Among the most affordable small cars on the Ukrainian market, the Daewoo Matiz and Chery QQ stand out. They look very similar, but technically they are completely different cars, and their price tags also differ. Experts from AvtoPortal tell you how to make the right choice and what to pay attention to when buying such used cars.
Chery QQ
Description
• Body type: hatchback
• Dimensions Length/Width/Height, mm: 3550/1510/1490
• Wheelbase, mm: 2330
• Ground clearance, mm: 115
• Curb/Gross weight, kg: 880/1265
• Trunk volume, l: 165/625
• Fuel tank volume, l: 37
• Drive type: front
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual, 5-speed robot
• Brakes front/rear: disc/drum
• Suspension front/rear: independent/semi-independent
• Engines:
• Petrol 3-cylinder 0.8 L 12V (52 hp), 4-cylinder 1.1 L 16V (68 hp)
History
2003: Chery QQ was first presented to the world
2005: the model appeared in Ukrainian car dealerships
2006: based on the QQ, the five-door liftback Chery Jaggi was created
2011: the car underwent a facelift
Body
The Chery QQ almost exactly replicates the appearance of the Daewoo Matiz.
The metal used for the Chinese "twin's" body is thin and not of high quality, which directly affects safety in accidents. This is confirmed by the results of a crash test conducted by specialists from "Autoreview" magazine.
The paintwork is also far from ideal. Over time, the paint begins to peel on bumpers, mirrors, and sometimes on the rear spoiler. Corrosion resistance also leaves much to be desired.
Special mention should be made of the fragile bumpers, which crack even from light impacts.
Interior
The Chery QQ existed and still exists only in a five-door version. Five seats are declared, but only four can sit comfortably. The light interior trim is very easily soiled. The materials are cheap, the plastic is hard and not very pleasant to the touch, and over time it starts to squeak.
The plastic in the "cuckoo" (the popular nickname for this model) emits an unpleasant odor. This is especially noticeable in hot weather or when the heater is on.
The car's visibility is good, which makes parking easier. True, the base version lacks a rear wiper, and in rain rear visibility noticeably deteriorates.
Sound insulation is practically absent, but for a car in this price segment, this is rather the norm.
The trunk of the Chery QQ is modest (165 L), but if you fold the rear sofa, the volume increases to 625 L. The backrest folds in parts in a 60:40 ratio.
The air conditioner works strangely: either too intensely or barely noticeably.
The light control unit raises questions. A beginner behind the wheel will find it difficult to find the headlight switch, since it looks more like a brightness adjuster for the instrument panel or a corrector.
The pedals are positioned inconveniently: the assembly is shifted to the right, and the pedals themselves are too close to each other. On cars with a manual transmission, this is especially acute.
Engine
Under the hood of the QQ, there can be engines with a volume of 0.8 L or 1.1 L. Most often in Ukraine, versions with a 1.1-liter engine producing 68 hp are found.
The fuel consumption of the "cuckoo" pleasantly surprises. Unlike the rather voracious Matiz, the Chinese car with a 1.1 L engine and a "robot" consumes 7 L in the city and 5-5.5 L on the highway. The version with a 0.8-liter engine is even more economical: about 4.5 L on the highway, 5.5-6 L in the city.
Serious breakdowns of Chery QQ engines usually do not happen, but some nuances still exist. The main one is the crankcase ventilation valve, which becomes clogged over time. This leads to increased oil consumption and smoke from the exhaust. To avoid the problem, the valve should be cleaned every 20-30 thousand km.
Cases of generator failure are not uncommon. Many owners also complain about the quality of threaded connections - the thread on the oil pan drain bolt often strips.
Both engines use a timing belt drive. It is recommended to replace the belt along with the rollers every 40 thousand km.
Engine oil should be renewed every 10 thousand km. The manufacturer advises filling 5W30 for winter and 15W40 for summer.
Transmission
The Chery QQ was equipped with two types of gearboxes: a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed "robot". The robotic gearbox is more common, and this is not surprising - there are many women among buyers.
The "robot" causes a lot of trouble, especially problems with gear shifting. The reason is usually in the gearbox control unit or the clutch position sensor. Often, by 20 thousand km, the damper in the clutch disc fails.
The manual behaves more reliably, although here too the final drive gear sometimes breaks.
Chassis
At the front, the Chery QQ has an independent McPherson suspension, at the rear - a semi-independent beam. The suspension travel is small, which has a bad effect on driving over bumps. When hitting a pothole, the car responds with strong impacts and an unpleasant kickback to the body.
The handling of the Chery is far from ideal. The suspension is stiff, but the car noticeably rolls in corners. On the highway, already at a speed of 100 km/h, there is a risk of losing control of the car. It is especially dangerous in strong side winds or when overtaking trucks - without constant steering correction, the car can be pulled to the side.
Suspension elements are cheap and short-lived. Ball joints and shock absorbers last about 40 thousand km. Stabilizer bushings require replacement already at 20 thousand km, and tie rod ends - after 30 thousand km. The rear suspension causes no complaints: it is simple and durable.
Prices for parts and maintenance
Maintaining a Chery QQ is inexpensive if the previous owner looked after the car and repaired it on time. Spare parts are inexpensive, but there may be problems with availability - some items will have to wait more than a month.
Timing belt - 110 UAH.
Air filter - 35 UAH.
Oil filter - 30 UAH.
Stabilizer bushings - 20 UAH. (1 pc.)
Shock absorbers front/rear - 480 UAH/400 UAH.
Headlight - 160 UAH (1 pc.)
Bumper front/rear - 350 UAH/270 UAH.
