Three Chery J2 accessories you didn’t know you needed.
The Chery brand failed to set the marketplace alight in South Africa, so it was eventually quietly withdrawn by its importers. But, thanks to those few buyers who bought them new, there are some nice used examples in the marketplace. The J2 was their supermini-class competitor, and can be made rather more palatable with the fitment of these three accessories.
No Chery models appear on the new-car price lists anymore, so the only way to lay your hands on a used J2 would be in the pre-owned marketplace. It’s only logical that you can’t get Chery-approved accessories all that easily, then – but that’s where the aftermarket steps into the fray. None of the accessories listed here are OEM Chery products, but they all will make your life with a used Chery J2 a lot more agreeable.
1. Aftermarket alloy wheels and low-profile tyres (~R 10 000)
The Chery J2 shipped with 15-inch alloy wheels and rather skinny tyres as standard, but Chery themselves also offered a frillier “Swag” derivative with 17-inch alloy wheels. It’s only logical that owners could also easily fit beefed-up rolling stock, then – the J2 uses a fairly conventional “4x114” PCD (Pitch Circle Diameter) bolt pattern, and many wheel retailers will have a selection of suitable wheels available. As an example, you might want to consider these with a black finish and a machine-faced lip to instantly give your Chery J2 a good-sized shot of attitude.
Related: We’ve reviewed only one Chery J2 – the Swag trim added later in this model’s local life.
2. Infotainment system upgrade (from ~R 1000 and up)
The J2’s standard audio system is a bit outdated in today’s world, so upgrading this equipment will bring an immediate improvement in your well-being. Replace the standard “Double DIN” head unit (with its coarse dot-matrix display) with a swanky touchscreen incorporating navigation, instead.
Or just add a higher-quality double-DIN item with Bluetooth and AUX compatibility, and you will immediately benefit from some modern technology. For even better results, install higher-quality speakers and even an external amplifier to drown out the noise from the J2’s rather rough-running and seemingly hard-working 1.5-litre engine.
Related: The top 5 things you need to know about the Chery J2.
3. Cover the steering wheel in leather (R 1500-up)
The steering wheel is one of the main tactile interfaces with a car, and the standard Chery J2 was particularly unpleasant in this regard: its steering wheel is made of a slightly squishy plastic with a very thin, cheap-feeling rim. This problem is easy to rectify, however, and not even too expensive, either.
Simply disconnect the battery, remove the airbag assembly, take off the standard steering wheel, and send it to an aftermarket supplier like Speedline Manufacturing for a few days. If you like, you can even specify some contrast stitching at the same time. When you get it back, the steering wheel rim will be padded and trimmed in real leather, and will still accommodate the standard airbag as well. Problem solved: your steering wheel will look a huge lot nicer, be much nicer to hold, and add some flair to an otherwise-dreary cabin.
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Don’t think that these alterations will transform your Chery J2 into a Polo, Corsa, or Fiesta – it’s still a Chinese budget car underneath, after all. However, it will look a lot better inside and out, be more functional, and nicer to drive. That’s about as much as any budget-car buyer could realistically hope for, but it’s worth it nonetheless.