4.5 / 5 ( 2 votes)

Production Chinese cars is now in full swing, as eloquently evidenced by the increase in the volume of machine sales and the constant expansion of the model range. Therefore, in Moscow, a brand new car was demonstrated to Russian car enthusiasts. Lifan crossover X60 with front-wheel drive, which will be assembled in the city of Cherkessk at the Derways plant.

This SUV is one of the most sold cars made in China on the market Russian Federation. But everyone understands that automobile market does not stand still today, and in order to maintain their own positions, companies have to update their cars. This did not bypass the crossover from the Middle Kingdom. Restyling affected the exterior and interior, new equipment and new box gear shift. The entire Lifan model range.

Car history

Lifan Automobile Corporation of China was founded in 1992. For ten years, the company has been producing sedans, hatchbacks and microvans, the appearance of which was often copied from popular Japanese cars.

When the second decade of the 21st century began, the company's management decided to increase its own model range using a crossover. The 3 Series was taken as the basis, which was very popular with Chinese automakers. As an example, we can recall its clone -.

The design team of the company modified the appearance of the exterior. A concept version was demonstrated in 2010 at the Shanghai car showroom. To be fair, it is worth noting that the Chinese model would be correctly called a “station wagon with increased ground clearance", because it has more versatility than resources for mastering off-road terrain.

However, in reality, this is a “compact class SUV”, which is technically considered an “illegal copy” of Toyota.

Exterior

If you literally look at the Lifan X60 for the first time, you can easily notice similar qualities to the famous crossover from Japan Toyota RAV4. And this is exactly so, because appearance The design staff from China quite liked the Japanese and its body shape.

In addition, not only Lifan decided to use Toyota as an example, but, for example, Chery. However, unlike Chery Tiggo, the external image of the Lifan X60 crossover reveals qualities inherent in American and Korean cars. Generally speaking, the exterior of the car cannot be called repulsive, but it cannot be called unique either.

The wheel arches are quite prominent and provide the crossover with solidity and athletic qualities. The car's headlights have additional settings that increase excellent visibility. Chrome plated radiator grille tapers slightly and looks quite effective when paired with the piercing optical lighting system.

It is very strange that in the usual place for installing fog lights there is an auxiliary lighting unit, while the fog lights are located below all of them. This action cannot be called successful, because there is no additional plastic protection from chips on the body.

It is logical that when actively driving on gravel, you can find various defects in paint coating, which is very minimal. The side rear view mirrors are large in shape and do not require auxiliary adjustments when changing the person who is driving the car.

The rear part of the Lifan X60 looks good thanks to the light-amplifying optics, in which an LED system forming a trapezoid is mounted. If you examine the car more carefully, you can see skewed body parts, as evidenced by the different thicknesses of the cracks.

Exterior Chinese SUV has tendencies that are aimed at the production of crossovers. The car differs even from its “relatives” in the presence of streamlining and swelling.

Interior

The interior of the inexpensive SUV has moderate comfortable seating for 5 people, which includes the driver. The instrument panel consists of three deep wells and does not stand out for its information content. The panel installed in front has two levels and a massive central console, on which simple music and control knobs for the ventilation and heating systems are located.

If we talk about finishing materials and interior build quality, then each person will have a different opinion. For example, if you transfer to Chinese crossover Lifan X60 with a VAZ 2106, the driver simply cannot get enough of it, and if the driver gets out of the same Toyota RAV4 SUV, he will find many elements already known to him in the Lifan’s cabin, but these parts will be made with a completely different quality, which is inherent in Chinese assemblies.

It is worth mentioning that when you are inside the car, you can smell the smell of cheap plastic, although not phenolic, but still. It is also worth mentioning the troubles due to the presence of poor rubber door seals, poor sound insulation of the interior and engine compartment, assembly defects - all this is present as usual.

The minimum distance between the pedals, which are installed with a considerable difference, leads to risky control of the car. If we talk about flaws, the driver’s glove compartment has a rather small volume and is often capable of opening on its own for no reason.

Three passengers sitting in the rear seats feel free space and a comfortable location. Interestingly, the backrest of the second row of seats has an adjustable angle of inclination. I was very surprised by the amount of free space in the legs of passengers - as if you were in a large sedan.

