 1.4T. The transmission also includes AT and dual-clutch.
As an experienced driver who frequently drives Volkswagen cars, I find quite noticeable differences between the Lavida Classic and the Santana. The Lavida Classic, launched later, is built on Volkswagen's PQ34 platform, offering a more stable ride with less body roll during cornering. Its body is about ten centimeters longer than the Santana, providing more rear legroom for three passengers and ample trunk space that can easily fit two large suitcases. The Lavida's interior features more soft-touch materials compared to the Santana's all-hard-plastic cabin. Both are powered by a 1.5L engine, but the Lavida's tuning delivers smoother acceleration, especially noticeable during highway overtaking. Price-wise, the Lavida costs about 10,000 yuan more but comes with practical features like tire pressure monitoring and cruise control - particularly valuable for frequent long-distance drivers.
I've studied the chassis structures of these two models. The Lavida Classic uses a torsion beam rear suspension, which provides a more comfortable ride over speed bumps compared to the Santana's trailing arm setup. Both are powered by the EA211 series 1.5L engine, but the Lavida delivers 5kW more maximum power, resulting in about half a second quicker response during overtaking. The Lavida also features better body rigidity with a front anti-collision beam that's 0.8mm thicker. The equipment difference is quite noticeable - the Lavida comes standard with parking sensors and a touchscreen infotainment system, while base Santana models require aftermarket installation. Fuel consumption is similar at around 7L/100km in urban driving. Maintenance costs are slightly lower for the Santana - you could save about 300 yuan on a bumper replacement.
