Wuling-Cortez MPV here to sweep off the Innova

KUALA LUMPUR: Wuling Confero, the SAIC-GM’s first Indonesian-made product came in head strong at last year’s Gaikindo Indonesia Auto Show (GIIAS). It shocked the low MPV market altogether (including Toyota Avanza, Daihatsu Xenia, Suzuki Ertiga and Honda Mobilio) with its price and space.

The Chinese automobile company has now launched—the Toyota Innova class Wuling Cortez as a second aim in the Indonesian MPV market. The company has a US$700 million plant with an annual capacity of 120,000 vehicles in Indonesia. The car was formally launched in February while it was instituted last year only.

The new car is 250mm longer and 125mm wider than the Wuling Confero that means that the Wuling Cortez is 4,780mm long and 1,816mm wide. It has a 2,750mm wheelbase, making it 30mm longer than the Confero.

 

The Wuling Cortez is equipped with a 1.8 Litre engine with 129hp and 174Nm torque and is connected to either a six-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed i-AMT automated manual transmission which comes with both Eco and Sports modes. An alternative of the 1.5litre engine, which is found in the Wuling Confero, is also available with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The looks of Cortez are much more exclusive than the looks of the Confero. The backside of Cortez resembles Audi Q5’s backside because the rear-wrap around hatch of Cortez is designed in Audi Q5 way.

The cabin of Cortez includes the very common, horizontal dashboard. The things that make the car stand out are its “Blackout” AC panel, big color infotainment display, floating screen and electronic parking brakes.

The Wuling Cortez is a 7/8 seater MPV and the base is 1.5 S Type which includes projector headlamps, a 3.5-inch MID, rear blower, USB ports for all rows, ABS/EBD and dual airbags. The exclusive thing is that the 1.5 and 1.8 C Type comes with LED daytime running lights, foglamps, electric folding wing mirrors, aeroblade wipers and an antenna as well.

The Type C’s cabin includes an eight-inch touchscreen entertainment system with Mirrorlink and Bluetooth, reverse camera, audio and call steering buttons, soft touch instrument panel and semi-leather seats. Along with tyre pressure monitoring system and a four-point reverse sensors, an electric parking brake, brake hold, hill hold control, brake assist and ESP are also part of the 1.8 Type C.

The 1.8 Type L stands out because of its auto LED headlamps, LED rear/brake light, exterior chromium trim, remote opening sunroof, “luxury meter cluster” with seven-inch color MID, GPS, auto AC with heater, electric front seats, side airbags, seatbelts for all the indicators, front two-point parking sensors, auto wipers and speakers.

The Wuling Cortez is priced at around RM61,553 for the 1.5S and RM74,542 for the 1.8L Lux+ AMT. Warranty package for the Cortez is three years or 100,000 km, and an additional five years or 100,000 km for the engine and transmission. A buy or bye? What is it going to be?