Table of contents:
- If you drive the word "Changan" into a Youtube search, it seems as if you've got to the premiere of a blockbuster. Stands like Creta, but better assembled than "Japanese"! … Luxury for 1,000,000 … Better than Crete and Renault Arcana! … I took Changan, although I could have Tiguan!.. Various bloggers, and just owners, are generous with loud headlines. However, the serious press does not lag behind either. Here is news from one analytical agency: Changan increased sales in Russia fivefold in March. We decided to find out the reasons for the enthusiasm and arranged our own detailed test of the CS35 Plus crossover - the most popular model of the brand
- Interior
- Practicality
- Technique and reliability
- Riding
- Equipment
- Competitors
- conclusions

Video: Second Wave: A Detailed Test Of The Crossover Changan CS35 Plus

2023 Author: Natalie MacDonald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 02:36
If you drive the word "Changan" into a Youtube search, it seems as if you've got to the premiere of a blockbuster. Stands like Creta, but better assembled than "Japanese"! … Luxury for 1,000,000 … Better than Crete and Renault Arcana! … I took Changan, although I could have Tiguan!.. Various bloggers, and just owners, are generous with loud headlines. However, the serious press does not lag behind either. Here is news from one analytical agency: Changan increased sales in Russia fivefold in March. We decided to find out the reasons for the enthusiasm and arranged our own detailed test of the CS35 Plus crossover - the most popular model of the brand
Changan CS35 Plus 1 159 900 - 1 299 900 ₽ Editor's choice: Luxe grade, 1.6 AT, 128 hp for 1 299 900 ₽ Rating: 3.3 out of 5 Pros
- Interior trim
- Equipment level
- Comfortable suspension
Minuses
- Small trunk
- Noise isolation
- Front-wheel drive only
Ownership cost per year with a mileage of 17 500 km: OSAGO 11 992 ₽ Hull insurance 40 625 ₽ Maintenance for the year 23 365 ₽ Transport tax 4480 ₽ Fuel 78 140 ₽ Total 158 602 ₽
The state-owned Changan company is one of the largest car manufacturers in China with 35 factories for the production of cars and components, 180 laboratories in six countries of the world and the largest, according to the official website, a testing ground in Asia. And one of the oldest - if we count from 1958, when the production of Chinese "Willis" for the army was mastered.
And in Russia, Changan is not at all a newcomer: the first cars were delivered back in 2013. A couple of years later, the Chinese agreed with Irito on a localized assembly, and today Changan sells five models in our market at once. All of them are of the now popular crossover format, but of different dimensions.

However, Changan cars did not become a noticeable phenomenon in the Russian market. Chinese "brothers" brands Chery, Geely, Haval are much more popular now. And even the current “fivefold increase in sales” (in reality, according to the results of the first quarter, even sixfold) does not fundamentally change the situation. Approximating the "dock-like" results for the rest of the year, in theory, in 2020, there will be about five thousand cars sold per year.
And a good three-quarters of them will be CS35 Plus crossovers - if the statistics are not broken by the recently debuted models. This car appeared in Russia last summer; now it is being sold with a single engine and two levels of equipment. We have the most expensive version of the Luxe on the test for 1 299 900 rubles (excluding discounts).

Interior
From the driver's seat, the Changan seems clearly more expensive than its price tag. Nice and well-fitted plastic, nice steering wheel, leather upholstery of seats, armrests and a central tunnel with straight stitching. Even the front panel is trimmed with a semblance of leather with real, and not "painted", like Geely Atlas, seams. And multimedia with a large 10.25-inch display and good resolution in terms of functionality is not inferior to other "premium" systems. From this perspective, the title "Better than Creta" is already quite understandable …
But the CS35 Plus is still far from ideal. The Chinese have already realized that they need to sell cars with European design and borrowed technologies, and therefore they do not spare money on Western designers, engineers, and, more recently, licenses from leading automakers. But in matters of ergonomics, they are still trying to go their own, special way. Because of this, Changan is not convenient for everyone and everywhere. And there are enough complaints about trifles too.













Practicality
CS35 Plus is slightly longer than Crete, and the wheelbase of the "Chinese" is more than just one centimeter. It has a fairly spacious second row of seats for such introductory ones. Even people above average height will not feel pinched, there is room for knees and above their heads.
But the trunk, formally the same volume as the Korean car, is actually small. See how difficult it is to fit our test suitcases. Of the advantages of the cargo compartment - a roller blind and trim without a touch of cheapness.












Technique and reliability
Changan has come up with a somewhat peculiar system of model indices. The Plus prefix in this case does not mean the "stretched" version, as is customary for others. More precisely, it means not only this. In fact, the CS35 Plus is the second generation of the crossover, which is “just” the CS35. The one is more compact, more budgetary and generally has little resemblance to the "Plus" externally, but due to its low price, it is still popular in China itself. Therefore, the release of CS35 did not stop, and the new product added a plus sign to the name. Changan did the same thing with its larger crossovers.
Despite the total dissimilarity in the exterior and interior, the CS35 Plus is built on the same platform as its predecessor - the trolley is only slightly stretched. And it itself is very simple: in front of the crossover there is a McPherson suspension on a small subframe, in the back there is a semi-independent twisting beam of variable thickness. Four-wheel drive is not provided, therefore, the central tunnel in the cabin barely protrudes. The steering is electric.

