One of the most sold Chinese cars on the Russian market is the restyled Lifan X60 SUV. Reviews about the new version of the crossover, which changed not only the appearance, but also a couple of technical specifications, were not long in coming.
Exterior
The design of the Lifan X60 at first glance in many ways resembles the appearance of the famous Japanese Toyota RAV4 crossover. Owners of the Lifan X60 New in the reviews noted this similarity, while the Chinese manufacturer himself did not deny that the RAV4 body was very popular with the designers.
Embossed wheel arches give the appearance of a crossover aggressiveness. Car optics are equipped with tuning mechanisms, which allows to increase visibility. The chrome-plated radiator grille narrows at the edges and looks very impressive against the background of piercing optics.
The auxiliary lighting unit is placed in a standard place foglights, while the foglights themselves are located at the very bottom. This decision is noted as a drawback in the reviews of the owners of the Lifan X60, since there is no additional protection of the body from chips and damage.
Oversized side mirrors do not require additional settings when changing a driver and provide a good overview.
The trapezoidal LED system, integrated into the light amplification optics, gives the aft of the car an original appearance. The owners of the Lifan X60 in the reviews noted that with a detailed examination of the body, you can see the skewed parts and the difference in the thickness of the cracks between them, indicating a low build quality.
Interior
The interior of the crossover is enough for a comfortable accommodation of five people, including the driver. The dashboard is represented by three deep wells and does not have outstanding information content, providing only the necessary information. On the massive center console is a simple audio system and heating and ventilation control keys.
In reviews of the Lifan X60 New, both experts and ordinary motorists noted that driving a car is very risky due to too close pedals. Another minor but annoying flaw was called the driver’s shallow glove box and its ability to open for no reason.
There is enough free space in the back row of seats for a comfortable pastime on a long trip. The backs of the second row are adjustable in angle.
Despite the fact that the front seats are very comfortable, you can’t sit comfortably on them - there is no proper lateral support. The position of the seats is adjustable, which allows you to choose the optimal fit, but there are no settings for both the steering wheel and steering column, which greatly spoils the impression of a crossover.
Nice leather was used as the finishing material in the interior, however, almost the entire interior was copied from the Japanese counterpart - Toyota RAV4, which was noted with displeasure by the owners of the 2013 Lifan X60 in the reviews. Despite the fact that almost the entire interior is identical to the RAV4, Lifan still boasts an individuality: the front panel stands out favorably.
Luggage compartment
Difficulties with opening the fifth door arise quite often: the mechanism itself is absolutely not thought out, since you can open the trunk from inside the cabin or using the button on the key fob, but there is no external handle. Such a flaw is very negatively perceived, as noted in the reviews of the Lifan X60 New.
The luggage compartment is 405 liters. If necessary, you can increase the usable space to 1638 liters by folding the last row of seats.
Powertrain
The engine range is represented by only one unit: a 1.8-liter engine with a capacity of 128 horsepower. Gasoline engine with variable valve timing, four cylinders and 16 valves. The Chinese company Lifan worked on the development of the motor together with engineers from the English company Ricardo.
The engine fully complies with all the requirements of the European standard EURO-4, which negatively affects the dynamic component of the Lifan X60 crossover. In the reviews, it is noted that the unsuccessful adjustment of the accelerator pedal led to the fact that when the movement starts, the car often stumbles and twitches.
The official information indicates that the crossover has a speed of 100 km / h in 11.2 seconds. In practice, it turns out that the acceleration time is 14.5 seconds, which is confirmed by numerous test drives and reviews of the Lifan X60.
The engine comes to life only when exceeding the average speed. Auto concern Lifan said that the fuel consumption of the crossover is 8.2 liters in combined mode. The power unit of an SUV definitely needs either significant improvements or new versions.
Transmission
Despite the obvious off-road appearance and aggressiveness, the Lifan X60 does not have the necessary potential: it is equipped only with front-wheel drive. Together with the engine, only two gearboxes are installed: a continuously variable CVT-variator and a five-speed mechanics. The accelerator pedal is fully electronic.
SUV suspension
Chinese engineers equipped the Lifan X60 with McPherson struts and a proven multi-link rear system. Properly selected suspension copes with various shortcomings and obstacles on the track.
Minor shocks are transmitted to the passenger compartment when hitting large potholes. Despite the fact that the crossover does not differ in high ground clearance, it turns quite tangibly into corners.
Steering
In reviews of the Lifan X60, the owners spoke very negatively about the operation of the hydraulic power steering and brake system. The wheels respond late to the steering wheel, which reduces the controllability of the SUV.
Brake system
For effective braking, you need to almost fully depress the brake pedal, which is very bad. The braking system itself is represented by disc brakes on the front and rear wheels.
The warranty period for the individual parts, components and systems of the car cannot but alarm us: only one year or 30 thousand kilometers. In cases of emergency braking due to the strange response of the pedal, it seems that the brake system does not function correctly.
Crossover Dimensions
The Chinese Lifan X60 SUV has the following dimensions:
- body length - 4325 mm;
- height - 1690 mm;
- width - 1790 mm;
- ground clearance - 179 mm;
- wheelbase - 1600 millimeters.
Ground clearance for a car that claims to be an SUV is average, but quite good for Russian roads.
The basic equipment is equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels. Official Lifan dealers offer several body colors: standard - white, optional - cherry, black, gray, blue and silver. The total weight of the car is 1330 kilograms.
Car Owner Reviews
Motorists, having acquired the Chinese Lifan X60 SUV, note that, despite the rather weak engine, the car easily goes overtaking along the highway even with the presence of cargo. Apparent appearance allows you not to lose the car in the city.
The rear seat cushions recline and the backs fold in a 2/3 ratio. Due to the even floors, it is possible not only to transport goods, but also to easily arrange a berth for those car owners who purchased Lifan for hunting or fishing.
The front seat leans back at a solid angle. The owners of the Lifan X60 are positively evaluating the ABS system. Regardless of weather conditions and time of day, the lighting copes with the task and provides excellent visibility. Excellent visibility have rearview mirrors.
Among the shortcomings in the reviews of the Lifan X60, the quality of both the metal of the body and the paintwork is noted. The first versions of the SUV differed in rather weak sound insulation, however the subsequent restyling dealt with this drawback. Some car owners note the poor quality of electrical equipment, which leads to the rapid failure of bulbs, sensors and other elements.
Unfortunately, the Lifan X60 does not have a high level of reliability and security. A high center of gravity, a heavy body and a long suspension travel lead to the fact that in sharp bends the external wheels begin to behave unpredictably. They also respond negatively to the meager interior design, scold almost zero ergonomics and low ground clearance for an SUV. However, despite all the shortcomings, motorists and experts call the Lifan X60 in the reviews a very good Chinese SUV.