Even tall passengers will be able to sit quite comfortably, and their knees will not feel discomfort. A nice detail for rear passengers will be the adjustable angle of the seats and armrest.

If you sit down at steering wheel car, then, unfortunately, you feel that there is no proper lateral support, although the seats are quite comfortable, but you cannot sit comfortably in relation to the steering wheel. There's a good amount of seat adjustment available to let you tailor your seating position, but the lack of steering wheel adjustments does dampen the experience a bit.

The interior leather trim is also not the trump card of this car. If you look at the panel of the car installed in front, you realize that you have already seen this somewhere - again a Toyota Rav4. Although the Chinese again copied the interior of the famous crossover, it cannot be said that it is a complete copy.

The designers still managed to show a little imagination and add some of their own moments. Just look at the front panel. I would like to talk about the fifth door, in order to open and close it, you need to make a great physical effort. The algorithm was not thought through; you can open the tailgate with a button from the inside or press a key on the key, but there is simply no external handle.

The luggage compartment has 405 liters at its disposal, which is generally a pretty good result. However, that’s not all; if necessary, you can increase the usable space to 1,170 liters, depending on the position of the second row of seats. If you load the car right up to the ceiling, you will get 1,638 liters. Features of the Lifan X60 engine are described below.

Specifications

Power unit

No choice power unit. This single engine with a volume of 1.8 liters produces 128 horsepower and knows how to work on AI-92. It has four cylinders, 16 valves and variable valve timing. This engine was developed together with English engineers from Ricardo.

The motor complies with the European CO2 emission standard - EURO-4. It is for this reason that the dynamic component of the Chinese-made Lifan X60 SUV is mediocre. The most significant disadvantage when moving is the beginning. Due to unsuccessful accelerator adjustment, constant stumbling occurs when starting to move.

According to official representatives, the crossover overcomes the first hundred in 11.2 seconds, but in reality this result is 3.3 seconds longer. The maximum speed was set at 170 km/h.

At low revs You can barely feel the engine; it only comes to life when you pick up the speed. The company officially announced fuel consumption per 100 km – 8.2 liters in combined mode. The Lifan X60 engine clearly needs improvement or new engine options.

Transmission

Despite all its brutality, the Lifan X60 does not have the proper off-road potential. The main culprit is only the presence of front-wheel drive. Only the front-wheel drive model is available on the Russian automobile market. There are two gearboxes: a five-speed manual and a continuously variable CVT variator. Electronic gas pedal.

Suspension

If we talk about the suspension, Chinese engineers used McPherson struts in front, and a time-tested multi-link system on the rear wheels. A broken suspension works great with all sorts of imperfections on the road.

When you hit a large pothole, small shocks are transmitted to the interior of the car. Although the car does not have high ground clearance, the car rolls a little when turning.

Steering

Here's how hydraulic power steering works and braking system, is simply unpleasantly surprising. When turning the steering wheel, the wheels themselves respond with great delay, which leads to low information content and controllability of the car.

Brake system

In order to brake effectively, you need to fully depress the brake pedal, which is not good. By the way, the braking system is this car presented in the form of disc mechanisms on all wheels.

When this happens, it feels like there is a problem with the brake system. The timing is also very concerning. warranty service main components and assemblies of the machine, which is equal to only 1 year or 30,000 km.

Dimensions

The Chinese off-road vehicle Lifan X60 is 4,325 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width, and 1,690 mm in height. Wheelbase is 2,600 mm, and the ground clearance level is 179 mm, which, in principle, is not good result, although it’s also not bad, considering the quality of our roads.

The car is equipped with steel or light alloy rims measuring 16 inches. There are six color variations among the body paint options. White is standard, but you will have to pay extra for painting silver, grey, blue, cherry or black. Lifan X60 weighs 1,330 kg.

Crossover restyling

Chinese car company Lifan is probably the world champion in frequency of restylings own cars. This also affected the popular front-wheel drive crossover X60, which only in the summer of 2015 underwent minor changes that affected the appearance and technical performance.

Just a year later the company released new Lifan X60, which entailed changes in the exterior and interior. I wonder what for Russian market cars of 2017 model year started selling in December 2016.

Appearance

In fact, the Lifan X60 2017 has not changed dramatically. The vehicle received a replaced radiator grille and new bumpers. However, thanks to this, the crossover now looks more modern and attractive. There are broken lines that added appearance SUV brutality.

