Miller Gourmand
@Ch_Flash
Binned for not following naming convention, having the wrong seating arrangement, and the wrong fuel type. It may be an instabin but I’ll give it a full review anyways since there are only four entries anyway.
Stats wise, the Gourmand has the lowest drivability and comfort. 210hp from a 3l V6 is good, but not enough in 2020. Though I understand that NA engines have gotten nerfed in recent updates, there’s always the option to switch to a turbocharged 4-cylinder that would be both faster and more economical without incurring any realism penalties.
Exterior design is alright. I like the somewhat American approach to the design which reminds me of the old Chrysler minivans minus the fake wood but otherwise, there’s nothing to write home about. Longer headlights that wrap around the front corners of the body could help improve the design.
Interior design is nothing special, either. However, it feels cramped due to the large seats. Access to the rear is hampered by the transmission tunnel, which isn’t there in most mainstream minivans.
Mitsushita Spacedragon Akai NA
@conan
In stark contrast to the Gourmand, the Spacedragon has the highest drivability and comfort scores, thanks to its use of active suspension, the Spacedragon’s price is right below the budget limit. The engine again isn’t very powerful for its size and could’ve been replaced by a turbocharged engine.
The Spacedragon was first released in 2011 (although the Automation model year is 2020) and its design has begun to show its age. The front end of the car could have been revised with a larger grille and/or larger lights among other things to keep it looking fresh in 2020.
The Spacedragon’s interior is undoubtedly the most sporty of the bunch thanks to its combination of red and black upholstery. The dashboard continues with the sporting theme, though it looks rather plain. As with the Gourmand, the large seats make the interior feel less spacious than it really is. The transmission tunnel also hampers rear access and negates any space saving benefits that the dash-mounted shifter provides. The use of door mirror switches as door handles is smart however, so props for that.
SYN-Senko 84
@FidleDo
Despite being equipped with active suspension, the Senko is not as comfortable as its rivals. In addition, the engine’s 167hp output is is too low for today’s standards, especially when it has 5 valves per cylinder which isn’t exactly something you’d find in modern engines. The tyre diamater is also too large, making the 18 inch wheels look smaller than it really is.
The exterior is daft and poorly proportioned. The headlights look too large and placed too close together, and the arrangement of the grille/headlights/etc. don’t form a cohesive design. The rear overhang is also disproportionately long, and the exhaust looks weird sticking out the rear end.
As with previous cars, the oversized seats cramp interior space, and so does the transmission tunnel. The colours suit each other well, by the sheen on the brown leather makes it look like cheap plastic. The door cards are also placed in reverse, which look weird. On the bright side, however, the front and middle row seats feature leg rests which are a nice touch. The full-screen dashboard and infotainment screens are impressive, but not enough to save the rest of the car.
THETA Sontu
@Lanson
The Sontu is by far the most powerful entry, powered by a turbocharged 2.4l engine that produces a healthy 290hp. While the transverse inline 6 isn’t the most realistic choice, it is most certainly welcome. However, the hydropneumatic suspension is too mix-maxxy in my opinion.
The exterior design is mostly alright but like the Senko, the headlights could have been moved further apart and/or rearranged to make the design look less awkward. The two-tone paint is a good idea, but the colours don’t work very well. The rear reflectors stand out like a sore thumb.
Out of all the cars, the Sontu has the best interior. The cabin isn’t stuffed with comically large seats, although the third row seats could be pushed back a little further to improve passenger room. The design is simple yet elegant with a premium feel as expected in this segment. As with the other three vans however, there is a transmission tunnel that should have been hidden underneath the floor.
After giving it a lot of thought and consideration, Open Corp management decided to purchase the Spacedragon for transporting company personnel, helping to grow Open Corp even further by emptying more and more wallets as their talents continue to bait their viewers into a relationship that does not exist.
Rankings:
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@conan - Mitsushita Spacedragon Akai NA
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@Lanson - THETA Sontu
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@FidleDo SYN-Senko 84
Thank you for participating. This round didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but I am still happy to see some enthusiasm for it regardless.
