Chery J1 2011 Review
The price is right on Chery J1. The first Chinese passenger car to hit the road in Australia always had to be cheap to impress, with a net profit of just $11,990 on the road. The value is undeniable, the J1 is the new Australian price leader, and the deal includes 24/7 roadside assistance during a three-year, 100,000-kilometer warranty.
But the J1 is playing catch-up, and not just because Chery of China came into the auto industry later than the Japanese and Korean brands that now dominate Australia. The quality of the car is far below the generally accepted standard at local dealerships, and the J1 also needs some engine room tweaking before performance is up to par.
Chery is the largest independent car manufacturer in China with five assembly lines, two engine factories, a transmission factory, and a total production of 680,000 vehicles last year. The company has ambitious export plans and Australia is its first major target and a useful test case.
Chery's local importer Ateco Automotive thinks the J1 dollar deal will be more than enough to attract a lot of buyers and has already forced Suzuki to match its tiny Alto in net profits. Ateco has already proven itself right with the Great Wall models and the SUVs it also drives, and it has big plans for both Chinese brands in the coming years.
VALUE
You can't blame J1 on the cost front. It costs a measly $11,990 including travel expenses, and the deal includes two airbags, ABS brakes, air conditioning, power steering, remote keyless entry, alloy wheels, power mirrors, and front power windows. The sound system is compatible with MP3.
The most important missing component is ESP stability control, which means it cannot be sold in Victoria. But there is no bluetooth either. Estimating the cost means comparing it to the smaller - but better finished - Alto, which starts at $11,790 with a smaller engine but sells for $11,990 to match the Chery.
It too needs to be compared to something like the impressive new Nissan Micra. The J1 is almost 30 percent cheaper than the Nissan, and that's saying a lot.
TECHNOLOGY
There is nothing special about J1. It's a regular five-door hatchback with a 1.3-litre baby engine, a roomy five-person interior and a reasonable boot, and a five-speed manual transmission running to the front wheels.
“Chery is known for its commitment to constant innovation and commitment to better, well-equipped vehicles at an affordable price,” says Rick Hull, Managing Director of Ateco Automotive. So far, J1 is predictable and not a standout newcomer.
Design
The J1 has a pleasing design with a shape designed to maximize cabin space, especially in the rear seats. Adults don't have to worry about headroom in the little Chery. The dashboard shows a little flair and some youthful flair, but the interior package is let down - badly - by plastic pieces that don't fit or fit together particularly well.
This is something the Chery team needs to fix, and fix quickly, to satisfy picky Australian buyers. Custom work also includes body parts that aren't painted properly and plastic trim parts that don't do their job properly or don't fit together.
Ateco says the J1 is in development, but early buyers shouldn't turn into guinea pigs because of Chery's quality.
SECURITY
The lack of ESP is a big drawback. But Ateco promises that it will be installed no later than November. We are also waiting to see what happens when NCAP gets J1 for a serious independent crash test. It definitely doesn't look like a five-star car.
DRIVING
Chery J1 is not the best car on the road. By no means. In fact, in some areas it is poorly done. We can understand the substandard quality because Chery is entering a new and very tough automotive market in Australia and Chinese buyers are snapping up everything that has wheels. At least Chinese companies have a history of rapid updates and improvements.
But the J1 is also awkward to drive due to poor gearing and a body that feels “loose” compared to other kid car models. Chery doesn't like hills or hill starts where it takes a lot of revs and some clutch slip to get going.
Luckily, Ateco promises to change the final drive ratio very soon. The engine also has a "hanging throttle" that also messes up some Proton models and makes smooth driving difficult. There is no news of any changes.
Regardless, the J1 rides reasonably well, is quiet, has comfortable seats, and is, after all, very, very cheap. This is the main vehicle and people will buy it because it sells for the price of a used car with a spare.
It's easy to criticize the J1 and complain about what needs to be improved, but the little Chery is new to the brand and China, and everyone knows that things will only get better from there.
BOTTOM LINE: Great deal, but not a great car.
GOAL: 6/10 WE LIKE: Price, price, price WE DON'T LIKE: Performance, quality, untested safety
Cherry J1
PRICE: $11,990 per trip
ENGINE: 1.3-liter four-cylinder
OUTPUT: 62kW / 122 Nm
ECONOMY: 6.7l / 100km
EMISSIONS: 254g / km
RIVALS: Hyundai Getz (from $13,990): 7/10 Nissan Micra (from $12,990-8): 10/11,790 Suzuki Alto (from $6/10): XNUMX/XNUMX
