In this, the "Chinese" are compared with domestic UAZ cars - they also rust quickly. But corrosion in the cabin of models from the Celestial Empire has not yet been noticed, in contrast to the products of the Ulyanovsk plant.
Today we will analyze the Great Wall Safe SUV, popular in Russia. It is not entirely Chinese - since 2005, cars have been assembled in the Moscow region.
Appearance and interior
The first thing you notice when looking at the Great Wall Safe is its brutal appearance. The car seems solid and Japanese. There is nothing surprising in this - the SUV is a licensed copy of the Toyota 4runner II of the 1989 model year.
Only by the icon can you understand that the SUV is made in China. Photo: Youtube.comA beautiful and harmonious car - already in this it surpasses the UAZ Patriot, which cannot be called the pinnacle of design art. SUVs of the Russian assembly have a different, newer frame and chassis - from the Hover model, and not the similar Toyota 4runner II. For domestic buyers, this is a plus - the height of the cabin has increased, respectively, the rear passengers are freer.
Other differences from the Chinese assembly:
- ? Floor lower by 40 mm
- ? Drum rear brakes replaced with discs
- ? Handbrake lever on the central tunnel
The assembly of the Great Wall Safe is at the level, although the budget of the model affects with age - the quality of the paintwork is low, the finishing materials in the cabin also wear out quickly. But compared to the UAZ, everything is not so sad.
The car looks like a typical Japanese SUV, if you remove the Great Wall badges, no one will understand that it is a “Chinese”.
Engine and transmission
With a variety of motors, the Chinese did not become wiser. As a result, the SUV received one engine. This is a gasoline unit with a working volume of 2,2 liters and a power of 105 hp. With. The reliable engine is a copy of the 4Y from Toyota 4runner II. The Chinese version differs in settings, but if you wish, you can repair it with original Japanese spare parts.
Agree that the appearance is impressive! Photo: Youtube.comIt is impossible to call a Chinese motor a standard of reliability when compared with an analogue, but it runs 250 km without problems. If properly maintained, then 000 is not the limit for him.
The only thing that needs to be mentioned is periodic engine diagnostics. It is important to notice and eliminate all kinds of leaks and the failure of an outboard failure in time, otherwise problems with the motor will not keep you waiting.
The power unit is easy to repair and maintain, if desired, you can do everything yourself. Of course, you should not expect dynamics from him, but the motor is economical and pulls at low revs. Plus, the engine is adapted to run on 92 gasoline.
The transmission of the Great Wall Safe is also simple - a five-speed mechanics. There are no complaints about it, the clutch takes care of up to 250 km, if it is not periodically “fired”. In such cases, the resource will be about 000 km.
Chassis
The all-wheel drive of the Chinese SUV is “honest”, with a rigid connection of the front axle. The Chinese versions had a lever switch, and Russian-assembled cars received electronics. But freewheels (hubs) must be activated manually. To do this, you have to get out of the car.
The powerful frame hints at the strength of the structure. Photo: Youtube.comBy the way, starting from 2007, hubs began to be installed with automatic switching on. There is nothing good in this - they are not so reliable and fail more often.
Cardans must be periodically injected, otherwise the crosses will break. New ones are inexpensive, but changing them is problematic.
Car suspensions are the simplest - torsion bar in front, spring with a continuous axle in the back. There is nothing difficult to repair, and spare parts are inexpensive.
In the Chinese Great Wall Safe, there was a simple steering gearbox, when cars began to be assembled in Russia, it was replaced with a rail that used to leak and knock.
The braking system copes with its task, but you need to get used to it - after a passenger car, a Chinese SUV stops badly. But when compared with the UAZ, then everything works perfectly.
Why owners praise Great Wall Safe
To understand how the Chinese SUV is superior to the UAZ, you need to analyze its main advantages. The first thing the owners mention is a solid appearance.
Original Toyota 4runner for comparison. Photo: Youtube.comOf course, finding an SUV in perfect condition is not easy, most of them have body problems. But before, a new car from the salon sparkled with chrome and alloy wheels. And even now, if you look, you can find options with a whole body.
Some people buy SUVs with rust, disassemble them, digest them, process them, repaint them, and then operate them for 5-10 years without problems.
In general, the Great Wall Safe looks definitely better than the UAZ, and it has a much larger luggage compartment.
The configuration of the Chinese SUV is also richer than that of the Patriot from the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant. And at the same time, the cost of new cars was affordable.
Great Wall Safe is praised for its huge trunk and high load capacity. Large refrigerators and entire cabinets can be transported here, especially if the rear seats are folded down. The car is suitable for building a private house - some carry 20 bags of cement at a time!
It should be noted the feature of the rear door, which has a folding board. It can be used as a table when going out into nature. When it rains, you can sit on it, and the upper part will serve as a canopy.
Even from the outside you can see how much cargo will fit inside. Photo: Youtube.comPraise the owners of Great Wall Safe for maintainability. The car is structurally from the late 80s, so you can get to almost every node on your own and fix it. Spare parts for a Chinese SUV are cheap. If you want real quality, then you can put Japanese from Toyota 4runner ("Surf" or "Hilix").
In terms of cross-country ability, Great Wall Safe surpasses Niva and UAZ Patriot, Hunter from the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant can be the only worthy competitor.
Well, the amazing efficiency of the engine of a huge SUV is also worthy of special mention. The consumption of 92 gasoline in winter in a big city with all-wheel drive on is no more than 15 liters. And on the highway at a maximum of 120 km / h there will be 9 liters.
The main claims of the owners
The main disadvantage of the Chinese SUV is a rotting body. And here it’s not even about the quality of the metal, but about the lack of processing and thin paintwork.
There are also complaints about the plastic in the cabin - it is scratched, and when the panels are dismantled, the fasteners crack.
With a huge trunk, in the back seat, everyone who is taller than 165 cm will be cramped and uncomfortable. This is a feature of frame SUVs, and Great Wall Safe was still lucky - the Russian assembly lowered the floor 4 cm down. It's funny, but the rear passengers have the same amount of space as in the VAZ-2101/07.
There are no problems with access to the engine. Photo: Youtube.comThe engine is praised for its reliability and efficiency, but only the lazy owner did not complain about the lack of dynamics. A two-ton SUV accelerates to 100 km / h in almost 20 seconds. Power of 105 liters. With. car is missing.
But if you press the accelerator properly, then the SUV goes at its 120 km / h, and the most daring owners even accelerated it to 180 km / h.
The Great Wall Safe electrics are not reliable. Many owners complained about it, so frequent breakdowns are not uncommon.
Chinese cars are different, some of them are even reliable. Great Wall Safe is a clear confirmation of this, but its owner must be prepared to periodically process the bodywork and fix minor breakdowns on their own. For the countryside, this is the perfect SUV with an inexpensive cost of ownership.
