Chana Era CV6 launched in Malaysia based on the ChangAn BenBen
This is the other car launched by Changan Berjaya Auto on Monday, the Chana Era CV6. It’s essentially the same 5-door hatchback we saw in Putrajaya in March 2008. It’s pretty much a Viva-type of vehicle and the thing is it actually is decent to look at. There aren’t any strange jarring design cues that spoil the design, it’s simple, unpretentious and perhaps boring but it’s not hideous, nor does it employ any odd patterns like the triangles all over the Naza Forza.
For a sum of RM 36,862.00 for the Standard Solid version, you’ll get 5 seats, a 1,301cc engine producing 85 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 110Nm of torque between 3,500 to 4,500rpm, steel wheels, power steering with adjustable tilt, front power windows and a top speed of about 145km/h. For Metallic paint, you pay RM 37,368.00.
Going for the Premium version will cost you RM 40,888 for solid paint and RM 41,394 for metallic paint, and you’ll get alloy wheels, power windows for all four doors, ABS brakes, a single CD player with radio and a driver’s airbag. So it’s got ABS and an airbag covered, that’s pretty much how far safety features can go at this segment. Apparently during the launch period, you can get the Premium version for the price of the Standard version as an introductory offer.
| Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | |
| Chana Era CV6 | 3,525mm | 1,650mm | 1,550mm | 2,365mm |
| Perodua Myvi | 3,750mm | 1,665mm | 1,550mm | 2,440mm |
| Perodua Viva | 3,575mm | 1,475mm | 1,530mm | 2,390mm |
| Naza Forza | 3,633mm | 1,563mm | 1,533mm | 2,355mm |
| Hyundai i10 | 3,565mm | 1,595mm | 1,540mm | 2,380mm |
| Proton Savvy | 3,710mm | 1,643mm | 1,480mm | 2,395mm |
The 1.3 liter engine is also a Suzuki-derived one, and probably a unit that’s a little more modern than the one in the van covered earlier, but it’s still pretty much a basic unit though it has a nice peak torque spread starting from 110Nm. From my observation of the units they had for display at the media preview, the build quality was even worse than the van. ChangAn even got basic things like the feedback an air conditioning knob gives when you turn it wrong. Go to a showroom and try it, it feels really weird, like you were forcibly twisting something through some thick oil, I would imagine this is what goes on inside a torque converter or something.
The selection knob for fresh air or recirculation air for the air conditioning appeared to be positioned too close to the dash and was cutting in to the dash plastic itself. The dashboard plastic itself isn’t really too bad however parts where various pieces meet together were way too rough. Some metal mounts and etc were too exposed like the bolt and joint where the seat and backrest connect together, etc. It’s a pity as the exterior doesn’t look too bad.
Despite the horrendous build quality, ChangAn knows people are also looking for mechanical quality and endurance, so they’ve recently organised this ChanaTrax event where a group of ChangAn vehicles including this CV6/BenBen drove from China to South Africa. That’s a total distance of 24,000 kms and there were some pretty high altitudes and rough terrain involved.
So I suppose it would be okay running around town here, it’s just that the only appealing thing going for this car at the moment seems to be its initial price tag.
January 21, 2009 @ 10:56 am
40k plus mm.. better buy BLM
January 21, 2009 @ 10:59 am
if i wanted a hatch, i’d rather buy a hyundai i10, we’ve been ripped off by berjaya long enough, including its crap motor insurance
January 21, 2009 @ 11:12 am
There Made in China cars had been stucked in a car dealer at Jalan Masjid Negeri in Penang for such a long time and finally they had launched it. Not my cup of tea, I prefer Proton or Perodua in this case.
January 21, 2009 @ 11:21 am
i think its a wee bit expensive. The rear leg space looks very tight.
January 21, 2009 @ 11:21 am
for RM37k, it may not be compatitive in the boleh land this moment. but think about it, if it produce locally in future price may down by 20% or RM30k, that will give both p1 & p2 a big BANG!
Paul Tan says: It is already CKD.
January 21, 2009 @ 11:27 am
This is typical China made car, remind me of the stupid Wu Ling van in China. But one things i will salute them is the car’s suspension….really builded for tough road. I believe our boleh land car’s suspension go into China land will tear off within few months….
