JAC S5: prices and specifications

JAC S5 is a front-wheel drive crossover from the Chinese brand JAC. It was first shown to the public at the Guangzhou Auto Show in 2012. The model has been sold on the Ukrainian market since September 2014. The JAC brand, relatively new to Ukraine, announced its entry into our market in 2013 and immediately introduced the S5. At first glance, it is difficult to determine the Chinese origin of the car: externally, it strongly resembles the Korean Hyundai ix35, and an inexperienced buyer might confuse them. Because of this, there are almost no complaints about the S5's design.

The JAC S5 is equipped with ABS and EBD systems, as well as front airbags. Additional trim levels may include traction control, electronic stability control, and hill-start assist. The car is only available with front-wheel drive. The front suspension uses MacPherson struts, while the rear has a multi-link setup. All wheels have disc brakes. Ground clearance is 180 mm. The base version comes with 16-inch wheels, while higher trims get 17-inch wheels.

Exterior

The JAC S5 and Hyundai ix35 look like twins. To make them distinguishable, Chinese designers, together with Italian colleagues, made minor changes: different headlight shapes, modified side stampings. Otherwise, the car is executed in a unified style characteristic of all recent Hyundai models. Sharp lines, a dynamic silhouette — the appearance is modern. Thanks to its similarity to the ix35, the Chinese crossover will surely find fans, and the moderate price will help.

Interior

The interior design harmonizes with the exterior. All surfaces create an unusual feeling of solidity for Chinese cars. Ergonomics are decent: even on first acquaintance, the impressions are positive. All controls are in their places, and the algorithms are standardized with Korean or Japanese counterparts. The cabin is spacious and matches the class. The seats, in terms of volume and firmness, are copied from foreign models — a person of any build can sit comfortably both in the front and rear.

Engine and Transmission

For the Ukrainian market, a 2.0-liter engine is offered in two versions: naturally aspirated with 136 hp and turbocharged with 176 hp. There is also a version with a 1.8-liter turbo engine producing 163 hp. The turbocharged S5 surprises with its acceleration dynamics. Fuel consumption, even under hard driving, does not exceed 12–13 liters per 100 km. Regardless of the engine, only a 6-speed manual transmission is installed, with long but precise gear shifts. Drivers accustomed to German cars may complain about the excessive lightness of shifting.

Safety

The JAC S5 has not undergone crash tests according to European standards, but it has passed similar tests in China. According to C-NCAP, the model survived the test decently and received 5 stars. Whether to trust Chinese tests is a rhetorical question.

Features

When driving the car, there is a lack of feedback from the steering wheel. However, the S5 behaves in maneuvers as expected. On a straight road, you can drive at speeds up to 160 km/h — the car behaves predictably and understandably. Trips of 200–300 km on the highway do not cause fatigue. Disadvantages include vibrations from the suspension, which are sometimes transmitted to the steering wheel and body. They occur infrequently and only on uneven surfaces known as "washboard roads." Individual potholes, joints, and bumps are felt as a slight shudder of the body, and only if their size is significant.

Popularity in Ukraine

Thanks to one of the best price/quality ratios, the JAC S5 enjoys decent demand in Ukraine. It is one of those Chinese cars that can break stereotypes about cars from the Middle Kingdom.

Our Verdict

With the S5 model, JAC has brought the quality and equipment level of its cars at least to the Korean level. Whether long-term operation will prove this remains to be seen. If reliability is confirmed and there are no serious complaints, the JAC S5 may well pave its way to the European market.