Lifan X60 has a fundamentally new face, small headlights with halogen low-beam elements and unchanged fashionable lines of daytime running lights. The headlights installed in front were designed in accordance with the Hawk-Eye concept.

The radiator grille was replaced with a new one, which has a large horizontal stripe in the middle. The “LIFAN” nameplate found its place on it. Below was a large bumper with unusually installed neat “foglights”. This time they decided to finally install them higher.

The SUV was equipped with large air intakes on the sides and in the middle. It is interesting that the new Chinese-made product almost completely repeats the front part of its roomy “relative” Lifan Myway, but, nevertheless, the “muzzle” is more masculine and angular.

The side part has obvious changes in the shape of the external mirrors. By the way, strips of indicator repeaters were conveniently installed on the mirrors, which became a little thinner. Chinese experts decided to expand the number of unique “skating rinks”. Now, in addition to 16 and 17-inch light alloy wheels, they will also be sold alloy wheels by 18 inches.

Large front wheel arches flow smoothly into a rounded bumper. They also did a good job on the rear, making it more sporty and topping it with a pair of “fake” holes for pipes exhaust system. There are also modified “oversized” lights, which were made using LEDs.

Salon

A large list of work was carried out inside the Chinese vehicle, so the interior was transformed well. The salon has a fully improved central console, on which a rather large 8-inch color display of the multimedia system was placed, supporting touch control, updated air conditioning settings modules and an audio system.

Among the finishing interior decoration Lifan X60 2017 uses improved quality materials. Many motorists will be pleased with the presence of carbon fiber inserts. This can be clearly seen in the Lifan X60 photo.

The maximum performance of the car received an interior trim with the use of combined leather, an 8-inch color display with touch controls and support for a satellite navigation system and a rear camera. We didn’t forget about the air conditioning system, the heating function for the seats installed in front and external mirrors, as well as support for electrical adjustment.

On top of that, new model received all the required upgrades, assistants and security systems that are present in any car today. In front of the driver, engineers placed the original dashboard, where there is LED backlight. It turns out that the two-tier architecture of the dashboard was broken with an expressive console.

Dashboard

The instruments, along with the audio system interface, are illuminated in a pleasant blue color. The multimedia system supports Bluetooth, and settings buttons are now installed on the steering wheel spokes. In general, the finishing began to be made of improved quality plastic.

Already standard version received ABS, emergency distribution system braking forces, two airbags, height-adjustable steering column, electric mirror drive, electric drive function for front and rear windows, central locking and a light sensor.

As a separate option, they install the function of heating and a microlift for the front seats, parking sensors, an electric sunroof, a rear camera, an assistant when starting up a hill, climate control and interior leather upholstery with double massive stitching. The company says it has done a good job on sound insulation.

Price and options

It is clear that one of the most important features of Chinese cars is their cost. On the market of the Russian Federation, from the very beginning, the car was offered with a couple of trim levels: the standard “Basic” and the improved “Standard” (LX). The cheapest package with manual transmission gear shift is estimated from 599,900 rubles.

It includes the presence of:

• ABS+EBD;
• central lock;
• pairs of airbags;
• electric windows;
• audio systems;
• radio with two speakers;
• roof rails;
• halogen headlights with corrector;
• electric drive of side mirrors.

The “Standart” package is priced from 654,900 rubles and has, in addition to what has already been indicated, the presence of front fog lights, air conditioning, an audio system (radio + CD/MP3 with 4 speakers), and decorative wheel covers.

Later, the “Comfort” package was added, which additionally includes a “chrome package”, heated side mirrors, cast rims, protection of the power unit, leather interior, more options for customizing the driver's seat, the option of heating the driver's seat, parking sensors and an audio system with 6 speakers.

This modification is estimated at 679,900 rubles. Top equipment“Luxury” will already cost from 699,900 rubles and includes the presence of a “multi-steering wheel”, a heated passenger seat function and a sunroof installed in the roof. The most expensive equipment“Comfort” comes with a CVT and is priced from 729,900 rubles.

For our market, the 2017 model will come in 4 versions: Basic, Standart, Comfort and Luxury. The basic package will cost from 679,900 rubles, and the top version will cost no less than 839,900. To install a CVT, available from the “Comfort” version, you need to pay an additional 70,000 rubles).

