Top 20 Best Car Engines in China: Comprehensive Analysis
In recent years, Chinese automakers have made a huge breakthrough in technological development. Progress in the field of engine building is especially noticeable. Today, Chinese engines not only compete with European and Japanese counterparts, but in some aspects even surpass them. Let's consider the most reliable and technologically advanced engines produced in the Celestial Empire, and analyze their characteristics.
China Heart Award – Benchmark for Engine Quality
Established in 2015 under the auspices of the Faculty of Engineering of Shanghai Jiaotong University, the China Heart Annual Award is the most important indicator of engine quality in the Chinese market .This award is given to the ten best engines without allocating specific places. Every year, more and more hybrid powertrains are included in the list, which reflects the global trend for environmental friendliness and efficiency.
The 2022-2023 ranking is dominated by engines from Chinese manufacturers, which demonstrates the increased competitiveness of domestic brands of the Celestial Empire compared to foreign companies .
Best Chery and Exeed Engines
SQR F4J16 (1.6 turbo)
This 1.6-liter turbocharged engine is considered one of the most reliable Chinese engines. It produces 150 hp and 275 Nm of torque, which ensures good dynamics of the cars on which it is installed .
Technical features:
- Aluminum block and cylinder head
- 16 valves
- Inlet and outlet phase shifters
- Garrett Turbine
- Docks with the 7-speed Getrag robot
The motor is installed on popular models: Tiggo 7 Pro Max, Tiggo 8, Arrizo 8, Jetour X70 and Omoda C5 .The engine resource is estimated at 280-300 thousand kilometers using high-quality 5W-30 oil and 95 gasoline. Fuel consumption is 6-8 l/100 km .
An important indicator of reliability was a record test: the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max crossover with this engine covered 12,414 km without a single malfunction in five days of continuous movement .
SQRF4J20 (2.0 turbo)
The two-liter SQRF4J20 turbo engine is also part of the Acteco family and is installed on larger and more premium Chery and Exeed models. This engine has won the prestigious China Heart Award on several occasions .
SQRE4G15C (1.5 atmospheric)
The naturally aspirated 1.5-liter SQRE4G15C engine is highly reliable thanks to a simpler design compared to its turbocharged counterparts. It is also part of the Acteco line and deserves attention as one of the most unpretentious motors .
Changan Engines (Blue Core)
JL473ZQ9 (1.4 turbo)
The compact 1.4-liter turbo engine produces 150-160 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Installed on CS35 Plus and Eado Plus models .
Design features:
- Aluminum Cylinder Block
- Hydraulic Compensators
- Dual Variable Valve Timing (DVVT)
- Timing chain drive
- Turbocharger
With proper maintenance, the engine resource is estimated at 250-270 thousand kilometers. The engine is demanding on the quality of fuel (A-95 is recommended) and oil (0W-20 is recommended) .
JL473ZQ6 (1.5 turbo)
This 1.5-liter turbo engine with a capacity of 166-170 hp is installed on the Changan UNI-K and UNI-V models. He became famous for setting a world record in 2020 by working more than 259 hours non-stop .
The engine is characterized by good efficiency: fuel consumption on the highway and in the city ranges from 4.6 to 7.2 liters per 100 km .However, owners note the sensitivity of the engine to the quality of the oil and the need for regular diagnostics of the injection system .
Geely engines
JLH-3G15TD (1.5 Turbo)
A one-and-a-half-liter turbo engine with 150 hp and 255 Nm of torque is installed on the Atlas, Coolray, as well as Omoda and Emgrand GT models .
Features of operation:
- Requires only high-quality fuel (A-95)
- Recommended oil – 0W-20
- If the requirements are met, the resource is about 250 thousand km
- When using low-octane gasoline, the resource can be reduced to 100 thousand km
Interestingly, this engine is technologically close to the B3154T engine used on the Volvo XC40. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is about 6.6 liters, in urban mode it can reach 8 liters per 100 km .
BHE15-EFZ (1.5 turbo)
This engine stands out for its exceptionally high thermal efficiency of 43.32%, which is significantly higher than the average efficiency of gasoline engines (25-30%) .It is installed on the Geely Emgrand L Hi-X sedan and other models.
In the hybrid system, it is combined with an electric motor and a three-speed DHT Pro gearbox, providing a total power of up to 317 hp. and 610 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption in hybrid mode is only 3.8 l/100 km, and the maximum range reaches 1300 km .
Great Wall Motor (GWM) Motors
6Z30 (3.0 V6)
This 3-liter six-cylinder engine stands out from China's predominantly subcompact engines .It is installed on the Tank 500 SUV and is recognized as one of the best engines according to the version China Heart 2022 .