January 21, 2009 @ 11:28 am
Kinda cheapo in it’s quality. Rear legroom is cramp and with that kinda price tag they still think Malaysian are stupid enough to buy it.
January 21, 2009 @ 11:47 am
The dashboard is kinda rip-off of the 1st Gen Ford Ka design. Luv the overall design anyway.
January 21, 2009 @ 11:48 am
BenBen = Stupid Stupid?
January 21, 2009 @ 11:50 am
indigo said,
January 21, 2009 @ 11:12 am
There Made in China cars had been stucked in a car dealer at Jalan Masjid Negeri in Penang for such a long time and finally they had launched it. Not my cup of tea, I prefer Proton or Perodua in this case.
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Oh you are from Penang as well, any Penangites here?
January 21, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
Nope.. doesn’t impress me at all..
January 21, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Cutester from Penang too….
January 21, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
you just need to look at those china car crash test videos on youtube to tell you about how unsafe they are…
January 21, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
40k,
batter still with savvy or saga.
January 21, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
40k car, i better buy BLM.. but this 40k car better then viva ful spec. viva don have single airbag and 1.0 cc
January 21, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
definatly BLM…
January 21, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
While the price point of the Van makes sense, the price point of this hatch doesn’t.
Host of much better more established players in the market.
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abtm said,
January 21, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
you just need to look at those china car crash test videos on youtube to tell you about how unsafe they are…
Thats just because they never tested our cars…. ours could be just as bad. I would like to see how a Kancil fair crashing into a deformable barrier at 40mph.
January 21, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
thanks for yr correction paul. so we don enjoy the “cheap” value of chinese car here than.
January 21, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
Belum cuba belum tau. Belum cuba sudah kena Chanai. lol. Good or not, safe or not, it all boils down to the most important part of any vehicle. It’s the NUT that holds the steering-wheel. lol
January 21, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
excellent car. i’d love it. but i won’t buy one.
January 21, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
unitedtas said,
January 21, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
It’s the NUT that holds the steering-wheel. lol
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What a sense of humour you have.
January 21, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
better don try….selepas try merana!! better go for malaysian made….Perodua or proton….wasting $on this piece of junk!!!
January 21, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
schdmitz said,
January 21, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
better don try….selepas try merana!! better go for malaysian made….Perodua or proton….wasting $on this piece of junk!!!
————————
no, china made is better than malaysian made
January 21, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
Katakan Tak Nak pada rokok,
Katakan TAK NAK langsung pada Chana Era CV6!!!
January 21, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
i’ll go for saga or savvy..
viva? no..
January 21, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
better get a viva, myvi or savvy…..
January 21, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Nice, tilt steering. Savvy does not have it I think. One thing is that the price. You can come out something cheap, but I am not sure Malaysians will buy this. Perception of China brand is like worse off. This reminds me of the Naza Sutera. Is the sales going well?
January 21, 2009 @ 7:13 pm
1.3L engine.so it hv strongest power to weight ratio in its class.based on the data given, its size is nearly match to Viva but fitted with 1.3 engine!!!
exterior quite ok but interior and dashboard very lousy laa.
January 21, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
oh sorry,its width is like myvi laa.sorry
January 21, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
so… only a fool will buy such car…
January 21, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
I would buy a bicycle than to sit in this crap china-made car. For Rm40k, u can buy a decent 90s Corolla or Civic EK.
I am from Penang island too
January 21, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
reminds me of Merc A-class front… Just the build quality issue i guess. Well, I’m a proud Viva owner and I’m preferring Viva over BenBen anytime for the price tag!! Viva = Jap tech, BenBen = China tech.. well… BenBen should be priced near to Kancil really…. Seat cover looks decent though..
January 21, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
all these China made cars make PROTON look good. Went to see the Chery Eastar.. It is a crap. The finishing is just pure horrible.Just look at the gap on the steering wheel.. then look at the proton’s one. Hope Chana has a better finishing that Cherry otherwise it makes us malaysian look stupid. Even my 1993 Iswara is way better than the cherry.. IMHO lah.
January 21, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
there is not much rear legroom for the passengers ..
that’s not very good for a hatchback which you want to move your family around ..
January 21, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Now we got Roti Chana on the road!
