Chinese brands are proliferating at a rate that is giving legacy players sleepless nights and SA consumers more options.
Last year Changan made a return to the SA market, now under the banner of Jameel Motors, a Middle Eastern importer with global operations.
With roots dating back to the late 1800s, Changan is one of China’s oldest automotive players. It has 14 production bases and 30 plants across the globe, with research and development centres in China, Italy, Japan and the UK.
Country manager Marinus Venter said the brand has established 25 dealerships over the past 12 months, supported by comprehensive aftersales support and parts inventory.
According to Venter, Changan seeks to intensify scale, aiming to take its retail network to 40 outlets by the end of the year.
The product portfolio launched with the Alsvin budget sedan, CS75 Pro seven-seater, Hunter double-cab and striking Deepal S07 electric vehicle.
This week it added the oddly-named Uni-S to the range, a model it hopes will grow to account for as much as 50% of local sales.
And it plays in a burgeoning arena where there is certainly enough activity to help achieve this: that of the C-segment crossover realm.
Think Toyota Corolla Cross, Suzuki Across and Chinese rivals such as the Haval Jolion, Chery Tiggo Cross and more. Cue Jetour Dashing, Omoda C5, plus the latest from “affordable luxury” player Lepas.
Marketing manager Chelsy Pinto said the Uni-S targets dual-income households, professionals aged 25 upwards, who want value without sacrificing style and amenities.
It helps that the Uni-S looks the part, with a confident posture and well-proportioned dimensions. Many Chinese rivals blatantly copy the aesthetics of legacy rivals. The Uni-S, while somewhat derivative, relies slightly less on outright aesthetic mimicry — it seems mostly original save for the backside, with a strong Volkswagen Tiguan flavour.
You might have guessed it already – but the displacement of the turbocharged-petrol motor serving under the hood is 1.5l. That seems to be the default where Far Eastern contenders are concerned. Outputs are 138kW/300Nm with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic as standard fitment, while drive is to the front axle.
Three model grades are on offer, starting with the CS (R389,900); CL at R429,900 and the CE for R469,900. This is right around the sweet spot of the average new vehicle finance amount.
Warranty and service plan is of a five-year/150,000km and five-year/90,000km duration respectively.
Its position in the Changan range bridges between the budget Alsvin sedan and the seven-seater CS75.
We spent the day with the range-topping CE. The cabin reveals many of the familiar contemporary Chinese car elements, from a fascia that sweeps into the door panels, to extensive screen panels and a flat central pad for placement (and charging) of smartphones.
Build quality is above-average, leatherette of a convincingly soft texture adorns most surfaces – from the dashboard to the door panels and, of course, the seats. For the price, it evinces an air that one could say is near-premium.
It seems like criticisms regarding the integration of certain functions within the infotainment system are ignored by the decision-makers at Chinese car firms. The Uni-S is another car whose side mirror control functions are hidden within various menus.
That issue aside, the specification is generous, as is typical of Chinese brands. Ventilated and heated seats, wireless smartphone charging, as well as a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems are included. The quality of the infotainment system, both in display and functionality, was superior to what we encountered in a recent test of the CS75, which is an older-generation Changan product.
Setting off from our overnight lodgings in Kempton Park, the low-speed operation of the dual-clutch appeared smooth, with a bit less of the usual clunkiness these gearboxes are usually known for.
On the open roads around Tshwane’s agricultural outskirts, there were various opportunities to stretch the 1.5l motor’s legs. It pulls with reasonable conviction, though can err on the noisy side when pressed. My rear passenger commented on the prominent induction noise audible from the backseat.
There are good things to be said about the overall refinement of the Uni-S, with a compliant ride even though it sits on 18-inchers, as well as above-average noise insulation. It handled with surprising surefootedness, driven spiritedly through the curves of Hartbeespoort’s R511. Average fuel consumption after returning to Kempton Park was 7.3l/100km.
Priced competitively, with attractive looks, good quality and decent road manners, the Changan Uni-S is likely to resonate with value-conscious South African motorists.
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