Tank Engines
Tank SUVs, a sub-brand of Great Wall Motor, are equipped with powerful and reliable engines. The largest among them is the Tank 500 engine, which, although considered a hybrid, in practice has a minimal electric component .
BYD Engines
472QA (1.5 atmospheric)
This naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with a volume of 1.5 liters produces 110 hp. and 135 Nm of torque. It features an outstanding thermal efficiency of 43% .
Main advantages:
- High thermal efficiency
- Efficient cooling system
- Wide torque range
- Low fuel consumption in a hybrid system of 3.8 l/100 km
In the composition of DM-i hybrid system on the Qin Plus model this engine provides a range of up to 1245 km on a full tank and a charged battery .
GAC Engines
4B20L1 (2.0 atmospheric)
The naturally aspirated two-liter 4B20L1 engine has earned recognition for its effective work in tandem with an electric motor and an electromechanical Toyota CVT on the Emkoo crossover .
GAC's cooperation with Toyota has had a positive impact on the quality and manufacturability of the Chinese manufacturer's engines.
SAIC & Dongfeng Engines
SAIC (MG) 2.0 Turbo
A powerful 261-horsepower two-liter turbo engine of the SAIC concern is installed on MG 7 sedans. Experts note its sporty character and included it in the list of the best China Heart engines .
Dongfeng DFMA15T (1.5 turbo)
This engine appeared in 2018 on the wave of popularity of crossovers in China. It produces 150 hp and 230 Nm of torque .
Design features:
- Distributed injection
- DOHC System
- Timing chain drive without hydraulic compensators
- Phase correction only in the intake tract
With proper maintenance (0W-20 oil, A-95 gasoline), the resource can reach 280 thousand kilometers .
Comparison of Chinese engines with world counterparts
Chinese vs. European Engines
Chinese manufacturers are actively borrowing technology from European companies. For example, the Acteco line was developed jointly with the Austrian company AVL, which also cooperates with Volkswagen .
It is noteworthy that in terms of thermal efficiency, some Chinese engines (Geely, BYD) with an efficiency index of about 43% surpass many European counterparts .However, in terms of resource, Chinese engines are still inferior: 250-300 thousand kilometers against 300-400 thousand for European engines .
In the field of electrification, Chinese automakers are making significant progress. According to some experts, "[Chinese] trains are certainly superior to European ones" .
Chinese vs. Japanese Engines
Japanese engines are traditionally considered the standard of reliability. Although Chinese engines have made significant progress, they have not yet reached the legendary reliability of their Japanese counterparts. As car enthusiasts note, "few can compare with a god-like Toyota" .
Some Chinese manufacturers (such as GAC) use Toyota technology in their hybrid systems, which has a positive effect on their quality .
Features of the operation of Chinese engines
Service Requirements
Most modern Chinese engines are sensitive to the quality of the materials used:
- Fuel : it is recommended to use only high-octane gasoline (A-95), otherwise the engine life may be significantly reduced
- Oil : requires a quality synthetic oil of a certain viscosity (usually 0W-20 or 5W-30)
- Maintenance intervals : manufacturers recommend servicing every 10-15 thousand kilometers, although some experts advise shortening this interval to extend the service life .
Problems with spare parts
One of the important problems of Chinese cars is difficulties with spare parts. As the owners note: "Two seemingly identical cars released from the assembly line in the same month may no longer match in terms of spare parts... And not only that, there are simply no spare parts in the assortment" .
Prospects for the development of Chinese engine building
Hybrid Technologies
Chinese manufacturers are betting heavily on hybrid technology. Many of the best engines in the China Heart ranking are part of hybrid systems .
For example, the hybrid system based on the BHE15-EFZ engine shows impressive performance: a total power of 317 hp, a torque of 610 Nm and a fuel consumption of only 3.8 l/100 km .
Electrification
China is becoming a world leader in the production of electric vehicles. Even Tesla is experiencing serious competition in the Chinese market from local manufacturers .
According to experts: "At present, it is worth considering the purchase of only Chinese electric vehicles, since their cost is lower than that of European counterparts" .
Conclusion
Chinese automakers have made a tremendous technological breakthrough in engine development over the past decade. Motors from Chery (Acteco), Changan (Blue Core), Geely, BYD and other companies demonstrate high efficiency and reliability, although they require more thorough maintenance.
The most reliable Chinese engines today can be considered the Chery SQR F4J16, Changan JL473ZQ9, Geely JLH-3G15TD, Chery SQRF4J20 and BYD 472QA. With proper operation, these motors are capable of traveling 250-300 thousand kilometers without major repairs.
With the rapid development of hybrid technology and electric vehicles, it can be expected that Chinese manufacturers will continue to strengthen their position in the global market in the coming years by offering increasingly advanced and environmentally friendly engines.