The Basic package has 2 Airbags, electrically operated exterior mirrors, 4 electric windows, an audio system, a hydraulic power steering wheel, ABS systems and EBD. The Standard version, in addition to what is mentioned, has a heated driver’s seat, air conditioning and fog lights.

Comfort received crankcase protection, leather seats, heated exterior mirrors, heated passenger seats, rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy rollers, chrome door handles and a decorative trim on the power unit.

Luxury already has a multifunction steering wheel, multimedia system with touch display support and 6 columns (which includes navigation system And rear camera), as well as a sunroof.

Options and prices

Equipment	Price	Engine	Box	Drive
1.8 Basic MT	679 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	mechanics (5)	front
1.8 Standard MT	759 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	mechanics (5)	front
1.8 Comfort MT	799 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	mechanics (5)	front
1.8 Luxury MT	839 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	mechanics (5)	front
1.8 Comfort CVT	859 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	variator	front
1.8 Luxury+ MT	859 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	mechanics (5)	front
1.8 Luxury CVT	899 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	variator	front
1.8 Luxury+ CVT	919 900	gasoline 1.8 (128 hp)	variator	front

Prices in the table are for December 2017.

Pros and cons

Pros of the car

• Excellent appearance of the car;
• Relatively low cost of the machine;
• Spacious luggage compartment;
• A good level of crossover visibility;
• The inside of the car is spacious and comfortable;
• Good suspension;
• The presence of an elegant rear LED optical system;
• Rich equipment of any configuration;
• Good maneuverability;
• Acceptable ride height;
• The latest generation has an unusual and stylish lighting system;
• There are various electronic assistance systems;
• Quite low fuel consumption;
• You can fold the backrests of the rear sofa and increase the usable space for transporting cargo;
• The latest version has a higher quality interior;
• The 2017 model has a touchscreen infotainment system;
• There are carbon inserts;
• Pleasant soothing lighting.

Cons of the car

• The steering wheel and driver's seat are poorly adjusted;
• Small glove compartment for the driver;
• Poor dynamics of the power unit;
• Short third gear;
• No all-wheel drive;
• Frightening operation of the brake system;
• Late steering response to steering wheel turns;
• Still low power power unit for such a crossover;
• Excessive force when opening and closing the tailgate;
• The warranty period is alarming;
• Low ride height;
• No choice of powertrains;
• Lack of lateral support;
• The build quality and materials used are still far from European competitors;
• The dynamic performance declared by the manufacturer does not correspond to reality.

Tuning

Looking at the Lifan X60 photo, there is no ardent desire to tune your car, however, many car enthusiasts want to embellish their own a little vehicle, in order to distinguish it from the general flow of cars in the city. For example, you can install a protective body kit that includes bumper covers, rear protective bars, side sills and sill guards.

If you use wind deflectors, deflectors and spoilers, you can slightly refresh and make your car individual by adding external tuning. Installing such accessories is quite easy, and it does not require special training, so you can carry out this procedure at any service station or in your garage. In addition, some drivers tune the headlights, giving the car brightness and style.

Of course not. The X60 sold well even before the second restyling. To some it seemed similar to the Toyota RAV4 from the past, to others Hyundai Tucson. I don’t know how it is in cities with a population of over a million, but in the periphery the Chinese compilation tactics have worked.

It would seem - only front wheel drive, the only 1.8-liter 128-horsepower engine, but here are the prices... After all, 679,900 rubles for a crossover look very tempting, just remember that the arsenal is front-wheel drive - and, by the way, there is no other - basic equipment BASIC and "handle" about 5 steps.

Having asked how much the test version of LUXURY+CVT with a CVT, pseudo-leather, an 8-inch multimedia complex with GPS on Android and a sunroof in addition costs, I was slightly taken aback: 919,900 rubles or, to make it more clear, 15 thousand dollars. However, what is cheaper in this class today?

Product face

Now the crossover is recognized in the rearview mirror not only by the LIFAN sign: the front part attracts with completely new headlights with LED strips, a more massive bumper and a pair of round foglights, located at first glance very high. Additional running lights are lower, and this three-row seems like overkill. Among other innovations - led lights rear and plastic edging along the contour of the wheel arches. Yes, this is perhaps the most necessary thing in the exterior.