The CS35 Plus powertrain is generally a bit of a detective story. In Russia, the crossover is still being sold with a single engine - naturally aspirated 1.6. According to some sources, including the Changan website, its power is 128 hp. On others - only 117. The official version of such a discrepancy is the difference in the Chinese and Russian methods of measuring power. But we would venture to suggest that the story is more interesting.
The number 117 most likely surfaced when the SC35 Plus debuted with a slightly re-tuned engine from its predecessor - where it produces 113 horsepower and 152 Nm of torque. And only later, Changan quietly replaced it with a new, more modern version of the direct injection engine and more attractive numbers - 128 hp. and 161 Nm, respectively. The unit has an injection pump under the hood of the test car. And the red CS35 Plus rides so that the second figures of faith are greater.
In the Plus generation, the crossover also received a new automatic Aisin - with six gears instead of the previous four. A cheaper alternative is the 5-speed "mechanics".









CS35 Plus is a fresh model, high mileage and more or less complete statistics on its reliability are not yet available. So far, the owners only complain about all sorts of minor troubles, mainly with electronics. The multimedia system has lost settings, but they have already learned how to treat it by flashing it. Moreover, the most advanced buyers have mastered the filling of the Chinese version of the "software" - the system becomes English-speaking, but also more functional. For example, it has the ability to watch videos.
For some owners, the trunk lock opens spontaneously. And how much the common Chinese misfortune will affect the crossover - the rapid corrosion of the body, is not yet clear. On the one hand, the CS35 Plus is already partially galvanized, with 79 body parts being treated in official releases. On the other hand, the bottom of the car is virtually devoid of protection. There are no plastic shields, and even it is painted, it seems, only with a primer. For a crossover, albeit a front-wheel drive, this is unlikely to be enough.
It gets ridiculous. One owner complained that he damaged the rear bumper on a dirt road… with pebbles flying from under the wheels and hitting him from the inside! From this, the bumper has lost its presentation and outside. And in less than a year of operation of the test crossover, the plastic "chrome" has already grown dim and stained with winter reagents and frequent washes …

The relationship with the CS35 is also not encouraging. There are more statistics on it, and it shows that the predecessor "Plus" does not have a very reliable suspension. However, the owners gained experience found an antidote. It turned out that many suspension parts, including shock absorbers and wheel bearings, can be taken … from different Hyundai and Kia models! They stand up "like relatives", serve longer and cost less. It seems that Changan did not make his platform entirely from scratch. Maybe CS35 Plus will ride like Soul or Creta?
Riding
However, only complete optimists can hope that the Chinese crossover will surprise with its handling. It takes a lot of experience and even a little magic to set up such a simple chassis for a gambling drive. Which in the world is owned only by the French from Peugeot or Renault.

Therefore, the CS35 Plus rides normally as expected. "Zero" at the steering wheel is completely indistinct, the effort on it is artificial - the feedback becomes clear only at 70–80 km / h. As usual with cheap electric amplifiers.
Although the car itself reacts to steering commands normally - without unnecessary harshness and some kind of super-precision, it is unambiguously and understandable for the driver. Only with a sharp detour of an obstacle, when you have to turn the steering wheel quickly, Changan rolls and turns frighteningly hard - it seems that a moment later he will fall into a skid, but nothing like that happens. The CS35 Plus is tuned for understeer, and after selecting a tire grip limit (not very high), it slides outward with the front wheels.

However, hardly any of the buyers will demand sporting feats from the 128-strong "cross". Comfort will be much more in demand. And it is: "Plus" is perceived as soft, on the verge of swaying, but its suspension swallows well pits and other asphalt defects. Only a "trifle", almost invisible to the eyes, somehow penetrates into the interior and is felt even on the steering wheel. And on the speed bumps Changan thumps that your Volkswagen - in its shock absorbers are too weak rebound buffers.
Finally, comfortable ≠ power-consuming. Where the road gets really bad, you have to roll back a lot, otherwise the CS35 Plus shudders from impacts to the body. He's not Duster for you.

In the "motor-box" link, the "automatic" dominates. It seems that he is always on edge - as soon as you press the gas a little harder, and the box immediately, without hesitation or hesitation, drops a stage or two "down". Because of this, Changan is perceived in the city as a very dynamic car, always ready to accelerate, drive, and win. For the sake of which the "automatic" does not even take too much care of itself - with intense acceleration, light jolts are felt on the switchings.
The motor has less enthusiasm, which is not surprising given its power and "atmospheric". Therefore, on the highway, Changan does not provoke malicious violations of the speed limit, and a comfortable cruising mode for him is 110–130 km / h. The engine reacts sluggishly to light, smooth pressing of the gas pedal - maybe that's why the box is forced to try so hard? More confident traction appears only after 2500 rpm. Alas, by this point the engine, inaudible at idle (the Chinese speak of 36.2 dB), becomes already loud. And to 4000 rpm, when the motor produces maximum torque, it is too loud. Changan clearly saved on soundproofing the engine compartment. The tires, by the way, are also not silent - the road noise rises to the annoying level of 80–90 km / h.

