The Russians fell in love with the Chinese local Volkswagen Tiguan L. It is noticeably larger than the global version in size and flaunts a level of equipment that is not available even to the German consumer. Rich Russians also buy other “Chinese Europeans” from car dealerships: long-wheelbase sedans and crossovers from Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, which simply have no analogues in other parts of the world. Read more about these models in the review by Motor magazine.
Volkswagen Tiguan L and Pro
Contrary to stereotypes, the Volkswagen Tiguan L is not at all a global model with a mechanical insert into the body, made for the sake of the Chinese love for space. The current generation of the 2025 model year is built on the modern MQB Evo platform, but engineers have endowed it with original chassis settings and original design of the bow and stern. The length of the body reaches 4733 mm, and the distance between the axles is 2791 mm, which gives a 109 mm head start to its European and American counterparts.
Volkswagen Tiguan L
Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Tiguan L
Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Tiguan L
Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Tiguan L
Volkswagen 
Volkswagen Tiguan L
Volkswagen
From a technical point of view, the Chinese have access to two supercharged units: the base 1.5 with 160 hp. and a more productive 2.0 with 186 hp, combined with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. And here lies the main secret of attractiveness for the Russian buyer: the younger engine comes close to the border of the preferential tariff for the recycling fee (above 160 horsepower the commercial tariff begins), which makes importing a car into Russia an economically justifiable adventure.
Volkswagen Tiguan L Pro
Volkswagen
The price list in China opens at 181.8 thousand yuan (about 2.2 million rubles). However, the flagship modification Tiguan L Pro makes a real splash. Under its hood lies a 2-liter turbo engine with an output of 220 hp, paired with all-wheel drive.
In the domestic market, such a car is valued at 236.8 thousand yuan (approximately 2.9 million rubles). Russian companies specializing in parallel imports ask for well-packaged copies from 4.5 to 5.5 million rubles. The overpayment is explained by unique equipment: adaptive pneumatic struts, an intelligent automatic parking system and an advanced autonomous driving system, active up to 130 km/h. The German Tiguan cannot offer its customers any of this arsenal.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
The current Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long with body index V214 is practically a smaller copy of the executive S-class, where the emphasis is on the absolute comfort of second-row passengers. Engineers stretched the wheelbase relative to the global sedan by a whopping 133 mm, bringing it to 3094 mm. The physical embodiment of this increase is as follows: with the driver’s height of 180 cm, the person sitting behind him can cross his legs without hesitation, without fear of dirtying the back of the front seat.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Long
Mercedes-Benz
The technical content corresponds to the status: in China, the sedan is sold with a 2.0 petrol turbo-four, reinforced with a 48-volt electric superstructure. The cabin welcomes you into the digital realm of SuperScreen with three displays and heated, ventilated seats with perforated leather. Alternative import channels regularly deliver these extended sedans to the Russian Federation, where on online storefronts their cost varies from 8.6 to 10 million rubles.
Audi A5L
The situation with the Audi A5 clearly demonstrates the difference in mentalities. If for the rest of the world the A5 is produced exclusively in a liftback body, then especially for China the German brand decided to preserve the classic three-volume sedan with a separate trunk. It is unrealistic to meet such a car outside of China.
Audi A5L
Audi
Externally, the A5L is distinguished by a solid LED strip on the rear with illuminated emblem rings – a detail that the European version lacks. The body length reaches 4908 mm with a wheelbase of 2969 mm (plus 77 mm to the world version). The driving force is the petrol 2.0 TFSI, developing 204 or 272 hp. The complex of active safety systems developed by the technology giant Huawei gives the car a special flavor. Prices in China start at 289.8 thousand yuan (3.55 million rubles), but Russian dealers offer such a sedan for at least 5.7 million.
Volkswagen Magotan
The Volkswagen Magotan sedan shares the technical architecture of the MQB with the global Passat, has an identical front end and chassis, but that’s where the kinship ends. The interior of the model is a manifesto of digital minimalism. The central place is occupied by a 15-inch display of the multimedia system, facing the pilot, and physical buttons are kept to the necessary minimum. The list of equipment also includes adaptive air suspension. The engine range is represented by 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TSI turbo engines with mild hybrid support. Prices in China start from 189 thousand yuan (2.3 million rubles).
Volkswagen Magotan
Volkswagen
The main technological highlight of the ninth generation Magotan is the second-level autopilot, the operation of which is based on neural network algorithms. The electronics are capable of not only automatically changing lanes, but also intelligently entering and exiting highways, as well as recognizing traffic lights and road signs.
BMW X3L
The fourth generation of the BMW X3 for China is no longer just an adaptation, but a separate model with its own G48 index, while the world knows this body as G45. Engineers lengthened the wheelbase by 111 mm. Visually, the proportions of the “Chinese” are revealed by the modified central pillar and rear doors. The result exceeded expectations: in terms of space in the second row, this SUV came close to its older brother X5.
BMW X3L
BMW
The motor line in the new generation received a 48-volt starter-generator. The locomotive of sales in the Chinese market is the xDrive30Li version with a 2-liter gasoline engine producing 258 horsepower. The driver and passengers interact with the car through the large curved display of the proprietary media system. The official price tag in China starts at 399.6 thousand yuan (4.9 million rubles). In Russia, for an extended X3 they ask for 7 million rubles and more.
BMW 3 Series L
The back row of the Chinese three-ruble car with the index G28 offers passengers a reserve of space worthy of a “five”. The wheelbase was stretched by exactly 110 mm (up to 2961 mm). In January 2026, the Bavarians updated this sedan, making it incredibly generous already in the initial configuration: heated front seats, an electric fifth door and all-round cameras are included by default.
BMW 3 Series L
BMW
Under the hood is a proven 2.0-liter B48 engine in two boost levels – 184 and 245 hp. Torque is transmitted to the rear or both axles through a non-alternative 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. Russian dealers who have such cars in stock are selling the extended three-ruble note for 7.1 million rubles for the version with a 245-horsepower engine.
