Chery Maxime

When you first jump inside the cabin of the 2019 Chery Maxime, you’ll be reminded of the Eastar. This is because the general layout and design of this interior isn’t a huge step forward in comparison. However, what’s quite apparent is the improvement in the touch & feel of this cabin. The gaudy faux wood trim has given way to a dual-tone, black and beige interior with subtle touches of satin silver, some glossy black plastic, and dashes of stitched leather as well.

However, even though the perceived quality is better than before, things are still not up to the mark. Also annoying are some of the ergonomic glitches which still persists – the driving position is still a tad awkward, some of the buttons are too small, and the centre-mounted instrument cluster isn’t driver-oriented for better readouts. Thankfully, the Maxime’s cabin has plenty of room, and even the third row is quite acceptable. In regards to storage, this cabin has 28 cubbies for you to carry your knick-knacks. Also, with the third row in place, the boot capacity is 588 litres, which grows to 2,240 with the second and third row folded away. Some of the conveniences and features of the Maxime come in the form of automatic climate control, leather seats, parking sensors, cruise control, multifunction steering wheel, and a touch-infotainment display.

On the design front, the 2019 Chery Maxime is a definite step up over the car it replaces. The styling is now far more modern as the Maxime looks more pleasant to the eye and upscale. The well-composed front end wears a narrow grille, stylish headlamp housing with projector units and sleek LED daytime-running lights, a chiseled bumper with a centre air dam, and recessed vertically-oriented foglights. The vast side profile of the Chery Maxime highlights its expansive greenhouse area, relatively small wing mirrors, aggressively-styled 16-inch alloy wheels, distinctly-flared wheel arches, chrome bars on the doors, and a rising beltline.

The bulbous rear of the Maxime looks a touch ungainly but gets full-width LED taillights to add some much-needed pizzazz. Other design details include a roof-mounted spoiler, thick chrome embellishment on the tailgate, and rear foglights and turn indicators that are integrated into the bumper. The 2019 Chery Maxime is larger than its predecessor, and comes in at 4,730 mm in length, 1,823 mm in width, 1,590 mm in height, though its wheelbase of 2,800 mm remains the same.

The Chery Maxime is fitted with McPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam setup at the back. This setup ensures a relatively supple and comfortable ride for the occupants at city and highway speeds, though it can feel a touch floaty. Add to that a rather vague steering wheel and appreciable body roll, this Chery is not a corner-carving tool of precision.

The Chery Maxime is powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder mill that’s found in some of the other Chery models. In the Maxime, it develops 137 hp and 182 Nm of torque. Thrust is sent to the front wheels via a 7-step CVT gearbox. Owing to its mass and its resultant physics, the Chery Maxime will max out at an indicated 175 kmph. It’s certainly not brisk, but with an average mileage of 12.98 kmpl, it sure is quite efficient.

Ensuring effective braking for the 1.6-tonne Maxime is down to its four disc brakes, which are also supplemented by ABS and EBD. Furthermore, there are dual front airbags plus front and side impact beams, too.

With prices starting just north of RM 84,000, the 2019 Chery Maxime is indeed a promising, value-for-money offering.