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Daewoo Matiz
Description
• Body type: hatchback
• Dimensions Length/Width/Height, mm: 3495/1495/1480
• Wheelbase, mm: 2340
• Ground clearance, mm: 150
• Curb/Gross weight, kg: 725/1210
• Trunk volume, l: 155/830
• Fuel tank volume, l: 38
• Drive type: front
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
• Brakes front/rear: disc/drum
• Suspension front/rear: independent/semi-independent
• Engines:
• Petrol 3-cylinder 0.8 L (52 hp), 4-cylinder 1.0 L 8V (64 hp)
History
1998: start of production of the Daewoo Matiz
1999: a version with an automatic gearbox appeared
2000: the model underwent a facelift
2001: large-knockdown assembly of the Matiz was launched in Uzbekistan
2002: a new 1.0 L engine (64 hp) was added to the range
2009: the Daewoo Matiz was replaced by the Chevrolet Spark, but sales of Uzbek Matiz in Ukraine did not stop
Body
The body of the Daewoo Matiz, like that of the Chinese counterpart, is not too resistant to corrosion. This is especially true for cars of Uzbek assembly - their sills and fenders often rust already after 3-4 years.
The metal of the Daewoo is of higher quality, which means safety is higher. Even without airbags, this car gives more chances of surviving an accident. It is worth noting that in the early 2000s, the Matiz (in the version with airbags) received 3 stars in EuroNCAP crash tests.
Compared to the Chinese competitor, the Matiz can boast a larger ground clearance (150 mm vs 115 mm).
There are no complaints about the paintwork of Korean cars, but the quality of painting of Uzbek ones is noticeably worse.
Interior
The interior of early Matiz is finished better than that of newer models. But in any case, the quality of materials in the Daewoo is higher than in the Chery.
The seat upholstery of the Matiz is dark and not so easily soiled, and the material itself is more wear-resistant than that of the QQ.
The level of sound insulation is the same as that of the competitor - that is, practically zero.
Interestingly, the trunk of the Daewoo is slightly smaller than that of the Chinese car, but the load capacity is 100 kg more and amounts to 485 kg.
Among the disadvantages, one can note the absence of a tachometer even in top versions (the QQ has one), as well as the rear sofa, which folds only as a whole.
Engine
At first, the Daewoo Matiz was offered only with a 0.8 L engine (52 hp). Since 2002, a more powerful unit with a volume of 1.0 L (64 hp) appeared. Compared to the QQ, Daewoo engines provide better dynamics.
Fuel consumption, given the engine sizes, is quite high. With an automatic gearbox in the city, it reaches 9-10 L per 100 km, on the highway - 7-7.5 L. With a manual, things are better, but the Matiz cannot be called economical: in the city 8-9 L, on the highway 5-6 L.
There are no serious complaints about the engines; they are quite reliable and trouble-free, but minor drawbacks still exist. Over time, the idle speed regulator and throttle position sensor become dirty, causing the engine to run unstable. Also, due to moisture ingress, the air conditioning clutch sensor may fail. This is solved by installing additional protection for the engine compartment. At high mileages (over 100 thousand km), the valve cover gasket may start to leak.
Like the QQ, the Matiz uses a timing belt, which needs to be replaced every 60 thousand km.
Oil is changed every 10 thousand km. For winter, 5W30 is recommended, for summer - 10W40.
Transmission
The Matiz was equipped with two types of gearboxes - a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic.
The automatic transmission was installed only on cars with a 0.8 L engine. Unlike the Chery QQ, the Matiz has a full-fledged automatic, and there are fewer problems with it. But at high mileage, the axle shaft seals may leak.
On the manual, after 100 thousand km, the gearshift cables stretch, causing gears to engage less clearly and the lever travel to increase.
Oil in the manual gearbox needs to be changed every 40 thousand km (the manufacturer recommends the first replacement at 10 thousand km). According to specialists, the oil in the automatic should be changed once every 100 thousand km, but experts advise doing this every 60 thousand km.
Chassis
The Daewoo's suspension is short-travel - just like the Chery's (or vice versa). In terms of ride comfort, there is not much difference - small wheels have difficulty digesting our potholes.
In terms of road stability, the Matiz behaves better than the QQ, but at high speeds it is still difficult to control.
The steering is mechanical, with power steering in expensive trim levels. It cannot be called reliable: on a regular rack, the bushings wear out by 40 thousand km, and with power steering they last even less - about 25 thousand km. Because of this, a knock appears in the steering when driving over bumps.
The chassis of the Matiz is more durable than that of the Chinese car. Ball joints last about 100 thousand km, shock absorbers - 90-100 thousand km, tie rod ends - about 60 thousand km.
Prices for parts and maintenance
Maintaining a Daewoo Matiz is inexpensive. Unlike the Chery, there are no problems with the availability of spare parts.
Timing belt - 120 UAH.
Air filter - 45 UAH.
Oil filter - 60 UAH.
Stabilizer bushings - 15 UAH. (1 pc.)
Shock absorbers front/rear - 600 UAH/500 UAH.
Headlight - 340 UAH (1 pc.)
Bumper front/rear - 460 UAH/430 UAH.
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Conclusion
On the secondary market, the Daewoo Matiz of the first years of production costs from $3500. For fresh examples with an automatic transmission, they ask up to $9000 (with a manual - on average $600-$1000 cheaper). For almost the same money as they ask for an early Matiz, you can buy a Chery QQ from 2005. And fresh Chery with a "robot" are noticeably cheaper than the Daewoo - about $6000. Answering the question "take an older Daewoo or a fresher Chery", it is worth saying that reasoning this way is wrong. You need to evaluate the specific condition of the car. After all, you can find a fresh Matiz in the condition of a seven-year-old Chery, and vice versa. One thing can be advised for sure - do not forget about safety and pay attention to the presence of airbags.
