We shared an orange: how the new Russian crossover rides
The juicy orange body color of the firstborn of the new Russian brand Tenet Plus is a sure way to "catch the eye" and not be in the shadow of a large "Tenet". Meanwhile, the L6 crossover stands out not only for its color and fancy grille. The Izvestia correspondent found out how it differs from related models on the roads of the Perm Region.
The feline family
The name Tenet is printed in front and back in elegant font. The logic of the marketers is clear: they decided not to invent another neologism, but to take a brand that has shown impressive results on the Russian market. However, the brand's weight is such that it can overwhelm a new product. And according to Tenet Plus Marketing director Andrey Kamensky, the L6 is a completely different car. Is this really the case?
Tenet Plus dimensions: L6 4554×1852×1681 mm. Wheelbase — 2700 mm
The Tenet Plus L6 crossover is an analog of the Lepas brand, created by the Chery concern for export markets a little over a year ago. The proven T1X platform was combined with a new style of "leopard aesthetics": soft body lines with references to either Jaguar or Porsche crossovers, running lights with a cat's eye pattern. Plus the mentioned orange color. Although, of course, repainting a car after an accident in such a shade is not an easy task. However, the L6 can also be ordered in simpler colors — black, white, and gray.
The first impression fades somewhat when viewed in detail — a successful image is not drawn finely enough. The window behind the rear door turns out to be an imitation designed to hide the width of the rear rack. The same technique, by the way, was used on the Omoda C5. The radiator grille with chrome droplets flying off the nameplate looks gaudy.
With cat's eyes, the L6 is similar to the Tenet T8, but it is a car of the dimensions of the Tenet T7 or Jeland J6 and C5 — the same 4.5 meters "with pennies". Inside, it rather resembles the Jeland J6 — a narrow dashboard, a vertical multimedia screen that seamlessly transitions into the center console. Unusual door opening handles on the armrests? There is something similar on the Omoda C5. And only the speakers on the pebble-shaped door cards have their own here.
The claimed ground clearance of the Tenet Plus L6 in the front—wheel drive version is 187 mm.
The speakers with Sony nameplates look rich, and in general, the interior of the L6 looks more expensive compared to its "relatives". The fit is high, typical for models on the T1X platform, but the driver's seat cushion is of normal length, and the seat itself is well designed. Traditionally, there is no pillow tilt adjustment, and tall drivers also lack seat belt height adjustment.
The strip of physical keys under the central display is a sign of the times when automakers are gradually abandoning touch controls. I would also like to replace the pad keys on the steering spokes with a better solution. There are no complaints about the central display — it works quickly, and the dual-zone climate control bar is available at the bottom of the screen, even if a navigation map is displayed on it.
The interior is offered only in black. Eco-leather seat upholstery is already available in the basic version.
The entire center console is occupied by wireless smartphone charging and cup holders. Therefore, the transmission selector was placed on the right behind the steering wheel, and the handbrake key was placed on the bottom left. The front passenger airbag switch was generally hidden so that you can only find it by accident — when you try to plug the charging cable into the socket under the console.
Where's the plus
The wheelbase is increased in comparison with its analogues (2700 mm), so the rear row is more spacious, and the declared trunk volume is larger.
It's worth driving a little behind the wheel of the L6, as you realize that this is not a new body on the old chassis. The car is noticeably quieter, and there are no double side windows. There are also fewer vibrations. The platform, which marketers call PMA, is hardly completely new, rather, it is a seriously improved former T1X. Its main advantage is modularity, this "orange" can be easily divided between different markets depending on their needs. Somewhere similar cars can be hybrids and "electric trains", but in our market they are only gasoline-powered. Moreover, the rear multi-link easily allows you to add all-wheel drive, which should appear on the L6 in December.
The front—wheel drive Tenet Plus L6 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds. The maximum speed is 180 km/h.
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter turbo engine (147 hp) paired with a 6-speed "robot" — a bundle familiar from Jeland models. However, the engine with the G4T15 index is from a new line, not with a cast—iron block, but with aluminum and cast-iron sleeves. The unit produces an increased torque of 225 Nm compared to previous versions. This, as well as a "robot" with a clearly improved gearshift algorithm, gave the car a lively vibe. The L6 accelerates merrily, although overtaking trucks at high speed is somewhat stressful even in sports mode. There are also positive changes in handling, although the steering force has remained artificial. Due to the wider track, the car turned out to be stable and with moderate rolls in turns. The chassis is dense, but it digests bumps quite well. In sports mode, the stabilization system catches on late, but intervenes abruptly and rudely.
Ready for winter
Yes, the orange L6 gives the impression of a pampered urban fashionista, but in fact it is a practical car with an unpainted plastic body kit on the lower part of the body and large entry and exit angles by crossover standards. And the body itself is almost completely galvanized, including the roof, according to the company. There is a full winter package and telematics. That is, in Russian winter conditions, this exotic fruit is unlikely to wilt.
The stated average consumption is 6.9 liters per 100 km.
However, it's not that exotic either. Tenet Plus L6 production is deployed in Kaluga. So far, electronic components have been localized, including ERA-GLONASS, battery, steering wheel, mastics, sealants, waxes, exhaust system, fuel tank. They promise to localize the power unit soon.
The advantage to consumer qualities turned out to be great, and the price increase compared to the same Tenet T7 was moderate. The well—equipped basic version is estimated at 2.89 million rubles, the top-end version is estimated at 3.04 million rubles. The differences between them lie mainly in the presence of a panoramic roof, a Sony audio system and a set of electronic assistants.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
