Chery J11 2011 Review
How much do you expect to pay for a new 2.0-litre petrol SUV the same size as a Honda CRV? According to our pricing guide, this type of vehicle starts at $26,000 plus on the road. Not anymore.
Chinese brand Chery just released their new J11 five-seat model, which is about the same size as the original Honda CRV (slightly similar too), for $19,990. This makes the suggested retail price (without roads) about two thousand less, or about $18,000.
Even more impressive is the fact that the J11 has plenty of features such as leather upholstery, air conditioning, in-car cruise control, power windows, remote central locking, a decent audio system, dual airbags, ABS, and 16-inch alloy wheels. in.
It also has a full-size light alloy spare tire mounted on the side tailgate. Not bad.
This is the first Chery available here, followed a few weeks later by a 1.3-liter small hatchback called the J1, priced at $11,990, fully equipped again.
The J11 is built in a relatively new factory in China and uses technologies refined by the world's largest automakers. Chery is the largest and most diverse independent car manufacturer in China with five assembly lines, two engine factories, one transmission factory, and a total production of 680,000 units last year.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 16-valve petrol engine has 102kW/182Nm and drives the front wheels via a five-speed manual or an optional ($2000) four-speed automatic transmission. Keeping in mind that potential buyers may be nervous about choosing an entirely new brand in this country, Chery is offering a three-year 100,000 km warranty plus 24/XNUMX roadside assistance.
Chery is part of the Ateco Automotive Group, which, among other things, distributes Ferrari and Maserati cars in this country, as well as another Chinese brand, Great Wall. Chery will be sold through 45 dealer networks, which are expected to grow significantly before the end of the year.
Last week we had our first local ride on the J11 on a decent 120km route that included suburbs, highways and freeways. It was a four-speed automatic that would be preferable for predominantly city driving. You can't help but notice the car's familiar lines, more than similar to a first generation Honda CRV mixed with a hint of RAV4.
But do not criticize the Chinese for this - almost every other automaker in the factory is guilty of copying in one way or another. The interior also has a familiar feel - the best way to describe it is generic Japanese/Korean, perhaps not quite up to standard.
The test car had acceptable performance given its 1775kg weight and seemed economical, although we couldn't test it. Chery claims 8.9 l/100 km on the combined cycle. It easily rushes down the freeway at top speed with minimal noise and vibration and has a comfortable ride. It felt solid, didn't creak or rattle, even when crossing the roadway and on uneven bitumen.
We tried it on a winding mountain road, where it was pretty much the same - no accidents and not too different from the average Japanese or Korean compact SUV. The driving position was acceptable, as was the comfort of the seats, and there was plenty of room for rear seat passengers. The luggage compartment is a decent size with a low load height thanks to the side folding tailgate.
We opened the hood held by double gas shock absorbers. He also looks quite normal there. Our first impression of the J11 is positive. It's an innocuous, compact SUV that blends in without causing irritation. It can be any number of similar cars from other manufacturers, except that the J11 costs many thousands of dollars less and is better equipped.