By the way, doors and fenders that are tapped as usual do not respond with traditional jar rattling, but with a dull sound. Either the thickness of the metal is rather large, or they worked on Shumka in Cherkessk, where Lifans are assembled. A small thing, but a pleasant one.

More significant joys await in the cabin. The three-spoke steering wheel with remote control for the audio system and the significantly redesigned front panel are unlike anything that has come before. Except that the air duct deflectors are vaguely reminiscent of Logan and Co. There is almost no soft plastic, except for the door trim with leatherette inserts, spring-loaded with thin foam rubber from the inside.

But even this design, materials, and build quality are quite decent. If you consider that the bulging center console has also been refined by fitting it into carbon fiber plastic frames, then this interior does not look shabby, as happened before. Attention to detail - something that the Chinese auto industry has always lacked - has appeared in full in the updated X60.

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I turn the dual control wheels for the air conditioning and audio system in disbelief. Wow - without backlash, with an anti-slip notch on real metal, and not on silver plastic, and even a barely noticeable step-by-step fixation along the entire course. The same attention was paid to the electric windows. The almost silent, soft operation of each of the four causes a smile of bewilderment.

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And the illuminated multimedia touch screen requires some unusual assessments. Colors, graphics, speed, “revolving” interface for switching devices - all this is of high quality and damn convenient. My Android phone connected via Bluetooth without any problems. However, later, having read tags and pictures for albums with a 16 GB flash drive completely full of music, the system refused to play M4a files. Not because of a lack of understanding of the modern format, but because of a basic lack of memory. I didn’t try the navigation due to the lack of SD with maps.

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Fantasy and reality

Well, okay, as for electronics, the Chinese know how, and for some reason iPhones are not assembled in Russia. Chinese designers can also fill the car with light. I find myself thinking that the glass area in the X60 is so large that even at sunset you can read small text in the cabin. The next thought is completely seditious.

This crossover would make a wonderful convertible, and here's why. Even with the chairs lowered to the maximum, simple in profile, but soft, my shoulders end up 25-30 centimeters above the window sill line. On the one hand, they are not protected by anything - there are no side airbags.

On the other hand, these are the kind of doors an off-road convertible should have. How can one not recall the Suzuki Samurai from the Turkish rental car of the late 90s... Taking into account the spacious back row with adjustable backrests and a 405-liter trunk, what a pleasure car it would be!

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The less you know, the better you sleep!

Fuel consumption according to manufacturer

mixed cycle

But this is where the comparisons end, and so do the utopian ideas. I can’t look at the average or even instantaneous fuel consumption. The on-board computer, which shows only the daily and total mileage, takes care of my nerve cells. See yourself in blue electronic speedometer, control the fullness of the tank and the engine temperature using white LEDs and don’t worry. For everything else, invisible, the warranty engineer is responsible for five years or 150 thousand kilometers.

Finding out the true roots of the mentioned 1.8-liter engine is pointless. Yes, it looks like the indestructible Toyota 1ZZ-FE engine. There are countless such “Michurinites” in China, but the fact that electronic control its injection system is from Bosch or Delphi - rather a plus. However, it is only useful for a long warranty period.

No matter how hard you press the accelerator, the dynamics of the X60 with a CVT leave much to be desired. If with a manual transmission acceleration to hundreds of kilometers takes 14.7 seconds, then the data with the CVT is simply not given in the performance characteristics. Some of the 162 Nm of torque is lost in an unknown place. More precisely, to achieve it at 4,200 rpm, the engine needs to be well revved up.

This is not so easy to do, despite the fact that the variator on the X60 is one of the few that does not howl in vain. But he understands only a very subtle attitude towards him. The smoother you press the gas, the better the acceleration and the faster the engine spins. Moreover, the same effect is observed when switching the box to manual mode with six pseudo-gears.

But the transmission settings are such that it does not strive to keep the car in good shape. Here is the Novorizhskaya highway, the tachometer shows only 2,200 rpm, and the speedometer shows 110 km/h. High speed By the way, it’s not particularly comfortable. The fact that the X60 is not a metropolitan resident is certain. Too slow, and such a one will immediately be swept away in a crazy flow.

Everyone has their own truth...

