Yes, you’re reading that right. The JAC S4 is a compact crossover with a price tag well under P1 million, undercutting more established names like the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 by a very considerable margin. Granted, this vehicle is made in China, but its affordability alone may make this thing well worth looking into if you’re willing to set aside preconceived notions.
2020 JAC S4
- JAC S4 1.5T+ 6MT Luxury – P878,000
- JAC S4 1.5T+ CVT Luxury – P928,000
- JAC S4 1.5T+ CVT Intelligent – P998,000
- JAC S4 1.5T+ CVT Ultimate – P1,098,000
For that price, you get a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine capable of up to 147hp and 210Nm of torque between 2,000-4,500rpm. Buyers have a choice between a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
Outside, the S4 flaunts a modern aesthetic with stylish design choices like an intricate front grille design with nice chrome, sweeping headlights, some rugged black plastic cladding, as well as bold character lines that run across the vehicle’s sides, and attractive 17-inch wheels. Design-wise, there’s very little to complain about.
Inside, JAC has equipped the higher-end S4 units with a large 10.25-inch LED instrument panel in place of traditional dials and gauges, rear A/C vents, and artificial leather seats over fabric ones. Infotainment, meanwhile, is managed via a 10.25-inch touchscreen which is also responsible for adjusting the vehicle’s lighting, while the top-spec variant comes with advanced safety features like lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and cross-traffic alert. Thankfully, all units get parking sensors as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
Triesenburg Auto Corporation, JAC’s local distributor, says the S4’s specs and pricing will help it stand out in the market. “Before bringing in the unit into the country, TAC took its time to compare the vehicle toe-to-toe with all the current vehicles in the segment and the overall package of S4 stood out,” the company said in a statement. Only time will tell if the market feels the same way.
So, are you willing to give a Chinese product like the S4 a shot? At the very least the price has to get people interested, right?
