JAC J7 - take a stylish car from China, or Volkswagen Polo is better

Chinese cars please with variety. It's just that more and more premium models, or crossovers close to this, are on sale. Gone are the days when budget sedans and hatchbacks were brought from China to Russia.


But there is a gap in the dominance of expensive SUVs and crossovers from China - JAC J7, for example. Let's try to disassemble the car thoroughly, well, and compare it at the same time with a real bestseller in Russia - Volkswagen Polo.

The models cost about the same - about 1,6 million. A year and a half ago, for the price of a basic Chinese car, you could buy a "German" in a rich configuration, now, after the introduction of economic sanctions, the cost is almost equal. Volkswagen Polo even became more expensive by 100 thousand - 1,7 against 1,6 million.

Appearance

JAC J7 is a transitional car from cheap sedans to expensive crossovers. The hatchback turned out beautiful and certainly without a hint of budget. The Chinese excelled in terms of design, they even hired the Italian Daniel Gallone, who works for Alfa Romeo and Maserati.


Of course, a sports car from a Chinese car did not work out, but in front it really looks like a product of the Italian car industry with a trident on the grille. Although, no one confuses the model from the Celestial Empire with Maserati. But “Korean” he is called periodically.

The length of the JAC J7 is 4 mm, which is 775 mm longer than the Volkswagen Polo. But if you do not put two cars side by side, then the "Chinese" seems shorter. It was made surprisingly harmoniously folded.

In appearance, the JAC J7 clearly outperforms the Volkswagen Polo. "Chinese" looks more expensive and more modern. Only Russian drivers prefer a German car - this is a Volkswagen, it has been tested by time.

If approached impartially, that is, without taking into account brands, then the JAC J7 will definitely be the leader in the “appearance” category.

Salon

Inside, JAC J7 looks better at first glance. Stylish design, large vertical tablet. Although, if you look closely, there is a feeling of some kind of deception. As if they are trying to sell a cheap thing as a premium class. It seems that you can’t find fault with the build quality, but the leatherette on the seats is frankly budget.


Further inspection reveals flaws. There are no uneven joints between the interior panels, but there are backlashes.

But a fully digital tidy pleases, and if you consider that the color of its design can be chosen according to your mood, then initially there is no limit to delight. Then, when you start to delve into the nuances, the understanding comes that you have been deceived here. The on-board computer menu is frankly scanty, and the instrument panel plays with luridly bright colors.

The front seats are comfortable, the rear is spacious. If necessary, three people will fit on a common sofa and will reach 300 kilometers without complaints.
And what will the Volkswagen Polo offer? Of course, the traditional German quality factor and attention to detail. This car is honest from the very beginning - no flirting with artificial leather - mostly fabric, but high-quality, solid and wear-resistant.

Interior design is classic, one might even say boring. The front seats are simple at first glance, but they are comfortable. The visibility of the Volkswagen Polo is unexpectedly better, the Chinese car sacrificed this parameter for the sake of a stylish design.


As for the trunk, both models are at their best here, because the Volkswagen Polo is a liftback, and the JAC J7 is a hatchback. However, in the "Polo" there is definitely more space, and everything is designed more competently.

In the interior design category, it is difficult to name a winner. Each car has its strengths and weaknesses. The Chinese hatchback will appeal to young and “hot” drivers more, and the German liftback will be chosen by people who are thorough.

How is it in motion?

JAC J7 is equipped with only one engine option - a turbocharged power unit with a displacement of 1,5 liters. As for the power to the Chinese manufacturer, there is one serious question. Why is it fixed at around 136 liters. With. And where did this number come from?

No, there should be enough “horses” for its volume, only in China the same car is equipped with a 150 hp engine. With. Why he was so deformed, it is not clear.

There are several assumptions about the removal of 14 liters. With. for our country:

✅ Bad roads required traction on bottoms
✅ Adaptation for 92 petrol
✅ Increasing the resource of the power unit

The engine is paired with a CVT gearbox. There are questions for her - it really didn’t work out to fit the unit to the motor. For example, a stylish Chinese car accelerates somehow very sedately, although the gas pedal is depressed. And then the variator suddenly understands what is required of it and accelerates sharply. Only the moment has passed.


And the gear ratios in the box somehow change randomly, even if you move at a calm pace. It turns out that the Chinese still need to finish their JAC J7. Although, maybe someone will like such a direct car.

The fuel consumption of the Chinese model is expected - about 10 liters in the city and 7 on the highway, if you drive at the allowed speed. Gasoline AI-92 turbocharged engine digests without problems.

Volkswagen Polo offers a choice of two options - a simple and reliable aspirated with a displacement of 1,6 liters and a power of 110 liters. With. or 1,4 turbo gasoline for 125 "horses". In any case, it seems that both motors are inferior to the Chinese power unit.

But this is at first glance. German engineers offer a naturally aspirated engine in conjunction with an automatic or manual transmission, and a turbocharged version only with a DSG robotic gearbox.

All units are ideally combined with engines, so even 1,6 on the machine rides more predictably than the "Chinese" with its nervous or inhibited, depending on the situation, variator.


Turbocharged Volkswagen Polo with its 125 hp With. clearly superior to JAC J7. It turns out that in the category "motor / gearbox" the German car wins.

As for the ride and the behavior of the Chinese model on poor quality roads, everything is more or less in order. There is a smooth ride, there is enough clearance. But there are complaints about short-stroke shock absorbers, which often break through the "sleeping police".

But it is clear that the Chinese manufacturer, before presenting the car on our market, slightly modified it for operation in the Russian countryside. In the outback, the foppish JAC J7 has nothing to do.

The Volkswagen Polo hodovka works better - both on the track and in bad road conditions. Where the "Chinese" passengers will definitely shake, the "German" will not notice this much.


It remains to sum up. On the plus side, the JAC J7 has a stylish appearance, it looks definitely more expensive than it costs and has a wealth of options traditional for Chinese cars, often unnecessary.

Volkswagen Polo offers German reliability. This car has been proven by years of trouble-free operation and by thousands of drivers around the world. Inside, the model is more spacious, especially in the back row, and the quality of assembly and finishing materials will help close your eyes to the discreet design.

Judging by the statistics, Russian drivers choose Volkswagen Polo. But the main reason for the high demand for this particular model is the German brand. If the J7 were a Volkswagen, who knows how things would have turned out...