Chery Arrizo 5

I bought the Chery Arrizo 5 in August 2019 and have driven 27,000 km so far. I chose it mainly because of its affordability, my好感 from seeing Chery taxis in Wuhu during college, and support for Chinese brands. The exterior and interior design are underwhelming; the industrial design feels unoriginal, and the high-gloss black trim attracts too many fingerprints and dust. The space is excellent—with seats folded flat, it easily carried bicycles and company materials. The 1.5L naturally aspirated engine lacks power; overtaking in the city even with third gear and full throttle is slow, and it's not ideal for highway overtaking. At over 140 km/h on the highway, the steering wheel feels unstable, and it's noisy at 120 km/h with the engine at 3500 rpm. The suspension is extremely stiff, making bumps very harsh. Reliability is decent overall, though there was an engine starting issue that took two weeks to fix by replacing the camshaft at the 4S店, where service was unprofessional. Fuel consumption is relatively high: around 9 L/100 km in the city, 7-8 L on fast roads, and 6.5-7 L at 100 km/h on the highway. Despite these issues, it has been reliable and protected me from the elements for three years. While I'm unsure about choosing Chery again due to concerns like the Tiggo 8 hybrid's high fuel consumption and Arrizo 8's airbag reduction, I'll definitely stick with Chinese brands.

The Chery Arrizo 5, despite its small size, offers ample space with a 2.67m wheelbase, comfortably accommodating 180cm passengers front and rear. Maintenance costs are low, with third-party parts around three-digit prices. However, fuel consumption is high: MT models average ~8L/100km, CVT ~10L. Its stiff suspension affects ride comfort over manholes and speed bumps. Air conditioning and power are conflicting; above level 3 AC, overtaking power is insufficient. Quality control needs improvement, with rough assembly and occasional rust spots on some units. It works for daily commuting but lacks performance for aggressive driving.

Although the car buying process was a bit awkward, I'm satisfied with my Chery Arrizo 5. I knew about its space, fuel consumption, and power before purchasing, so they're acceptable. After two months and 2000 km, the fuel consumption is around 8.0 L/100km in Dongguan and about 6.5 L/100km on the highway at a constant 100 km/h. Note that cruise control is only suitable for flat highways; uphill with cruise at 100 km/h revs it to 4500 rpm, which startled me. Power is just enough. When carrying 4 adults and 200 kg of goods from my hometown to Dongguan,起步感觉 heavy, but it gets better once moving. Overtaking in traffic requires revs over 5000 rpm; better to overtake when traffic is light as acceleration isn't strong enough. I like the interior, making me feel warm every time I get in. I can say responsibly that the Arrizo 5 has more rear head and leg room than the current Corolla; try it yourself to believe. Any Arrizo 5 owners modified ambient lights or added rear door speakers? Share your experience.