It’s not worth actively looking for “zero” in the steering wheel at speed - it’s fraught. It exists, and it’s not even particularly obscure. A little to the right or left - the trajectory changes, and the body instantly responds with slight movements, especially if the rear sofa and trunk are not loaded. Yes, this is exactly how the independent rear multi-link responds to maneuvers. But at the same time, the entire structure, including the MacPherson strut at the front, is quite rigid.

I turn onto a dirt road with holes - and hello, grandma, to your removable teeth. Shakes, and seriously. I remembered my Taiga from twenty years ago: the sensations are similar, only the Lifan X60 is a crossover, moreover, with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. However, it is possible summer tires everything will work out for the better, and the son-in-law will comfortably take his mother-in-law to the village house, and he will go somewhere on business. Or travel - but only three hundred kilometers, no more.

But I can’t vouch for more, if only because of the already mentioned seats. But believe me, despite the lack of lumbar support and side profiles in the pillow and backrests, they are much more comfortable than any office chairs. And driving, even leisurely, is much better than vegetating in one place.

11 September 2017 13:26

The version of the Lifan X60 crossover that is being sold now is officially called the first generation of the car after the second restyling. It’s worth remembering right away that it was thanks to this model that Lifan in Russia became the sales leader among all Chinese manufacturers, beating out its more well-known competitors in the past. This is precisely what explains the long stay of the model on the market, especially by the standards of the Celestial Empire, and the reluctance to change generations, getting off with restylings. Is it going well? - so why change anything?

Alexander Gorlin "avesti"

Externally, the car after the second restyling is quite different from its predecessor. There is a completely different design of the front part - a different grille, a different bumper, different headlights (now with LED strips), different DRLs, a different shape side mirrors. The front optics, which is also striking, have become three-row, similar to Nissan Juke– top row of headlights, middle row of fog lights, bottom row of DRLs. Even the rear has LED lights. Plus – plastic “stitching” along the contour of the wheel arches. And the most noticeable thing is the large letters LIFAN on the grille. A la Land Rover.

In addition, the car has noticeably grown in length (usually during restyling it is not customary to change the dimensions in any way, but nevertheless, the Chinese auto industry is not looking for easy ways) - from 4,325 to 4,405 mm. The height and width have not changed - 1,690 and 1,790 mm, respectively.

Inside there is hard plastic everywhere, a different front panel and a new three-spoke steering wheel. The build quality and materials are quite decent, especially for the money and considering that this is China - i.e. not wah-wah-wah!, but there’s nothing particularly to complain about. Not like on the outside, where there are gaps that are completely wild by modern standards, inconsistencies in parts, and so on in the same spirit.

In terms of equipment. What is there? There are heated front seats, rear parking sensors, a rear view camera and navigation. There is adjustment driver's seat in height and light for the second row. As well as a full-size spare wheel. There is a makeup mirror only in the visor in front of the front passenger, not in front of the driver. What's missing? There are no heated rear seats, no air ducts for second-row passengers, and in fact, a lot of other things are missing.

Wheelbase – 2,600 mm (not changed). The tank and trunk also remain the same – 55 liters and 405 liters, respectively. The trunk increases to 1,794 liters. Ground clearance – 179 mm.

Maximum speed – 170 km/h. The acceleration time to hundreds, announced by the manufacturer, is 14.5 seconds. Yes, speed is clearly not this car’s strong point. Maximum power of 128 hp. the car develops at 6,000 rpm, and demonstrates maximum torque of 162 Nm at 4,200 rpm. Gasoline - 95. Average consumption fuel is stated at 7.6 liters per hundred. Real consumption amounted to: about 11-11.5 in the city, 10-10.5 in mixed mode and 8-9 on the highway, depending on the speed. By the way, I had to find out this in a roundabout way - on-board computer fundamentally does not have such a menu item as fuel consumption - neither average, nor current, nor accumulated - there is none.

The turning radius is 10.8 meters (quite good).

Curb weight – 1,425 kg. Load capacity – only 300 kg.

How's it going? The dynamics, at least for the version with a CVT, are not so hot. Even with a manual transmission, according to the car's passport, acceleration to hundreds takes 14.5 seconds, and when there is a variator, the manufacturer prefers not to give such figures at all (apparently, so as not to embarrass itself). So our device picks up speed slowly, and if at least some semblance of dynamic acceleration is required, the engine has to be cranked literally to the point of a heart-rending squeal. At the same time, it is useless to press the trigger sharply - the car has an interesting phenomenon: the smoother you press the gas, the faster it will accelerate.

