In the competitive market and unstable economy, it is challenging to buy the right car. High inflation and low currency value have caused car prices to soar. If you belong to a middle-class family with a limited budget, hatchbacks and C and D-type sedans are your best options. Since 1990, there have been three major car companies in Pakistan: Honda, Toyota, and Suzuki. Suzuki focused on hatchbacks, while Honda and Toyota specialized in sedans. However, since 2017, new companies have entered the market and introduced many cars. Investing in a new car brand for the middle class is difficult, but I will provide my honest review of the new entrant, Changan Alsvin. This review is based on my experience of using it for over a year and driving it for more than 25,000 km under almost all conditions.
How did I buy it?
In 2022, I had a budget of 2 million rupees and was specifically looking for a hatchback, particularly the KIA Picanto. I test-drove the car and found it to be great. Considering my limited budget, I prioritized three things: 1) Build quality, 2) Fuel efficiency, and 3) Service and parts cost. In terms of build quality, the KIA Picanto outperformed the Suzuki Cultus, which I had been using for over 10 years. The service and car quality of Suzuki was disappointing, but I must acknowledge the availability of parts, good fuel efficiency, and reasonable aftermarket prices. However, Suzuki cars lacked safety features.
When I visited the KIA showroom in October 2021 with the intention of making a payment, I was informed that bookings were closed until January 2022. It prompted me to explore other options in the market. By chance, I visited a Changan showroom and examined their basic variant. At that time, its price was PKR 214,999. I was impressed by the spacious size and satisfactory build quality. After reading reviews and receiving positive feedback from owners in my social circle, I made the decision to purchase the Changan Alsvin.
My booking and receiving time:
I made a down payment of 400,000 rupees and booked the silver car in November. Unfortunately, after just 15 days, the price increased to 2,424,000 rupees. This was highly disappointing to me as I now had to pay an additional 275,000 rupees. The estimated delivery time was set at 5-6 months. However, to my delight, I received the car at the end of January. Hurray!
Problems I faced from booking to delivery:
I faced a few problems during the booking and delivery process of the car. The first issue was the price hike. Although the price remained the same when converted to dollars, it significantly increased in rupees. I understood that this was due to inflation and currency depreciation. Despite this, I realized that buying the car outright with OWN was a better option because the price hike exceeded the OWN cost of buying it through a third party.
The last frustrating thing was the lack of proper updates from the support team regarding the status of my car. They continuously informed me that the delivery would be delayed but failed to provide accurate updates. On a Saturday at 5:40 pm, they called and told me my car had arrived. I had to receive it within 20 minutes or else I would have to wait until Monday. This rushed situation was also irritating. Furthermore, they did not follow any formal process as they had shown on their pages. To add to the inconvenience, the car was handed over to me with almost empty fuel, barely enough to reach the nearest fuel station.
My review of Changan Alsvin:
After more than 1 year and driving more than 25000km, I think I can give a better opinion and remark about Changan Alsvin. Let’s discuss the pros of this car first:
Pros of Changan Alsvin:
1- Fuel Average:
The fuel average of a car depends on the driver’s driving style as well as the quality of the engine and transmission. In the case of Changan Alsvin, they have implemented Blue-core technology, which is new to the Pakistani market. Based on my review, it performs great. On highways, I achieved an average of 16-20 km per litre, while in the city, it ranged from 10-14 km per litre. Let me break it down further for better understanding.
If you maintain a speed below 110 km/hr with the AC on, you can easily achieve an average of 18+ km per litre. Driving between 120-140 km/hr will result in an average of 16-17 km per litre. In the city, if you frequently use the brakes with the AC running, the average may drop to 10-11 km per litre. However, if you maintain an average speed of 60-70 km/hr, you can achieve 14-16 km per litre. Overall, I would rate the fuel average of the Changan Alsvin at 4.5 out of 5 stars.
