This Chinese at the price of LADA Vesta is ideal in the current conditions. Test drive Changan CS35 Plus

Yes, that is right. The skating rink of the Chinese automobile industry is marching across our open spaces (and also car dealerships and your yards), and today we will not talk about those models that are trying to be premium and, in general, scream loudly about themselves. The hero of this material is modest and relatively accessible.

Here is Changan CS35 Plus, the youngest in the line. It is not a novelty, but today, it seems to me, it is very interesting and unfairly forgotten. There are already plenty of owner reviews about it, and also, in general, it is not so rare in the stream. And yes, it really costs about the same as the updated Lada Vesta.

Characteristics

• Engine: ICE, 4 cylinders, in-line, 1.6 liters, 92nd gasoline.
• Power: 128 HP s., 161 N m.
• Gearbox: automatic (AISIN).
• Drive: front.
• Average consumption during the test drive: 8.9 liters per 100 km.
• Drove: 347 km.

Acquaintance

Everyone calls him “Tiguan”

Yes, indeed, even while I had it for a test drive, I regularly heard phrases that it was a Volkswagen Tiguan. Consider this a compliment? Don’t know. In this case, they evaluate appearance, and yes, there are similarities. Changan also has its own design finds (well, or you can say that you peeped from someone else). Firstly, these are inserts above the wheels in body color, and secondly, a plastic insert in front with complex geometry. Well, here are the glossy black inserts on the rear pillars. All this makes the car very unbanal and, surprisingly, without the now fashionable slick lines. In general, for me it looks neat, yes, not so distinctive, but it does not irritate in any way.

Now to practical questions. After all, these cars are bought for practicality. In the presence of a plastic skirt, which is already a plus. Also, the doors close the thresholds perfectly, and you will not stain your clothes, which is also a plus. Ground clearance is adequate for the city, so as not to shy away from all curbs – 180 millimeters.

The luggage compartment meets with a high-positioned handle, which you still need to try to get dirty (I only managed to dust it on a dry primer). Inside the trunk, sadness is neat. No niches, hooks and other things. Only under the rug is a pencil case with a jack and small pockets. And a proof. The drive of the tailgate is only manual. In general, everything is strict, and even here the backlight turns off very quickly if you climbed into the trunk with the engine off.

I go to the second row. By the way, it is worth paying tribute to Changan, rubber mats are in the car from the press park, which is practical in the upcoming autumn-winter-spring. I immediately note for myself that the second row is spacious. Yes, there are more places for two than three, but you don’t feel deprived in your knees. The window line is also not very raised, which is also a plus. It was a great idea to make a pencil case organizer in the backs of the front seats. And put the smartphone, and other small things. But your passengers won’t put a cup of coffee anywhere, there are no cup holders in the back either in the doors or in the form of an opening section in the center (it doesn’t exist at all). So it goes. In general, the back is spacious, but simple little things are missing. And in the winter there will still be a lack of heating. But there is a blower and one USB-A.

I also note a pleasant color combination of “eco-leather” in the cabin: black with brown. Makes the interior look more noble. And cool leather perforation on all doors.

I move forward. Here the dominance of His Majesty – gloss. When will the Chinese stop loving this thing? Well, the touchpanels are in place. And the “touch” is everything here, except for the emergency gang and the buttons on the steering wheel. Unless the climate has somehow saving relief surfaces. They depict temperature and airflow rates. Yes, by how many values ​​you changed the settings (temperature and airflow), you still have to peep at the screen (by the way, here’s an idea: after all, these values ​​\u200b\u200bcan be displayed on the on-board computer screen!). But at least you can adjust blindly. All in all, a good compromise.

The automatic transmission knob, fortunately, is small. Nearby is a niche for a smartphone, which lacks a rubberized finish. There is also a 12 V socket (as much as 120 watts) and another USB-A. There are no mode dials or anything like that. The two cup holders are well placed and do not interfere with the hands of people in front lying on the armrests. Armrest, by the way, without adjustment. Inside the drawer.

By the way, another USB connector is hidden near the case on the ceiling, which is convenient if you use a DVR, you don’t have to drag wires around the cabin.

A few words about multimedia. The design is calm, without any special notions, and this is a plus. But here the localization is so-so in places, especially when it comes to typing Russian inscriptions into buttons. I switched to English. Also, the player interface is not the most obvious (but there is a “Pause” button, otherwise it is often ignored now). I also note that in the settings there are hints for some items, and in general the settings here are a standard set, it seems that they have not been deprived of anything. But what is not here is the support for Android Auto and CarPlay. There is an option to install a proprietary application (a la similar to Chery), it will allow you to broadcast the smartphone screen to the device … but it does not allow you to control multimedia through the touch screen, its “touch” seems to be turned off. In general, in a word – a crutch. You will have to mount the smartphone in the cabin and, judging by the marks on the plastic, someone has already done this during their tests. A couple more points: you can choose a picture for the background (even from a flash drive), as well as a 10 gigabyte HDD (I suspect it’s just flash memory). Let’s go further.