The suspension is hard. On a bad road and on a dirt road with potholes, the car shakes thoroughly. And given the assembly, you can understand why the car rumbles and rattles terribly on almost any road. Not the most pleasant feeling.

The first generation Lifan X60 car, after the second restyling, is now offered to potential Russian buyers with one engine - a 1.8-liter gasoline engine with 128 hp. Drive is front-wheel drive only. The gearbox is either a 5-speed manual or a CVT. Five configuration options. The price range is from 680,000 to 920,000 rubles.

Photo gallery

Despite the fact that the previous generation of the car debuted only a year ago, the new crossover redesign has brought noticeable changes to the exterior:

• Head optics. The shape of the headlights remains the same - made in the Hawkeye concept, but the lighting power has become stronger. The running lights also received different shapes.
• Radiator grille. Compared to the previous X60 model, the updated chrome radiator grille has become more massive and has acquired more vertical ribs (in previous generation auto they were horizontal).
• Front bumper . The front bumper has become more massive. Fog lights moved higher to the head optics, which freed up more space for the side air intakes, which increased slightly in size and changed shape.
• Tail lights. Rear side lights reshaped and equipped with LEDs, which increases the safety of the driver and other road users.
• Rear bumper . The chrome line above the license plate has become wider, and the exhaust pipes are built into the new bumper.

Upgraded interior

During the restyling, the roomy and spacious five-seater interior of the Lifan X60 2019 was also improved and received some changes, the main of which:

• Finishing. The interior is finished in two colors - light beige upholstery and a dark dashboard and floor.
• Seats. The car can comfortably accommodate five passengers, including the driver. The front seats are heated. Row rear seats equipped with headrests and two armrests with built-in cup holders.
• Dashboard. The instrument panel is made in laconic dark colors with soft blue backlighting, which has the ability to adjust the brightness of the indicators depending on the lighting in the cabin.
• Center console. The updated center console received an 8-inch color touchscreen monitor with built-in satellite navigation, a rear view camera and Bluetooth. The air conditioning and audio system control modules also received an update.
• Trunk. Luggage compartment has low walls for convenient loading and unloading of luggage. The volume is 405 liters, which when folded rear seats can be increased to 1170 liters, and by reclining the seats and raising the shelf - up to 1638 liters.

The Lifan brand cars, which appeared several years ago, managed to conquer a considerable segment of the Russian automobile market with almost no effort. After successfully infiltrating sedans, trademark from the Middle Kingdom began to expand its range by introducing trending trends, for example, crossovers. The leader in this area was the Lifan X60 in a new body.

According to some experts this car should be classified more as station wagons with increased ground clearance than traditional SUVs. This is due to the relatively small set of off-road characteristics and the prevailing parameters of “versatility”.

Like most Chinese cars, the SUV has a prototype among more famous global brands. In all its main features, including the body, the shape of the optics, and the interior, the newcomer is very much reminiscent of the second generation Toyota RAV4. The secret of a car's success lies in simple rules:

• affordable price tag;
• modern appearance;
• satisfactory quality.

Stages of development of the Asian SUV

The car was first exhibited for evaluation at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2010 as a prototype of the Lifan SUV. A year later, it appeared there in the form of a finished production model. A year later, the Moscow Motor Show became a new platform for the Russian public to see and appreciate the new Lifan X60.

In 2012 in Karachaevo-Cherkessk automobile plant Derways has already begun assembling this model for domestic car enthusiasts. Chinese experts have defined their model as a compact off-road SUV, but the car does not have everything Russian off-road coped completely. One of the important reasons was the lack of all-wheel drive.

First generation

The front end is quite reminiscent of Toyota features. A clear difference from its predecessor is the completely original chrome-plated radiator grille. The headlights are also set high and have slightly rectified lines.

Large, swollen ones are attractive wheel arches. With their shapes they provide a visually larger image to the car. The front arched lines flow from the massive bumper into the same massive sills, which smoothly connect with the rear arches that are less blown out. The rear area forms a slight slope, ending with an integrated spoiler.

The width of the five-door X60 is 1790 mm, and the body length is 4325 mm. The height of the machine reaches 1690 mm. The ground clearance is 17.9 cm. The new Lifan X 60 that just appeared at that time had weak characteristics in terms of body build quality. In the first generation, there were inconsistencies in some elements of the body kit; there were unwanted gaps noticeable in some places.

