Attack of the Clones
Chery QQ
Engine:
displacement (l) 0.8
power (hp/rpm) 52/5200
max. torque (Nm/rpm) 77/3000
Fuel consumption (l):
city 6.5
highway 5.0
Dimensions (mm):
length 3550 width 1508 height 1491 ground clearance 130
Curb weight (kg) 1285
Equipment:
manual transmission, power steering, 4 electric windows, electric mirrors, air conditioning, central locking with remote control, fog lights, headlight leveling, audio system, alloy wheels R13, velour interior.
Olga
driving experience 7 years.
Last summer I got myself a brand new DAEWOO MATIZ. And by December, rumors reached me that a CHERY QQ had appeared on sale — supposedly a copy of my car, but with a more attractive price tag. Curiosity got the better of me, and I went to see it in person.
In the showroom, among many cars, it immediately caught my eye: its bright yellow color drew the gaze. Later it turned out that standard QQs are painted in calm tones, but for metallic you have to pay extra. Judging by the exterior, the car is clearly aimed at the fair half. The resemblance to MATIZ is obvious, but on closer inspection, differences were found. Chinese manufacturers, to avoid lawsuits, slightly redesigned the front part. It seemed more toy-like to me. But the mirrors and body kit in the body color look more cohesive than some MATIZ with unpainted elements. Another nice bonus is the rear spoiler and rear wiper. This is something I really miss on my car: my hand reaches for the washer, but it's not there, and the glass gets dirty quickly. For the QQ, this is a definite plus, and a significant one. Not every MATIZ version can boast four fog lights, but here they are — a useful thing, I won't argue. And another surprise that both amazed and delighted me: the base price includes five alloy wheels, including the spare! Here I'm ready to give the Chinese a standing ovation. They really hit the mark. A set of such wheels, I think, is not a cheap pleasure.
A separate topic is tires. I spent two weeks looking for winter tires for my MATIZ. The problem is that my size is produced by only a couple of manufacturers, hence the rush. But on the CHERY, tires from the VAZ 21093 fit perfectly — you can find them in any store, and the choice of brands and prices is huge. A plus? And how! Tested on myself. Due to the taller tires, the QQ sits higher than the MATIZ, and on our roads that's noticeable.
Almost forgot: the manufacturers decided that you won't have to spend on an alarm either — it's factory-installed here, along with central locking. The savings are obvious! You can spend the saved money on something nice, like perfume.
After inspecting the car from the outside, I asked about the price. Hearing the cost and the list of what's included, I was eager to look inside and take a ride.
And here I am inside. Because of the modest dimensions, many think it's cramped inside. I hasten to disagree: the cabin is quite spacious, at least sitting in the front, you don't elbow anyone. My friend, who is 180 cm tall, worried she wouldn't fit in my car. But it turned out she not only fit but felt quite comfortable. In the back, you don't feel squeezed either — there's enough space.
Now about the equipment. Power steering noticeably makes life easier — nothing to discuss here. The car has a short hood, so turning is convenient even without the booster, and with it, it's a pleasure. No need to mention the air conditioning — it's a blessing. Four power windows are only in the top version of MATIZ. Here, all four are present, and with one-touch close. For comparison: a branded set of power windows for MATIZ will cost $122 (973 UAH) plus labor and one-touch modules. The control buttons are located on the armrests of all doors and are well-made. In my MATIZ, unlike the QQ, there are no door pockets, and I really miss them — small items are scattered all over the cabin. It seems like a trifle, but it's nice, especially for us women who like order. The interior is thought out to the smallest detail: the rear seats fold down, which is convenient for transporting large items, since the trunk, frankly, is small. On the right sun visor, there's a mirror — I dreamed of such! Now my friend in the passenger seat won't have to adjust the rearview mirror to fix her makeup. The dashboard pleased me — well-made, with nice lighting and a tachometer. I really miss it in my car, especially at first while getting used to the vehicle. And later it will come in handy — it's a necessary thing.
The cabin has four speakers — two on the rear shelf — plus a radio. It's perhaps the only thing worth spending on. In cars of this class, decent acoustics are usually not installed. Although, if music is just background for you, you can skip it.