2- Durability:
After using this car on various types of roads, I have come to love its durability. Everything about it is amazing. The build quality is fantastic, and I haven’t encountered any major issues with it. There were only two issues I faced, but these are common to any car. Firstly, my car’s boot cover got damaged by a sharp object. Secondly, the fuel meter stopped working when I filled it with low-quality fuel. The particles in the fuel caused the fuel meter to malfunction. I had to pay for the repair of the boot since it was not covered by the warranty, but they cleaned the fuel sensor free of cost since it was under warranty. Other than these issues, I didn’t face any problems during the first year of ownership. I would rate its durability 5 out of 5 stars.
3- Full of features:
Even though I purchased the basic variant of the Changan Alsvin, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of features it offered. I had steering controls, a screen, a rear camera with dynamic guidelines, alloy rims, daytime running lights (DRLs), reverse parking sensors, auto ventilation, automatic windows that could be rolled up and down with the key, and many more. It’s remarkable to have all these features at such an affordable price. Many B-class sedans and SUVs lack such extensive features. I would rate the features of the Changan Alsvin 5 out of 5 stars.
4- Suspension:
Overall, the suspension of Changan Alsvin is average. It falls somewhere between Honda and Toyota in terms of performance. It may not be suitable for heavy off-roading, but considering its price range, it is still quite good. The overall suspension is satisfactory, and it can be rated as being on par with Honda and Toyota. While it may not be the most reliable option for intense off-roading, it offers a great balance of performance and affordability within its price bracket.
5- AC Performance:
AC performance of this car is excellent. Even at 45-48 degrees, it works fine. The overall throw is amazing. I rate it 5/5.
6- Road Clearance:
On very sharp speed breakers, you have to drive very slowly otherwise it is very great. For local roads and streets, it is amazing.
7- Road Balancing:
Due to its perfect size and design, it has minimum body roll. I drove at 165km/hrs, and the stability was amazing. It is far better than Toyota Yaris. I recommend you Alsvin over other competitors.
8- Braking System:
The Changan Alsvin is equipped with ABS brakes. I had the opportunity to test them while driving at a speed of over 130 km/h, and they worked flawlessly. Within 2-3 seconds, the car’s speed reduced to 70 km/h, and it remained stable throughout the process. Based on this experience, I would give the ABS brakes a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Need Improvements:
No product is perfect, so I think the following things should be improved or added to the car so it will be best.
1- Paint quality:
The paint quality of the Changan Alsvin is average overall. However, I must mention that the paint quality of the bumper is below average. It requires extra care and attention to maintain its appearance. Considering this, I would rate the paint quality 3 out of 5 stars.
2- Costly regular service:
Due to the car being from a new company, I have to get the oil and other maintenance done at the company’s service center. It is not advisable to trust any local mechanic, which makes it a bit expensive. For instance, I have to spend around PKR 7,000 for just an oil change after every 5,000 kilometres. If I opt for a complete checkup, the cost can go up to PKR 14,000 and so on.
3- Tyre quality:
The Changan Alsvin comes with Chinese tires. The overall quality is decent, but if you have additional funds, it would be advisable to upgrade the tires. However, I am currently using the same tires and they are performing well for me. Considering the average tire quality, I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars.
4- Missing Features:
There are a few features this car has then it will be the best car even in a price bracket double its actual price:
- Retractable mirrors
- Push start (in the top variant)
- Variations in the colour interior
- Quality of front light throw
Misconceptions about Changan Alsvin:
There are a few misconceptions about the Changan Alsvin, but they are mostly rumours or rare occurrences that can happen with any car brand.
- Battery issue (I personally never faced this issue)
- Brake pads (For automatic transmission, the limit is around 25,000 to 30,000 kilometres, and for manual transmission, it can go beyond 50,000 kilometres)
- Vibrations (I never experienced this issue myself. It might occur if the car is modified)
- Spark plugs (The spark plug’s lifespan is around 25,000-35,000 kilometres since they are not iridium spark plugs. Among its competitors, only the City model has iridium spark plugs.)
Final verdict:
After conducting a detailed and honest review, I highly recommend Changan Alsvin over its competitors such as Yaris, City, and Saga. It has carved out its own market segment. The quality of the car is amazing, and the level of comfort it provides is outstanding. It is important to dismiss certain misconceptions like battery issues, brake pad problems, vibrations, and others. Overall, it is the best choice, and you will thoroughly enjoy the driving experience it offers.
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