The body assembly quality of the first generation Lifan SUV left much to be desired - many gaps, inconsistencies, whistling while driving, etc.

Important! The front panel would be nice, but experts in it revealed the maximum similarity with the Rav4, and plagiarism, or rather a “replica,” was not in favor of the “Chinese.” Although this move was chosen by the manufacturers as a proven and winning option for interior design.

The interior space of the first model is comfortable for five people. The disadvantages include the almost complete lack of lateral support on the seats. This will have a negative impact on participants on a long trip. A positive feature is the spacious trunk space – 405 liters. When the second row is folded, cargo space increases to 1,638 liters.

The exterior is designed in more detail, it is probably more accurately copied from the “original Japanese model”:

• there are practically no obvious technological gaps;
• even small elements are securely fixed;
• There are no squeaks or extraneous noises while the car is moving.

Among the finishing materials, the budget format predominates:

• hard inexpensive plastic;
• insufficiently dense fabric upholstery;
• low quality leather.

The front struts are from McRherson, and the rear is a three-link option. However, due to poor factory tuning and rigidity, the car rolls when cornering. There is a feeling that the body may cross the point of no return and fall on its side. In this regard, it is recommended to slow down on sharp turns.

On sharp turns and bends, the Lifan X 60 behaves unpredictably - when the steering wheel is turned too much, the car tilts

Important! Good brakes are a plus. The disc type on each wheel performs its assigned function to the maximum. Perfectly tuned steering column quickly responds to steering wheel turns. This ensures simplicity and ease of maneuvering in any road conditions.

English engineers from the specialized company Ricardo took part in the development of the motor. A 1.8-liter engine was hidden under the hood gasoline engine. Thanks to its high environmental parameters, it meets Euro4 parameters.

VIDEO: 2017 Lifan X60. Overview (interior, exterior, engine)

Lifan X 60 2017 in a new body

Before the 2017 version of the Lifan X60 became available to customers, a small restyling was carried out in 2015. Engineers from the Middle Kingdom made some changes to their brainchild:

• a small facelift of the exterior was carried out;
• new equipment has appeared in the package;
• a version with a new transmission became available.

At the front, the radiator grille has been updated from a horizontal to a vertical design. This added aggressiveness to the image. The volumetric arches remained in their place.

The Chinese Lifan X60 of the 2017 model year became available to Russians in December 2016. The appearance of the car has once again replaced the radiator grille. The bumpers also changed their shape. Stylish pseudo-pipes of the exhaust system appeared on the rear side. The shape of the fifth door has become more sporty. The dimensions of the car have not changed since the beginning of production.

The interior of the cabin has become modern, but in a recognizable style. A large touch monitor has appeared in the central part, through which all multimedia is controlled. The area below it is loaded with a nice block responsible for climate control. The quality of finishing has increased.

The new crossover is equipped with a 1.8-liter engine with four vertical boilers. The multi-point power method is used, and variable valve timing is also provided.

Specifications

Among the main ones are:

• power – 128 hp;
• maximum torque – 162 Nm at 4200 rpm;
• highest speed – 6000 rpm.

Torque distribution is carried out by a five-speed manual gearbox or a new CVT that does not have steps. The first hundred on the speedometer appears after 14.5 seconds. In this case, the maximum at the needle is reached at around 170 km/h. Mixed mode forces you to spend 8.2 liters per 100 km.

As in the suspension of the base model, the Lifan X60 is equipped with MacPherson suspension struts at the front, and a three-link option at the rear. Steering rack reinforced with hydraulics. The ventilated braking system, even in the minimum version, is equipped with ABS and EBD.

Manufacturers offer several assembly options, each of which has its own price:

• BASIC – RUB 499,000;
• STANDARD – RUB 580,000;
• COMFORT – 600,000 rub.;
• LUXURY – 630,000 rub.

Even the budget version has a wide range of functions: a pair of halogen headlights, roof rails, a wide range of seat adjustments, front airbags, an immobilizer. More advanced cars received a set with alloy wheels, chrome plating package, heated seats, electric sunroof, rear view camera.

VIDEO: Lifan X60 FL vs Hyundai Creta! Test drive and review

11.11.2017