Review of Chery Fengyun T9: It looks ordinary, but it drives smoothly
In my list of dream cars to test drive, there is a brand that might come as a surprise to some, occupying a spot on the list: Chery Automobile.
It is often referred to as the "engineer's choice," with a reputation for unassuming exteriors that belie their exceptional capabilities, both in technology and quality. If you're not solely a "face-value" enthusiast, you might find yourself intrigued by it to some extent.
However, getting the chance to test drive their new models is incredibly difficult! Whether it's through rental apps or dealership test drive cars, Chery vehicles are extremely hard to come by. The former situation is puzzling; perhaps Chery owners really do prefer to keep a low profile. The latter could be attributed to the inconsistency in quality I've encountered among Chery dealerships. Sometimes, it's not just the test drive cars that are hard to find, but even the latest models are a rare sight... This does align with the legendary "engineer's choice" image of Chery.
So, to find a brand-new Chery test drive car in a well-decorated, new dealership is, I don't know how difficult it might be for others, but it's certainly quite a challenge for me.
It's not easy to get a chance to test drive a Chery, and to spot one that catches your eye at first glance is even more challenging.The journey of the Star Way may be acceptable, but the aesthetic of the main brand models from Chery sometimes is really hard to praise, especially for this plug-in hybrid-focused "Fengyun" series. Although it is said to be a "petrol to hybrid" conversion, after seeing the Fengyun T9 up close, I really doubt how much they have actually invested in design...
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Giving the Tiggo 9 such a dull face and considering the transformation complete... This is probably the most careless design I've seen in recent years, without exception. In terms of "face projects," Chery seems really reluctant to invest an extra penny.
However, if you look at it purely from a rational perspective, the build quality of the car body is indeed good. I carefully inspected several areas such as the fender and engine hood, the chrome trim under the front and rear doors and B-pillars, and the junction of the rear light door seams, and there were no obvious flaws. Of course, this is the condition of the display car, and it's hard to say whether it's the same for other vehicles, but at least it can to some extent indicate the level of assembly quality on the car body surface.
After all, there are many brands' display cars that have reached a level where they cannot be scrutinized closely.The interior is equally unremarkable, featuring a horizontal T-shaped dashboard design and the classic combination of a small instrument screen plus a large central control screen, which has become a clichéd design approach. However, at least it appears much more harmonious than the exterior.
The wood grain decorative surface on the dashboard is evenly adhered, and there is no significant deformation or noise when pressing various parts with hands. What's more noteworthy is the seam between the dashboard and the door panels on both sides, which is noticeably more refined than that of many well-known competitors. At a glance, the width and alignment on both sides can ensure basic symmetry.
The physical controls for the electric seat adjustment are located at the front edge of the upper part of the door panels, similar to the design style of Mercedes-Benz. Whether this approach is good or bad, I personally think it depends on individual preferences: it looks quite unique and the craftsmanship appears more exquisite, making it easy for new car owners to get used to; however, this also leads to the need for two different schemes for the door panels, and the surface treatment of the buttons is more demanding, which means higher costs. Moreover, I find it less convenient in actual use compared to having them directly set on the side of the cushion.
The downside lies in the excessively prominent lumbar support of the driver's seat, which can be a bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, the seat's overall wrapping is quite good. Additionally, the mounting point of the front seats is a bit high, but for an SUV, it remains at a normal level, and even when adjusted to the lowest position, one can easily see the entire front of the vehicle.The steering wheel has a relatively large circumference and is wrapped in leather. Although it doesn't feel particularly delicate to the touch, it offers ample grip. However, the design... it somewhat resembles the new model of Wuling, doesn't it? As for the touch buttons on both sides, their tactile feedback and response speed are quite average. It would be nice if they could revert to physical buttons, even if they were just a single piece of soft material covering the entire surface.
Additionally, the HMI of the car's infotainment system adopts a typical layout with a large wallpaper, quick access cards at the bottom, and a dock bar at the base, which looks very much like the HarmonyOS style. Fortunately, the screen is delicate and has a clear resolution, and it doesn't lag when quickly dragging the map. The internal menu hierarchy is well organized, and there's nothing to criticize in terms of interaction.
After adopting the electronic gear selector, the space in front of the elbow rest has become an area for physical control of driving mode switching, energy mode switching, and air conditioning settings, making it more convenient to use. However, the design of these buttons is far too casual... Not only are they outdated in style, but the treatment is also crude, wasting the materials of piano lacquer and chrome trim.
