Top 3 things you need to know about the Chery J1.

 

By Chad Lückhoff

We look at three little known facts about the rather unpopular Chery J1, covering naming, engine and safety.

The Chery J1 may no longer be on offer in an official capacity but that doesn't mean that there aren't any floating around, waiting for a new owner. A pre-owned J1 may just be what you are looking for if you're looking at getting a compact, urban runabout.

While there were concerns around the reliability, build quality and safety of the J1, those that took the plunge and purchased one seemed to have enjoyed their service from the little car. Sadly, there were not enough takers and the model was discontinued shortly thereafter.

Either way, here's three things we think you should know about the Chery J1.

 

What's in a name?

The Chery J1 is known as the Chery A1 in some other markets, as well as the Chery Ego and Chery Face. The reason that it's not known as an A1 is because Audi sells its own A1 in these markets.

Why would you need to know this? 

If you're looking to get hold of spare parts or accessories from abroad, it's useful to know what the model's other name is as your search for a Chery J1 may not yield enough results.

 

Powering the hatch.

The Chery J1 is powered by a 1.3-litre, twin overhead cam, inline 4-cylinder, petrol engine. It has four valves per cylinder and produces 61 kW and 114 Nm torque. This is more than adequate to move the compact body shell but don't expect any blistering performance figures from the little hatchback.

 

Safety concerns.

Much was said about the Chinese-made hatchback and their notorious safety ratings. While it is true that the Chery J1 only scored a barely passable 3-stars in the ANCAP crash tests in 2011, the J1 is fitted with some respectable safety equipment, especially when considering the price.

The J1 comes standard with ABS and EBD, there are side impact protection beams and dual airbags to boot.