Chery Amulet. Personal amulet
The largest Chinese automaker, Great Wall, brought a whole lineup of models to our market — essentially licensed copies of old but proven Japanese cars. FAW, which was once created with the participation of ZIL engineers, also established supplies of its passenger cars. Having covered all classes with their own vehicles, the Chinese decided to occupy the cheapest price niches, where demand is traditionally high in our country. Today, there are about ten (!) Chinese brands in Russia. Among them is Chery, four models of which are officially certified for sale here. These are the Sweet (QQ) subcompact, the Tiggo crossover (a copy of the RAV-4), the B11 mid-size sedan (also known as Oriental Sun), and, finally, since December 2005, the Amulet (or Flag Cloud), which will compete with the Taganrog Hyundai Accent. The price starts at $10,990.
The Chery Amulet, based on a slightly modified Seat Toledo with a licensed Mitsubishi engine, is currently perhaps the most affordable foreign car on the market. After the appearance of simplified versions, the price even dropped to $9,000! For that kind of money, you can buy a new Russian car, although it was designed back in the early 90s, so calling it modern would be a stretch...
Until now, domestic models have reigned supreme in the price segment up to $10,000, but now they have competitors ready to offer their product for the same money. In China, unlike Europe, there is no problem with cheap labor, so the moment for expansion is chosen perfectly — our auto industry is in decline, and the market is growing rapidly. Our buyer is unpretentious and still looks toward cheaper cars.
Of course, for the "advanced" versions of the Amulet, you will have to pay more. Unfortunately, all modifications differ from each other only in the set of options. Under the hood, they all have the same 8-valve 1.6-liter engine with 94 hp. The most reasonable choice seems to be the version with a minimal power package, air conditioning, and power steering — they ask $10,990 for it. The next trim for $12,090 adds ABS, a radio, and alloy wheels, while the most expensive ($12,490) includes a driver's airbag. It seems the Chinese approached the formation of trims with the budget-conscious Russian buyer in mind: all these "extras" like airbags and air conditioning only increase the price, so base versions without such options are noticeably cheaper.
The appearance of the "Chinese" cannot be called revolutionary, but it doesn't look outdated either. A perfectly acceptable design — no better and no worse than many classmates. However, the Amulet's body has its own interesting solutions. For example, the trunk opens together with the rear window, like in the Skoda Octavia. True, the cargo volume is not the largest in its class — 420 liters, but access to it is excellent, and the rear seat backrest folds in parts, forming a flat floor. So from a "pseudo-sedan" you get a quite practical station wagon for household needs.
The rear sofa in the Amulet is slightly shifted forward, so rear passengers have tight legroom. But let's not forget that this is a C-class, where you don't expect much space. However, the ergonomics of the driver's seat are excellent — largely thanks to the high-mounted seat and vertical adjustment of the steering column. The only inconvenience is that when engaging fifth gear, you have to reach for the lever. However, this is typical for many cars in this class. The quality of the interior assembly is pleasing: all buttons and levers are familiar, except perhaps the push-button light switch, inherited from the Spanish "progenitor." Both the steering wheel and the column switches are convenient to use. The instrument lighting looks good. The center console has retractable cup holders, and the doors have spacious pockets. Other conveniences, such as armrests, are not provided in the cabin (except for the glove box). But the execution is at a proper level — all interior details are neatly fitted. The only drawback is the persistent chemical smell of plastic. It seems that for the first time, the owner will have to regularly air out the car.
By the way, a funny fact: the first batches of Chery Amulet were supplied only with a light interior. Only after a few months did dealers manage to convince the manufacturer that Russians prefer a dark color — it's more practical. And such cars are bought mainly for daily use as a "workhorse," and the easier it is to maintain, the better.
After a close acquaintance with the Amulet, it becomes clear that its main drawback is weak sound insulation. Although it cannot be said that it is "louder" than domestic competitors. Rather, it's a common problem of all budget cars.
The handling of the Chery Amulet is decent, though an active driver might not like the body roll in corners and some delay in steering response. The suspension, according to the manufacturer, is adapted to Russian roads and boasts enviable ride smoothness.
The dynamics are quite acceptable for its class, although 94 "horses" under the hood are only enough for calm driving. But the "Chinese" confidently pulls in fifth gear from 30–40 km/h — such is the gear ratio selection of the gearbox. An obvious drawback of the engine is its "gluttony." In the urban cycle, consumption exceeded 10 liters. At least the Amulet calmly digests 92-octane gasoline, which the factory recommends. And the modest power allows saving on transport tax and "auto liability insurance."
The brakes work properly — in normal modes, the car slows down smoothly and confidently, without losing directional stability. And this despite the fact that outdated drum mechanisms are installed on the rear axle. However, ABS is available as an option, which is still absent on many production domestic cars.
Chery had to take into account not only the color preferences of Russian buyers but also the technical comments of specialists who will have to fulfill warranty obligations. In particular, strong engine vibration caused serious concern. Chinese engineers involved European designers to solve this problem, and soon a new imported engine mount appeared on the car. Now Amulet developers are closely working on sound insulation.
It is noteworthy that all forced improvements did not lead to an increase in the model's price — and this is an important plus for a potential buyer.
Overall, the Chery Amulet left a quite positive impression. It seems that our "tens" have a real competitor capable of attracting those who do not want to overpay for image. The bitter experience of dealing with the domestic auto industry has not been in vain — many are ready to buy unknown brands like Chery Amulet, just to get away from the eternal problems with our technology. There is no failure statistics for "Chinese" cars yet, but the thorough approach of Chery gives reason to count on the reliability of the Amulet. However, let's wait a year — when the first examples with decent mileage appear...
Yuri Goryachev
Source – AUTOMANIA.RU