Chery QQ
The
China-built Chery QQ scores big on cute appeal, but what
lurks under its skin offers a different story
What's
New
This is the first appearance in the local market from Chery
Automobile, which was formed in 1997 as an auto manufacturer
owned by the Wuhu province government in China, although
is about to be privatised.
The pint-sized three cylinder 812cc Chery QQ has been in
production since 2003 in China, along with a 1.1-litre version
- the latter currently not available here.
The
QQ has immediately cemented its reputation as the most affordable
new car in Singapore with a price tag of $30,000. Its immediate
competitors are the 1.0-litre Perodua Kelisa and the 1.1-litre
Kia Picanto.
Only
a five-speed manual Chery QQ is currently available, although
an auto version is expected.
How
it Performs
In bright livery the QQ looks as cute as you could wish
for with its oval little headlights and smiling grille,
but on closer inspection the body panels don't seem so well
aligned. There's a flimsy feel to the bonnet when slamming
it down and we wouldn't advise leaning on it in case you
leave a permanent indentation on it.
The
interior is naturally built to a price in terms of the plastics,
but certainly looks cheery enough with chrome effect instrument
dials. The material seats that fold flat to the rear are
initially comfy but have a tendency to sag in after a while
and you soon lose the cushioning on your spine and bottom.
The
engine is vocal on heavy acceleration, but levelling off
at 90kmh in 5th gear it offers pretty good cruising ability
- the engine note flattens and surrounding wind roar is
also surprisingly well damped for such a small car.
The
five-speed manual box could be a chore for those used to
sweeter units though; there's a long through to the lever
and engagement is rather rubbery in feel. The steering feels
extremely light and very fast - almost flighty - but on
a set of bendy roads, as we discovered on Sentosa, it can
be guided around with pinpoint accuracy. However, once a
few bumps are thrown in, the QQ's chassis can get very bouncy
and then the steering control evaporates.
Unfortunately
it was also on this Sentosa route that the dreaded smell
of fried clutch plates reached the nostrils. The car had
to be parked up for a few minutes before the drivetrain
would engage again. Not acceptable on a new car. Vertex
Automobile, which sells the Chery brand here, would like
to point out that the Chery QQ was in the top three vehicles
of the Compact Car Segment of the J.D Power Asia Pacific
2004 China Initial Quality Study. Perhaps the newly formed
Chinese middle class are not used to complaining that much.
How
it Stacks Up
For its price the QQ is well equipped with one-touch power
windows that close globally, power steering, power mirrors,
rev counter, remote central locking, a CD and MP3 player,
plus front and rear fog lights. But we wonder how well the
QQ will fair after a year or so of daily driving? You can't
ignore the lure of the opposition for just $3,000 more.
Both the Kelisa and the Picanto offer a more planted small
car driving experience and a good level of build quality
for not an awful lot more. Cheapness is not always a virtue
if the entire package is compromised. In the Chery QQ brochure
there is, worryingly, a picture of a man standing in the
pouring rain with the Chery sitting motionless behind him.
We know how he feels. Perhaps QQ is an acronym for Questionable
Quality.
| Technical Specifications |
|
MODEL
Chery QQ
ENGINE
Engine: 812cc, 12V in-line 3
Max Power: 52bhp at 6,000rpm
Max Torque: 70Nm at 3,500rpm - 4,000rpm
TRANSMISSION
5 speed manual
TOP SPEED
130km/h
0-100km/h
18.5s
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