The glove box has a considerable volume and utilizes the air conditioning ducts to create a low-cost thermos design, complete with a knob for adjusting the air volume. Such a design is also gradually becoming more common.The rear space is relatively reasonable for a vehicle that is 4.8 meters long, considering it also comes in a 7-seater version. For someone who is 1.74 meters tall like me, it can at least ensure about two fist-sized legroom in the second row. Moreover, the seat cushions are angled just right, and the length is ample, making it one of the few domestic cars in this price range that can fully guarantee thigh support.
However, the issue with the rear waist support is more pronounced than in the front row. The padding is too thick, making the seating feel somewhat hard, especially in the 7-seater version where the second-row seats are noticeably firm. The rear seats in the 5-seater version are slightly better.
Nevertheless, the top-of-the-line 7-seater version supports electric adjustment of the second-row seats for both fore and aft movement as well as backrest angle, and like the front row, they can be operated through physical controls on the door panel armrests, which shows great attention to detail.Behind the console, in addition to the rear air vents, there are two USB ports, one is Type-A and the other is Type-C, with great attention to detail. The central part varies depending on the configuration; the lower and mid-range models have a storage compartment, while only the top-tier model features a control panel for the rear air conditioning, which, however, offers limited functionality with only fan speed adjustment. It would be even better if it included temperature control as well.
Chery has also provided some thoughtful designs from other perspectives. In addition to the air vents under the console, there are additional vents on the B-pillars.
Regarding the trunk, the official stated volume is quite large, with the 5-seat version reaching 815L in standard conditions, which indeed appears to be spacious and ample. With the rear seats that can be almost fully reclined, it is likely no problem to create a bed of 1.8 meters in length.
Moreover, the trunk floor is almost level with the sill, making it convenient to sit on the sill during outdoor camping. However, the sill of the trunk is a bit high. Additionally, in the top-tier 7-seat version, there is a switch on the side wall of the trunk to control the electric folding of the second and third rows.At first glance, the static appearance can be described as a blend of boldness and delicacy. When it comes to its dynamic performance, it is indeed stunning.
At the very least, its dynamic performance can be ranked among the top within the price range of under 200,000. Although the seating position is relatively high, which doesn't provide an immersive driving experience, it is indeed a "driver's car," even giving off a sense of being a BMW substitute.
Firstly, the power calibration is commendable. In the economy mode, the throttle linearity is very high, and whether it's Tip-in or Tip-out, it provides power when needed and retracts it when not, without any hesitation. As long as you're not in a hurry to overtake, the power output is more than capable of handling most urban driving scenarios.
In the standard mode, it becomes more proactive. By pressing down harder, it delivers a smooth and confident acceleration feeling, and during acceleration, you can hardly notice any additional noise from the engine's intervention. In the sport mode, it emphasizes responsiveness and power burst, and the jerks during Tip-in/Tip-out are more pronounced. This distinct yet well-rounded calibration is very reminiscent of BMW's fuel-powered vehicles.The steering style is reminiscent of a hydraulic steering system with a slightly lighter feel. Apart from the slightly higher damping during centering, a speed that is a bit slow for my taste, and a larger turning radius, there are hardly any drawbacks. The dead zone is reasonable, the feel is smooth, the damping changes uniformly with the angle, the road feel is sufficiently clear, and it also ensures a lighter feel when maneuvering at low speeds.
The suspension is even more taut, resilient, and full of tension. It handles minor vibrations decisively and cleanly, and when going over larger bumps, there might occasionally be a slight aftershock at the rear axle, but it tightens up quickly. What's more impressive is the suppression of body roll during cornering, making it hard to believe that this is an SUV with a height exceeding 1.7 meters.
The top-tier model comes with four Goodyear tires, with a tread width of 245mm, offering excellent grip. It's not a problem to challenge some tight-radius ramps at speeds over 50km/h; it's just that the tire noise during everyday driving is a bit louder. However, the mid to lower-tier models are equipped with Maxxis's Victra Sport 5, with the tread width narrowed down to 235mm, yet this is also a set of sports-oriented road performance tires. It's evident that Chery places great emphasis on the chassis.
Driving Summary:This Fengyun T9 indeed lives up to the rumored image of Chery, where the good aspects require close proximity to capture, lacking the "outward" parts that can attract attention at first glance.
On a rational level, it performs sufficiently well, yet its "face engineering" is quite lackluster. Even if a bit more time were invested to refine the front fascia's design, making it more eye-catching, it wouldn't need to resort to a mere 130,000 yuan entry-level price.
There are many aspects that hold Chery back: chaotic sales channels, poor dealership experiences, awkward model names, and outdated styling... But I believe that it will never be the quality of its products. Nowadays, Chery has also become a hidden gem, gaining popularity in some countries.
However, if it wants to become popular domestically as well, I suggest hiring a designer like BYD's Wolfgang Egger.
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