Chery A1 - an objective review

[Beei]

if they can develop a range of 0.8cc to 3.0cc engine to power a car, I would be the first to buy -> super fuel efficient..

[Cheongtako]

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Chery so expensive? I'll take the Kelisa anytime, and cheaper too.

Kelisa anytime safer than PRC Cars. Good Choice.

 

No lah!! I drove the Kelisa for 4 years. FUN car but QC also not any better.

[Mustank]

true true

 

korean tank tested in battle 3 times already

[Lustful_69]

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Hi everyone,

 

With China cars becoming more and more popular here, the quality and performance has also increased. Here's a review of Chery's all new A1.

It's impressive points include:

* designed by Italian design house BERTONE, responsible for some of the most beautiful car ever made

* state of the art digital display, which includes FC readings

* the A1 is now on an introductory offer of $39999, discounted from its retail price of $42999

* options include electric sunroof and DVD entertainment system

 

Chery A1: A1 for effort

 

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Test%...0225-51258.html

 

WE TESTED the Chery QQ, the first Chinese car here, in July 2006, and concluded that it was possibly the worst car we've driven.

 

Now, just over 18 months later, we are in another Chery. A Hyundai Getz-sized hatch called the A1. And what an improvement it is over the QQ.

 

The fit and finish of the exterior body panels, the quality of the interior, the insulation and the ergonomics are of a standard you can live with. The A1 even drives like a car, with an acceptable level of ride comfort and passable handling.

 

If you don't already know, Chery has a joint venture with Chrysler, where the Chinese company will supply the American one with compact and subcompact models which will be badged Dodge.

 

The A1 is the first such model, and Chrysler is expected to export them first to South American markets.

 

That is an indication that Chery has arrived. Or it could be an indication that the American company is desperate. Chrysler, to be honest, is no standard bearer. And Dodge isn't exactly an aspirational brand.

 

But, to be fair, the Chinese Dodges will eventually be exported to North America and even Europe. And to enter these markets, a car does not have to be pretty or zippy. But it does have to be fairly safe and somewhat eco-friendly.

 

Which explains the spiffy digital trip computer floating in the centre of the blue-lit instrument cluster. Among other things, it keeps track of the A1's fuel consumption, which is reasonably low when you are in fifth gear, on a flat road and on an empty stomach.

 

The engine has poor low-end torque, and its fifth gear feels like it should be the seventh. In that slot, a slight headwind will slow it down.

 

Thankfully, the A1 does not object to hard revving. If you get past the transmission whine and notchy gear slots (fifth to third, for instance), the acceleration builds up expectantly.

 

For a small car with wheels set at extreme ends, the car should have great manoeuvrability and handling. But its tendency to lean, roll and pitch in corners makes you feel like you are in a panel van - with Mr Bean at the wheel.

 

At least it steers and brakes decently enough.

 

What its body shape and layout offer generously is space. The A1 has adequate room for four adults and not too shoddy a boot.

 

The cabin betrays none of the rattle and hum that often haunt bigger and better cars. One sign that Chery has paid extra attention here lies in the rubber washers on the rear parcel shelf.

 

But there are other things which Chery doesn't seem to care much about. Like how high the wipers are at rest, the colour scheme of the trim and the cabin's strong chemical smells that cling to your collar.

 

Owners, however, will appreciate the powerful air-con, factory-fitted music console (with USB port), alloy rims and parking sensors with LED guidance.

 

All in all, the A1 is phenomenally better than the crusty QQ, but it still has some way to go before it is comparable to Japanese or even Korean cars in the same segment.

 

It already states that its the worst car in the 1st line, why add bother to add any dash of glory?

[Tohto]

Unless it produce a good Euro NCAP test results. If not all the talk of safety is no use.

Edited March 5, 2008 by Tohto

[Calford]

We should look at the progress and effort they put in, but not the end result.

There is no way China auto can match the big guy when we are looking at their size and resources.

I will give them time to grow and learn :).

Learning have no short cut, unless there are extra help.

[Vratenza]

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I see a lot of comments like "give China made cars a chance to catch up, Japanese made cars also played catchup to conti cars 20 years ago" etc etc. This is like saying a new mobile phone company should produce a phone that weighs a ton and look like a brick and have to carry a suitcase size transmitter or whatnot and selling it next to a slick small mobile phones we have today. Which one do you think we'll buy?

 

I mean we have all progressed!! It's like we used to wear diapers, does it mean we go back to wearing diapers again? (Ermmm ...maybe some of you still do..)

 

Car technology is the same, everyone has progressed, moved on. Those stuck in the past producing crap car should be stuck in the past. Not in the now.

