Honda, as I recall, even sued the Chinese over the SRV model, which looked exactly like the CR-V crossover. We laughed among ourselves back then, making jokes about Chinese ingenuity and resourcefulness... But look how it turned out – today, in front of the editorial office windows, there's a real collection of quotes, the embodiment of that very resourcefulness, though we no longer feel like laughing. The Shuanghuan S-Ceo – similar at once to the BMW X5 or X3 and the Toyota Prado on the outside, and to the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport or Isuzu Rodeo inside and underneath. Here, one should immediately give an assessment of the work done by Chinese engineers, but somehow the hand doesn't rise to simply write: like, for invention a 'five', but for subject and ethics a 'fail'. It all depends on how you look at it...
THROUGH THE WILD STEPPES OF TRANSBAIKALIA
Remember, in the song, the wanderer trudged along with a bag and so on? On rough terrain, you, just like the folk hero, will curse your fate if you don't take obstacles at speed. The 'Chinese' has no low range, but it has weight, and with a 2.4-liter 'Mitsubishi-like' engine producing 125 hp, moving off-road in a tight pull is impossible. The clutch can be condemned on the second steep hill. So don't be shy, especially since underneath, the S-Ceo is all like an adult SUV from the late eighties: front independent torsion bar suspension on double wishbones, and the rear is a dependent coil spring with a solid axle on four trailing arms and a Panhard rod. Ground clearance, according to our measurements, is about 215 mm under the axle housing. Geometric off-road capability is spoiled by a low front overhang, a long wheelbase, and a crossmember of the frame on which the transfer case rests at one mounting point. The underside is symbolically protected: a 2-millimeter-thick plate in front of the front suspension subframe and a sheet of metal under the transfer case. Whether to strengthen the protection, everyone decides for themselves, considering likely road conditions.
The S-Ceo's all-wheel drive is built on the classic part-time scheme. Drive control is carried out by a servo drive using a round handle on the center console. We did not notice a mechanism for disconnecting the half-shaft or hub clutches...
FURTHER – BETTER
The car's interior, with its design solutions, most resembles the work of 'Toyota' artists. The quality of the finish... The fit of panels, the instability of shiny toy plastic to scratches – a sad sight. Of course, some 'Chinese' cars are even worse, but here – there's a claim to solidity... The gray-black palette is quite appropriate here. The small and plump steering wheel is grippy. It's just a pity that its diameter is too small for the extensive instrument panel, which the steering wheel covers no matter how you set it. The column adjusts only for tilt, and the range is sufficient for a normal person. It was pleasing that in terms of cabin length, particularly the driver's seat, the S-Ceo is not inferior to modern European and Japanese cars. Before it, I found such legroom only in the Flying pickup. Any other Chinese SUV was annoyingly short for me.
SPECIFICATIONS: SHUANGHUAN S-CEO
The car is equipped with air conditioning, poor acoustics, and – attention! – a driver's airbag. In 'Chinese' cars supplied to some degree officially, I have not yet encountered airbags... Of course, its presence makes one think about the consequences of deployment, but fortunately, we don't have such statistics yet – knock on wood.
The S-Ceo costs about $34,000 in maximum trim. But even with ABS, EBD, SRS, and the rest, that's a lot. Because for that amount, you can already get a quite lively BMW X5 or Toyota Prado – used, of course, but real...
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