by Chinese cars today are far from what they were ten years ago. Among them, there are already supercars, premium cars, and quite a few electric vehicles. Overall, the quality has improved, even on budget models. An example of a “new generation” of Chinese cars is the JAC S4 crossover, which we tested.
The new JAC S4 is a small crossover with a length of 4410 mm and a wheelbase of 2620 mm. It was developed with the participation of Volkswagen specialists, making it something like a Chinese Tiguan.
Although there’s no talk of copying – the design is original and quite strict. The test version received LED daytime running lights, 17-inch wheels, and two-tone paint.
The interior of the JAC S4 turned out to be more original than the exterior, and there is something to surprise you. The first surprise is noticed when opening the door at night: the JAC logo is projected onto the asphalt – just like in Brabus.
The second feature of the crossover is the touch buttons for audio and climate on the central panel that appear only when the ignition is turned on. In addition, the JAC S4 received a virtual instrument cluster with several graphics options and a large 10.25-inch touchscreen.
However, the multimedia system has a nuance. Instead of Android Auto, there is its own application, and the smartphone (also Chinese, from AliExpress) constantly refused to work with it. The glove box in the crossover is small, but the compartment in the armrest is decent, and there’s a hidden niche under the central console.
The interior features leather with contrasting stitching, and there is quite a lot of lacquered plastic. The front seats are comfortable and hold the back well, and the driver’s seat even got electric adjustment, but the backrest tilt is adjusted manually. However, for some reason, there is no seat heating, even in the top version. The visibility in the S4 is good, and you quickly get used to the dimensions.
There is enough space in the back, and passengers of medium height don’t feel cramped in the legs and head. The second row has separate air vents and a foldable armrest with cup holders.
The trunk capacity is 520 liters, and with the rear seats folded down, it’s 1020 liters. The door is equipped with an electric drive with a sensor – to open it, just swipe your foot under the bumper.
Overall, the JAC S4 in the top Smart trim is quite well-equipped – keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, rain and light sensors, 360-degree cameras, audio, sunroof, parking sensors, cruise control. Plus, automatic braking, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring. For its price, it’s quite decent.
The new JAC S4 in Ukraine is available only with a 1.5-liter 150-horsepower turbo engine (though there is even an electric version in China). Considering its weight of 1356 kg, it’s sufficient, although the torque isn’t that high – 210 N⋅m at 2000-4500 rpm. So, you need to rev up the four-cylinder a bit, especially since the CVT is more tuned for relaxed driving.
In sport mode, the car’s character becomes slightly more lively. JAC S4 won’t tear off the line at the traffic lights, but the passport 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds seems quite realistic. The engine is not loud, with an average fuel consumption of 7.7 liters/100 km against the claimed 7.2. In the city, it came out to 10.8 liters/100 km.
You shouldn’t expect highly interesting handling from the crossover. The steering is heavy but not very informative. The suspension is quite stiff – bumps are felt, and more sound insulation in the underbody would be desired. However, body roll is small, and wind noise on the highway is not very noticeable. A ground clearance of 200 mm is quite sufficient in urban conditions.
However, at such prices, you can basically ignore the handling, and the quality is no longer what it used to be, although, of course, at some points, it seems like a screwdriver might be needed. You can buy the JAC S4 in Ukraine for a price starting from 460 thousand hryvnias, with the top version costing 543,375 hryvnias.
Technical Specifications of the JAC S4:
- 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine, front transverse
- Volume 1499 cm3
- Power 150 hp at 5500 rpm
- Maximum torque 210 N⋅m at 2000-4500 rpm
- Front-wheel drive
- Continuously Variable Transmission
- Maximum speed 170 km/h
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h 9.0 s
- Average fuel consumption 7.2 l/100 km
- Length/width/height/wheelbase 4410/1800/1660/2620 mm
- Trunk capacity 520-1105 l
- Ground clearance 200 mm
- Turning diameter 11.2 m