 

Sorry if offend. But since China came into the world market, we started getting crap quality in all our daily products from food to electronics. I mean China food used to be good, but now it is downright dangerous in some of them. Life is about improvement but this is ridiculous, we're moving backwards because of C.

(Not a China bashing but a low quality China product bashing Now let's get back to cars..he he )

 

Agree

And to add.....I'll give them time...but I'll not be their crash test dummy....

[Lightbringer]

Helping "China auto" to grow and learn is not our jobs as consumers. Neither is it our obligation or duty. Since when did we own any company, foreign or local, anything at all? You talk as if we owe a duty to the automobile industry to support half-baked manufacturers of suicide-tin-cans on wheels. Siao arh?

 

As a consumer I don't give a sxxt if Hydundai, Proton, Toyota, Honda, plus all and sundry used to produce really sxxt cars in the past. Neither do I care a single iota about how hard Chery or all the other PRC-crap-cans have been working to improve or progress.

 

What I do care about, is the level of technology, reliability, quality, safety, satisfaction and beauty I can get, dollar for dollar, pound for pound.

 

And in this aspects, all China cars fail exceptionally. And if they need time to grow and learn - tough luck, that's none of my business and I daresay none of OUR business as consumers.

 

So take your garbage and shove it up where the sun doesn't shine.... thank you. (Although I think 95% of what I've just said will be totally incomprehensible to you)

[Tohto]

That's why I always said I don't look down on China car. But I think they need another 10yrs or so to reach a reasonable standard. I own a korea car, if 15yrs ago, I will not buy a Korea car. But now it is cheaper than jipun but quality is reasonable.

[Viviobluerex]

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Chery so expensive? I'll take the Kelisa anytime, and cheaper too.

Kelisa anytime safer than PRC Cars. Good Choice.

 

No lah!! I drove the Kelisa for 4 years. FUN car but QC also not any better.

Pro & Cons Bro.

 

Put Perodua & Proton together, which one better?

 

Then Put Perodua with either Chery, Haifei or Geely together, Now which one better?

[Pisces69]

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how is your wagon?

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Getting used to it. Advantage is the space behind is much more then my old Corona but I still miss it alot.

 

The accelerator pedal is too much to the centre (I guess it's good for gers) & the brake pedal is the same size as a manual car so not so good for 2 foot braking, & the wiper & turn stalks r a little too high up so it's not as ergonomic as my Corona.

 

The FC is better though & I can hit 300km b4 the needle hits 3/4 mark, which means I can drive more b4 I need to go JB to top-up.

 

Well it looks like I'm stuck with it so I might as well forget my Corona & get used to my new "wife".

[Pisces69]

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Consistency of the QC in those foreign-owned factories are by & large dependent on how stringent a standard the foreign company sets & enforces. But yes, currently some if not most of these "branded" products still pale in comparision with those that were previously produced in US or Japan.

 

And you are right about paying more for something that will last longer than an equivalent cheaper product. This is what most of us have been trying to get through to DK all this while. Pay peanuts, get monkeys.

====================

 

Looking at how those Chinese r doing biz, I wonder how much longer b4 the whole "system" collapses? I guess the only thing they had in their favour was cheap labour & overheads.

[Pisces69]

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well, company like chery had made known to many countries.

They are really working very hard in making their own engine. Full range of new engine range

from 0.8cc to 3.0cc is developing or going to develop.

 

3 new model expecting to launch this year Chery A3, A6 , QQ2 (S18).

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MAKING THEIR OWN ENGINE??????

 

They sud just get making their own car right 1st b4 they even think about making their own engines or gearboxes.

 

Even till today Proton & Hyundai have not got the finer points of making a good engine or gearbox right.

 

Maybe China wil try to design & build a 1 thumper & try to sell it to the world.

[Pisces69]

Also more serious in their product safety aspect.

For example the A6 model will come with 8 airbags and re enforce body frame.

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But wil the airbags deploy, is the $74,000 question?????

[Pisces69]

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if they can develop a range of 0.8cc to 3.0cc engine to power a car, I would be the first to buy -> super fuel efficient..

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Now now. U know what he meant. Don't b naughty.

[Pisces69]

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true true

 

korean tank tested in battle 3 times already

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Hahaha. Maybe even survive an assault on a Land Rover.

[Pisces69]

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We should look at the progress and effort they put in, but not the end result.

There is no way China auto can match the big guy when we are looking at their size and resources.

I will give them time to grow and learn :).

Learning have no short cut, unless there are extra help.

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The "end result" is what we r paying for & what we wil get.

[Nikolaiski69]

the rear, C-pillar of the A1 curiously looks like my Getz.....

 

Wait till I get my hands on it... i'll give you guys the REAL objective review hahaha