A serious competitor has appeared for Belarusian Geely — Russian-assembled Changan. What is it and how much does it cost
The car started being assembled at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad. Because of this, the Changan UNI-V became cheaper by more than $3000 compared to cars previously imported to Belarus from China.
Chinese Sport
The model itself has been produced since 2021, but its assembly in Russia was only set up this year. Prices for the Russian-assembled Chinese fastback now start from 75,900 rubles (about $25,700).
Under the hood of the Changan UNI-V is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with 188 hp, paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The car accelerates from zero to one hundred in 7.1 seconds.
The car is valued for its sporty design, evident both externally and internally. The UNI-V features an active rear spoiler, previously only seen on cars like Porsche, Audi, and other not-so-cheap brands.
The car's interior also has sporty notes due to the three-spoke steering wheel and seats with pronounced side support.
Given that almost all cars in the Chinese-Belarusian Geely/Belgee lineup are crossovers, the now cheaper Changan UNI-V could become a significant competitor, as despite the overall growth in crossover popularity, not everyone prefers them.
Among the advantages of the UNI-V are a high level of finish even in the base version and good handling, which at least partially matches its exterior. Overall, it can be noted that this car looks much more expensive than it costs.
However, the low price relative to its appearance and finish is reflected in the drawbacks that owners complain about, according to reviews.
Among the drawbacks, interior materials are noted as not being of the highest quality, very easy to damage, which leads to the interior quickly looking worn even with low mileage.
Owners also complain about low noise insulation and a rather stiff suspension, primarily designed for driving on good roads. Aside from the suspension's stiffness, other drawbacks are largely characteristic of all budget-segment Chinese cars, as miracles don't happen, and manufacturers have to save on materials to achieve a low price.
Considering that the price has dropped by more than three thousand dollars, it can be assumed that the Changan UNI-V will be in demand among Belarusians. The only ones who might be very dissatisfied with these cars starting to be assembled in Russia are owners who bought them earlier and paid almost 10,000 rubles more for the same car.
How much does such a Changan cost in Russia?
Despite the car being assembled in Russian Kaliningrad, in Russia itself, the locally assembled Changan UNI-V costs more than one and a half times more than in Belarus (about $44,000). Such a paradox also occurs with the inherently Russian Lada.
Russian-assembled cars in Belarus are cheaper due to several factors: the countries have different methods for calculating recycling fees, as well as different conditions for importing cars by individuals. In addition, Belarus offers preferential conditions for importing electric vehicles. Therefore, the market in Belarus is more competitive, which also affects prices.
At the same time, Russia has made it unprofitable for Russians to buy new cars in Belarus, as they would have to pay an additional recycling fee upon arrival in Russia.
What kind of plant is in Kaliningrad?
The Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad has been operating since the mid-nineties and is one of the largest in Russia. In peak years, about 200,000 cars were assembled there annually.
Until 2022, the Avtotor enterprise produced BMW, KIA, and Hyundai passenger cars. Changan brand cars have been officially sold in Belarus since 2024.
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