All-new Wuling MPV looks like a proper Innova fighter

While SUVs and crossovers may be all the rave today, vehicles like the MPV still play a major role in the automotive industry and is still the choice for many families and business owners.

In the MPV segment, vehicles like the Maxus G50, the Geely Okavango, and the GAC GN6  are vying to get a piece of the pie from the Innova, Toyota's best-selling MPV. While the local competition is already very stiff, more and more models are coming up. Over in China, a brand new MPV has just been revealed and it looks like it has the makings of an Innova fighter as well.

This is the 2022 Wuling Jia Chen seven-seater MPV, and it combines sleek looks, a turbocharged powertrain, a generous cabin, and cargo space, along with a host of safety features. Starting with its looks, the Jia Chen comes with a bold black grille with V-shaped elements, simple headlights, stylish alloy wheels, a generous greenhouse area, and a distinct tailgate complete with sleek LED taillights.

In terms of size, the Jia Chen measures 4785mm long, 1820mm wide, 1760mm tall, and has a 2760mm wheelbase. Compared to the Toyota Innova, the Wuling MPV is 50mm longer, 10mm wider, and has a wheelbase that's 10mm longer. However, the Innova bounces back thanks to its 1795mm height which makes it 35mm taller than the Jia Chen.

Hop inside, the Wuling MPV welcomes passengers with beige-colored seats, large windows, as well as a panoramic sunroof. It also has captain seats on the second row which provide the ultimate riding comfort inside the Jia Chen. Infotainment comes in the form of a 10.25-inch touchscreen. In case you need to stow plenty of cargo, the rear seats can be lowered or folded forward to achieve a maximum cargo space of 1,177 liters.

Powering the Jia Chen is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's mated to a CVT with 8 simulated gear ratios. It makes a respectable 147 PS with 250 Nm of torque and has a claimed mixed fuel consumption of nearly 14 km/l.

With Wuling under the SAIC-GM corporation, could other brands under the SAIC Group like MG make their own version of the Jia Chen for a 7-seater MPV? Perhaps, if it will actually help the company rake in more sales in this segment.

Should Wuling or SAIC decide to launch the Jia Chen to other markets, would it actually make sense here in PH? Let us know in the comments.