Chery Maxime 2015 Review

In Malaysia's C-segment household car market, 7-seater models have always been a key consideration for family users—they need to meet the needs of daily commuting while also accommodating weekend family outings. The Chery Maxime 2.0 CVT Premium (2015 model) targets exactly this demographic, with its 2800mm long wheelbase, 7-seater layout, and a 5-year/150,000 km warranty as its core selling points, and it is priced at just over RM 90,000. In this test drive, we focus on experiencing its space practicality, power performance, and daily driving comfort to see whether it can be a high-value-for-money choice for family users.

The exterior design of the Chery Maxime follows a stable and elegant route, without overly aggressive lines. The front face features a horizontal grille, paired with halogen and LED combination headlights on both sides. The daytime running lights, when lit, are quite recognizable. The side profile of the car is sleek, with a waistline extending from the front to the rear, making the body look elongated. The 16-inch rims are perfectly suited for its family-oriented positioning. The rear design is simple, with a standardized layout for the rear fog lights and combination tail lights. The overall style caters to the family users' demand for a "timeless" look.

Entering the cabin, the first thing you notice is that the interior has a dark color scheme, mostly made of hard plastic materials. However, the stitching and assembly work are quite neat. The dashboard layout is clear, with the multimedia screen on top and a manual air conditioning control area below. The operational logic is straightforward and doesn’t require time to adapt. The multifunction steering wheel supports basic functions such as volume control and call handling. The instrument cluster uses backlit mechanical needles, making information display intuitive. In terms of configurations, features like keyless entry, a 6-speaker audio system, rear air conditioning, and 220V/230V power outlets are included. The rear air conditioning, in particular, significantly improves passenger comfort in Malaysia's hot weather.

Space is one of the core strengths of the Chery Maxime. The 2800mm wheelbase provides ample legroom in the second row—a 175 cm tall passenger has about two fists of space between their knees and the front seat. The second-row seats can be folded in a 60:40 split, and the third row in a 50:50 split. Although the legroom in the third row can only barely accommodate adults for short trips, it is sufficient for children or smaller passengers. For storage, the front door panels can hold two bottles of water, and the central armrest box and glovebox offer adequate capacity. With the third row folded down, the trunk can accommodate three 20-inch suitcases, meeting the luggage needs of family outings.

As for performance, the Chery Maxime is powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine that delivers a maximum of 138PS and a peak torque at 4300rpm. During daily driving, the startup is relatively smooth, and the CVT transmission allows for seamless gear changes with no noticeable jerking. Once accelerating to 60km/h, the power output becomes more linear. Overtaking in city traffic requires some advanced throttle input, and beyond 110km/h on the highway, the acceleration reserves feel slightly insufficient. There is only a standard driving mode available, which is perfectly adequate for daily commuting but lacks the aggressive feel of a sport mode.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is relatively light, so female drivers won't find it tiresome. However, its steering precision can be described as decent, without offering much driving pleasure. The chassis adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension, which effectively filters out most minor vibrations when dealing with Malaysia's common speed bumps and bumpy roads. However, passengers in the rear will feel significant jolts when encountering larger potholes. The braking performance is fairly linear, and the braking distance is average among vehicles in the same class.

During the fuel consumption test, we drove 50 kilometers each on urban congested roads and highways. The combined fuel consumption was around 8.2L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 7.7L/100km. However, considering the air conditioning was on throughout the test and some parts of the drive carried three passengers, this result is within an acceptable range. Regarding noise control, engine noise and tire noise were not very noticeable during low-speed urban driving. But once the speed reached 120km/h on the highway, wind noise became quite prominent, requiring the audio volume to be increased to mask the noise.

In summary, the main advantages of the Chery Maxime 2.0 CVT Premium are its practicality in terms of space, 7-seater layout, and extended warranty policy. Its configuration is sufficient to meet the basic needs of family users. Compared to similarly priced models like the Proton Exora or Perodua Alza, it boasts a longer wheelbase and a more spacious rear-row area. However, its performance and brand recognition are slightly inferior. This car is suitable for family users who prioritize space and cost-effectiveness—for example, those needing to frequently carry elderly and children on trips or occasionally transport large items. If you seek a balanced performance for family use rather than thrills from spirited driving, the Chery Maxime is a choice worth considering.