January 21, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
this car has an interior that rolls royce would be proud of
January 22, 2009 @ 1:39 am
I think the steering just got erected…
January 22, 2009 @ 8:20 am
NICE!!
…to bash and laugh at!!
usually during “media” road trip, the car makers will “bribe” journalist to give good reviews..
January 22, 2009 @ 9:02 am
if i not mistake… as far i read PT blog…
only proton’s Satria neo test drive in a sepang circuit.
this one, i bet gonna ‘tercabut’ all if you drive hardly.
January 22, 2009 @ 10:12 am
40k? malaysia made vs china made?
Of course proton and perodua is better than.
Look at the picture, mediocre leg room for rear passengers.
This car make you feel so proud to drive proton blm and perodua viva.
January 22, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
china cars are excellent
January 22, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Worse build quality, back seat can only seat for anjing, 40k plus, china made, horrible panel cluster/interior etc.
NO NO NO NO NO…. not even stupid people buy this car..
Sex is… (freaking name) i think is the only one that gonna sit in this car and proud of it.. Lol~
Buy malaysian laa then. Saga i think a lot better than this one.
January 22, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Hmm What can is say.? I still rather go for Savvy lower n better stability for even price wise I still rather go for Savvy lite ,or even Viva also i rather have a look
January 22, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
ReactiX said,
January 22, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Worse build quality, back seat can only seat for anjing, 40k plus, china made, horrible panel cluster/interior etc.
NO NO NO NO NO…. not even stupid people buy this car..
Sex is… (freaking name) i think is the only one that gonna sit in this car and proud of it.. Lol~
Buy malaysian laa then. Saga i think a lot better than this one.
************
haha… that guy is a freak u know…. his comments is not sumthing that can be referred…
January 23, 2009 @ 10:03 am
f*ck china cars……what they know is copy and paste only…..stupid, use rolls royce interiors…lol…china cars are a piece of joke! rather buy a saga! it is sumthing that would be proud of…
January 23, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
very good cars
January 23, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
Just have a feeling that this car is equal if not better than Plotong and Perodua.
February 1, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
when you open the screw with air tools you have to replace them all.not to mention water ingression and those unreliable elerical related part.
imagine what kind of quality they put in. judging from my family’s sutera.
all i can say is all the chinese cheapo sucks.
February 16, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
Can i know where are the showroom is??????
March 1, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
[quote comment="203320"]china cars are excellent[/quote]
[quote comment="203053"]schdmitz said,
January 21, 2009 @ 3:47 pm
better don try….selepas try merana!! better go for malaysian made….Perodua or proton….wasting $on this piece of junk!!!
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no, china made is better than malaysian made[/quote]
[quote comment="203320"]china cars are excellent[/quote]
Now i’m realised that u r from panda land… hahaha… freak…
March 2, 2009 @ 10:23 am
[quote comment="203635"]very good cars[/quote]
then, go for it!!! i know this is a very good car for some1 like u… and dont forget to bought Era CM8 MPV (Multi Purpose Van) for carter ur family hahaha… i’m advising u.. dont put ur money for any proton car… just let me do that okay… hahaha…
March 2, 2009 @ 10:41 pm
it’s a chana benni in sg
March 23, 2009 @ 4:56 am
Wasn’t even aware of such a car until today.
I went out to get something out of my car, then I saw a silver car which I’ve never seen before. I saw the logo, nothing on my database. Checked out the name, it was written ERA on the left at the 5th door (back la) and CV6 on the right.
So I’m actually puzzled as I found this article, as I thought the brand was ERA but now it’s Chana…….. or Chana Era?
April 19, 2009 @ 11:59 am
saw few in federal highway kl recently.
July 1, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
what happens when you try to form piece of crap from a pile of junk?
…..
chana!
December 5, 2009 @ 12:26 am
I’m a dealer of Chana Era and with all due respect, come to my show room for a test drive before you leave any childish comments…
So Ferrari is surely great among you guys, but try type “Ferrari Crashed” on google and gee, it doesn’t look any sexy already.
When Perodua Kancil first come out in 1994 and Proton Saga come out in 1984, people also scolding it but what happens now? Every single road is full of P1s and P2 manufactured cars.
Give us a chance to prove you’re wrong.