The display on the tidy is small, well readable and gives all the necessary information. It is controlled from the steering wheel, on which, in turn, all buttons are well read. Don’t complain here.

What else? There is an eyeglass, both mirrors in the visors without illumination. Large pockets in the front door cards and … and that’s all, perhaps.

The salon left mixed impressions, there are things inherent in more expensive cars (a large screen, a generally good finish and good plastic on the dashboard), but there are some banal things, such as heated rear seats and a steering wheel, a reclining armrest of the second row. There is no rain sensor on the windshield wipers yet. And the design of the cabin as a whole is restrained, but with style.

I left the strangest thing in the cabin for last – the location of the volume control. Drum roll … in front of the passenger on the dashboard! Also touch. What can I say, ORIGINAL. But you can also adjust from the steering wheel, don’t worry.

Let’s hit the road

Well, rides and rides

First of all, I will say that the Changan CS35 Plus is one of the few cars where I could not sit comfortably. Yes, the driver has electric adjustment (without profiles for several users), the steering wheel is adjustable for reach and height, but the feeling that the seat is directed downwards does not leave. Over time, I got used to it, but when I got into other cars, I immediately noticed the difference.

The second thing I pay attention to is good visibility. This is largely due to the large side mirrors. Definitely a plus. Given that there is no blind spot monitoring.

Ignition from the button on the panel, by the way, you can’t find it on the go. From some angles, the driver covers it with a steering wheel and a windshield wiper control knob. The steering wheel itself is visually boring, but comfortable. The buttons are voluminous and well read by fingers blindly.

I will also point out that while you are standing still, the car is very quiet. But when you start moving, the sound of the engine climbs into the cabin. At the same time, there is a volume of 1.6 liters, 128 horses, and you don’t get any special dynamics and excitement from the driving process. But the soundproofing of the engine compartment is not enough. Another sound you will hear is wheel arch noise. If all this bothers you a lot, go ahead for additional Shumkov.

Another uncomfortable moment was the suspension. It is unnecessarily harsh for a car from which you do not require any driver’s delights. It could have been made softer with our roads. In general, I noticed that the Chinese, if they are trying to do a la sports, they just make a stiff suspension and an artificially heavy steering wheel.

On this, I stop my claims and note that this car is without frills, for every day, and it is its invisibility and convenience that is the main plus. Write down the 92nd gasoline as a plus. That with the current prices is also a nice bonus. Although here is the consumption, about 10 liters per hundred with traffic jams, you are unlikely to be pleased. On the track, you can achieve an indicator of 7.4 liters.

Here’s something else I want to note – the sound of music in the car. Sometimes you get into an expensive car, the nameplate of some well-known acoustic brand is on the speakers … but it does not play. And in CS35 Plus, on the contrary, the sound of standard acoustics is very decent. Yes, here it is necessary to take into account the price category of the car, but for its class it is very worthy.

Review

Remove minor flaws

And she would not have a price, as they say. Yes, there would be a heated steering wheel, a rear sofa and support for Android Auto and CarPlay, and in general you can’t complain about anything. But here there is a pleasant interior, a huge screen and, in general, everything is not bad. Yes, of the options I would also like to see an electric rear door and a heated windshield. But the lack of Shumkov can be dealt with in any workshop. But yes, this is an additional expense, although many dealerships already put their noise. Oh yeah, there’s also a small hatch in the ceiling!

Also, I would change the rubber to a slightly more tenacious one, it was installed here from native, for Changan, China, and I would not say that I was very comfortable with it on a country road in the rain.

And what is the result? The CS35 Plus seems to be without any frills, a simple and in many ways thoughtful car and, importantly for a car in this class, nothing particularly annoying.

What else is there to want?

Pros:

• roomy and spacious for its class;
• I agree to the 92nd gasoline;
• good sounding multimedia;
• nicely decorated salon.

Minuses:

• no CarPlay and Android Auto;
• no heated rear sofa and steering wheel;
• noise from the engine and wheel arches.

May not like:

• an abundance of glossy surfaces;
• not the best Russification;
• the absence of any hooks in the trunk.

Source: Trash Box

Joyce

I am Joyce Corbett and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. My current role is as an author at World Stock Market, where I focus primarily on the tech section. My specialty is creating engaging content that helps to explain and demystify complex financial topics.