Chery lops $2000 from J11 SUV

AUSTRALIA’S cheapest SUV – the Chinese-made Chery J11 – can now be had for even less money following the introduction of a $2000 cash-back offer, bringing the starting price to $17,990 drive-away.

The move comes little over two months after Chery introduced a similar offer on its J1 city-car, lopping $1000 off the starting price to make that model Australia’s cheapest new car outright at $10,990 drive-away.

Like the J1 offer, customers will be given the choice of taking a $2000 discount on the car or paying the original starting price and getting $2000 cash back.

The promotion is scheduled to end on August 31, however, as with the J1 cash-back deal Chery says it could continue beyond that point if the exchange rate stays favourable.

Daniel Cotterill, public affairs consultant for Ateco Automotive – Australia’s Chery importer - told GoAuto: “We have to put an end date on such offers for legal reasons but if the currency is still good it is likely that the offer or something like it would continue.”

Left: Chery J11 exterior and interior. Below: Chery J1.

The $1000 cash-back offer on the J1 was originally scheduled to end on May 31, however, Mr Cotterill said that it was still available now.

The new $17,990 asking price for the J11 includes features such as leather trimmed seats, air-conditioning, power windows, an MP3-compatible four-speaker stereo, power mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels and remote keyless entry.

Powered by a 2.0-litre engine producing 102kW of power and 182Nm of torque (at 4300rpm), the J11 comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission.

The car can also be had with a four-speed automatic as part of a $2000 options package that includes cruise and audio controls on the steering wheel.

The five-seater J11 has an official base kerb weight of 1375kg and a 375kg payload, measures 4285mm long, 1765mm wide and 1715mm high, making it 10mm shorter and 5mm narrower but 100mm taller than the Mitsubishi ASX. It rides on a 2510mm wheelbase and has 168mm of ground clearance.

“The Australian dollar has maintained its run at or near record levels and we are continuing to pass on the benefit of our strong dollar to the Australian car buying public,” said general manager of Chery Automotive Australia, Dinesh Chinnappa, “The strong Aussie dollar combined with the massive economies of scale derived by the Chinese auto industry is presenting the Australian car buying public with some genuinely compelling options.

“Why would you buy a small car when you can have an SUV for the same or less money?” Freshly-released VFACTS industry sales figures show that 84 people agreed with Mr Chinnappa and purchased J11s in June, while 488 customers in total have bought the Chinese SUV since its late-February Australian release.

The J11’s share of the popular compact SUV segment was 0.8 per cent in both June and so far this year.

The J11 is covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty including 24/7 roadside assistance and is now on sale at 45 Chery dealers around Australia – except Victoria, where a mandatory electronic stability control requirement outlaws sales of Chery’s city-SUV.

While Chery does have two regional Victorian dealers - in Mildura and Wodonga - both are close to the NSW border and can legally sell cars into that state.