I don't smoke, so I didn't immediately notice that the MATIZ has no cigarette lighter. But for smokers, it's important. The Chinese didn't let us down here either — here you go, use it.
Now it's time to take a ride. It starts like clockwork. The half-liter engine runs smoothly. The gearbox is a bit stiff, but I think it will loosen up over time. The gearbox throws are short — you have to shift often. This is a feature of all small cars. A few words about the steering wheel — it's large and comfortable.
It seemed to me that the CHERY bucks less on the road. For the first couple of weeks of driving my car, I felt like I was on a stool. Then either the feeling passed or I got used to it. I think it's the shock absorbers or tires. On the stock tires, the MATIZ is not very comfortable to drive.
Among Russians, there's a widespread opinion that everything Chinese is crap. Judging by this car, I can't agree with that. The only thing is that the Chinese save on materials: the interior trim is poorer, the gray panel and gray steering wheel lose to black ones. There's a lack of "polish." But if that's critical, you should look at more expensive cars.
Overall, the car wins you over with an abundance of pleasant little things that make driving and life behind the wheel easier without increasing the price. Simply put, you buy a car that practically doesn't need any additional equipment. Get in and go. And for us women, that's very important.
Alfred
driving experience 10 years.
The Russian auto industry came to the forest, and there a cuckoo is cuckooing:
- Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo!
- Cuckoo, cuckoo, how long do I have left to live?
- Cuck-...
- Why so little...
This joke immediately comes to mind, because it's our auto industry that Chinese clones are hitting. It's too early to talk about serious competition with Western giants, but they are quite capable of taking customers away from domestic manufacturers. This "cuckoo" car is direct proof. Not only is the MATIZ one of the most affordable foreign cars, already competing with our cars, but its clone, the QQ, has become even closer to the Russian buyer in price. That made it all the more interesting to figure out what it really is.
As for the test, there are plenty of impressions. First, I never cease to be amazed at how much space fits in such small cars. It's interesting to be inside — it turns out to be more spacious than it seems from the outside. But, to be fair, that's not the Chinese's merit. On the outside, the car is generously decorated with plastic in the body color and looks quite attractive. Unlike the donor — MATIZ, the QQ has a modified radiator grille, and it clearly hints at Ford kinship (the shape of the "smile" is exactly like Ford's, only smaller).
The equipment is impressive — it already has almost everything you need. No extra spending on an alarm, electric windows, or an audio system with a shelf will be needed. The car even has a one-touch window closer, which is rare even in more expensive cars.
While driving, you shouldn't expect any surprises from the car — it's typical behavior for a vehicle with a short wheelbase and small wheels. By the way, standard 13-inch wheels can be easily installed on the QQ, which will please Matiz owners. The headlight switch is located unusually — it's not a toggle switch but a wheel located on the left, where the headlight leveling control is usually placed. The wheel itself is identical to those used for adjusting the instrument panel backlight. The solution is not the most logical, and in winter with gloves it will be inconvenient to use. Also, the light plastic on the dashboard is concerning — on a sunny day it will likely glare onto the windshield. The fabric upholstery of the interior is very similar to that used in the domestic Lada "Kalina" — it seems the materials are purchased from the same supplier.
The gearbox raised questions — the lever engages stiffly. Out of curiosity, I took a ride in the same car but with a 1.1-liter engine, and there the gearbox was fine. This suggests that in the first example, only an adjustment of the gearbox is needed. The 1.1-liter engine is noticeably more lively: it pulls confidently and doesn't force frequent shifting during acceleration, unlike the version with the 0.8-liter unit. In such a car, driving becomes more comfortable and relaxed. Overtaking is done without needing to downshift. And considering that in summer the air conditioning will take away some power, the QQ 1.1 clearly becomes a more attractive option, and the price difference no longer seems significant. Power steering even on such small cars is not a luxury but a necessity, and the QQ clearly demonstrates this. The brakes also pleased — they are comfortable and informative. Overall, the car did not give that feeling of "cheapness" I expected. The only thing you notice is that the car's reactions are slightly vague; they lack density and composure. Perhaps this is typical for all compact cars, but the fact remains.
The savings on interior trim materials and plastic are noticeable, although the quality of their execution is good — there are no burrs on plastic parts, and they fit tightly together. But still, for that money, the buyer gets quite a lot of car.