Cherry J3 2012 Review

Despite producing more cars a year than sold here in a year, Chinese manufacturer Chery has a tiny Australian profile.

The situation may change with the introduction of the new small five-door hatchback J3. Why? Because it's one or two notches above other Chinese cars we've seen in this country so far.

Value

For $14,990, the Chery J3 gets a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and is only available with a manual transmission. A decent audio system, air conditioning, power windows, remote central locking, an MP3 player, and reversing sensors come standard.

Technologies

Power comes from a 1.6-litre twin-cam petrol engine with fuel injection, driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission with the right gear and nice action. The engine is good for 87kW/147Nm, but it's a bit greedy at 8.9L/100km due in part to the J3's 1350kg weight.

Design

Inside, it's completely different from anything we've seen from the Chinese and is lavishly fitted with leather upholstery. The plastic is a bit too much, but it's softened by the different textures and colors. The fit and finish is also better than most we've seen from a Chinese to date, and we were pleasantly surprised at how functional it was with a decent-sized trunk, ample rear-seat head and legroom, and ease of driving. It also comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, including a spare tire.

And it's pleasing to the eye, especially when viewed from the rear with a neatly curved roofline ending in a pair of cat taillights. In general, the car is somewhat reminiscent of the Ford Focus hatchback of the previous model, but only briefly.

safety

The J3 is equipped with six airbags, ABS and a basic form of stability control that should be close to a five-star ANCAP rating in testing. This is a relief considering what has been done before by some Chinese brands.

Driving

The ride is comfortable thanks to front MacPherson struts and semi-independent rear trailing arms. Steering - rack and pinion with hydraulic booster and a small turning radius. Last week we drove to Australia for the first time on J3 and we can say that the impressions are positive. Much better to drive than, say, a Great Wall or a small Chery J11 SUV.

The company speaks honestly about selling cars here and spends a lot of money on research and development, and equips its cars with a lot of kits as standard. The "asbestos problem" in the early Chery is solved ... it is not in the new cars. The driving feel is very similar to most other small hatchbacks on the market in terms of performance and ride. He won't win a traffic light derby, but that doesn't matter to most buyers. The fancy controls are also easy to identify and use.

We drove the car over the curbs, parked and drank coffee, drove on the main city roads and then on the freeway at a speed of 110 km/h. It delivers acceptable performance, running smoothly and relatively silently.

Verdict

You keep coming back for the money that makes this particular car a real bargain among small hatchbacks, some of which cost double or more. Do they go twice as well and look twice as good? Definitely not. Buyers on a budget and used cars should check it out.