Equipment
A future buyer of a Chinese crossover will not have to hang out in the configurator for a long time - everything is simple there, like in a children's counting room. There is one motor, two boxes and two levels of equipment - Comfort and Luxe. And there is also one nuance with their content.
Basic CS35 Plus, excluding discounts for trade-in and corporate credit, will cost 1,159,900 rubles … You guessed it easily, it is Comfort with "mechanics" … There is nothing to pay extra - even the choice of color (there are five of them, and almost all of them are bright) are free.







Already at the base, Changan offers a long list of equipment: 16-inch alloy wheels, ESP, tire pressure monitoring, front airbags, multimedia with a large screen, air conditioning. The doors and dashboard are already trimmed in leather, but the seats are in fabric.
Step up a step Luxe worth it all 50,000 rubles … But such a crossover will already have 17-inch wheels, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and two adjustments instead of one, leather on the seats, cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, climate control, heated seats, keyless entry and a few other pleasant little things. to take this step.

However, Changan even more welcomes the choice of a car with a "automatic". The same nuance is that the version AT Comfort per 1,249,900 rubles almost as well-equipped as the mechanical Luxe. The only thing missing is a rear-view camera, folding mirrors and 17-inch wheels.
Top-end configuration Luxe with automaticwhich is estimated at 1 299 900 rubles, there are they, and a few more pleasant "chips" - leather on the seats, power driver's seat, side airbags for the first row, sunroof.
Competitors
Hyundai Creta
Самый продаваемый в России кроссовер с 1,6-литровым атмосферным двигателем (123 л.с.), «автоматом» и передним приводом в «топе» стоит немного дешевле, чем тестовый «китаец» – 1 259 000 рублей. У Креты проще отделка салона и мультимедиа, зато больше багажник. А главное, есть полноприводные и более мощные версии" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Renault Kaptur
Только-только обновившийся Kaptur очень близок по размерам, но его базовый 1.6 слабее – 114 л.с., а вместо «автомата» в паре с ним работает менее надёжный вариатор. За 1 235 000 рублей он оснащён скромнее, чем тестовый CS35 Plus, но есть возможность доплатить за опции. Полный привод доступен только с новым турбомотором 1.3Т (150 л.с.), от 1 335 000 рублей" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Chery Tiggo 4
Из выводка кроссоверов Chery по размерам, характеристикам и оснащению к CS35 Plus ближе всего Tiggo 4. И он дешевле – кроссовер с мотором 2.0 (122 л.с.) и вариатором стоит 1 169 900 рублей. А за 1 259 900 рублей можно взять версию со 150-сильным турбомотором. Привод – только передний" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

Geely Coolray
Coolray тоже отличается от CS35 Plus считанными миллиметрами длины. У него хорошее, настроенное инженерами Volvo шасси и яркая внешность. Но багажник Geely ещё меньше, а цены выше – от 1 119 999 до 1 499 999 рублей. Привод только передний, силовой агрегат единственный: 150-сильный турбомотор + робот" style="width: 823px; margin-right: 8px;">

conclusions
In all honesty: despite the bright color, nice design and interesting interior, Changan CS35 Plus was not a revelation. Rather, it once again confirmed the still fresh trend: Chinese automakers, having abandoned cavalry attacks and carpet bombing with cheap disposable cars, took the Russian market seriously. And not only for him.
The second wave, to which the CS35 Plus can rightfully be attributed, is cars with long equipment lists, modern engines and interiors, after which you no longer want to wash your hands and take a walk and breathe in nature. Yes, new Chinese models cost no less than Korean or budget French ones. And so-so are going so-so - so in the chorus of praise posts and videos you will not hear our voice.

But the buyers of the "Chinese" do not need ultra-precise responses to gas, precise trajectory following, slight drifts under the thrust release and other chips that are pleasant to the petrolhead. Reviews of the real owners of CS35 Plus are full of enthusiasm for the interior, appearance, multimedia system and other little things … And also cautious concerns about the reliability of the crossover.
Yes, the reputation of Chinese cars, trampled into the trash by the crafts (and fakes) of the first wave, is still working against them. But, despite it, already now CS35 Plus, Tiggo 4, Haval F7 are being bought in hundreds and thousands. Why? Because it is rich and beautiful! There is a demand in society for bright cars that budget models of more reputable brands cannot satisfy. Or they don’t want to, feeling themselves the masters of our, distorted by duties, market. But what will it be like for them in five years if it turns out that the same Changan CS35 Plus is able to drive 200 thousand km without major repairs?