Landmark. translated as “earth marker”, that is, a certain milestone, milestone, landmark on the ground. In this name, there is an obvious phonetic echo with Land Rover - as an attempt at equality. But at the same time, the semantic opposition is obvious: if Land Rover is an “earthly wanderer,” a wanderer, an eternal vagabond, then the one bearing the name Landmark must stand firmly on the ground, rooted, so that one can lean on it. This word contains a promise of reliability and solidity, long-term, almost timeless stability, independent of weather and conditions. That is exactly what many cars made in China lack.
Such a bold promise is given to us by a manufacturing company called Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co., Ltd, which, according to official information, dates back to 1949! In fact, the company has been working in the automotive industry since 1991, and it became a more or less noticeable figure in the market after 1999, when the final merger of three hitherto independent companies took place - Hebei Jiangxi Fuqi, Zhongxing and Tianye. The main production facilities are located in the cities of Baoding and Chachung. The total capacity of the two plants is 110 thousand cars per year, and the model range consists of four cars - Landmark, Grandtiger, Admiral and Changling. In addition to these models, Hebei Zhongxing Automobile at various times produced cars under the names Banner, Gold Lion, Jinshi, Lucky Star, Star and Tiger, with some of them sold under both the ZX and Tianye brands. Tianye Admiral, for example, is well known to residents of the Altai Territory and Central Siberia - for some time this car was assembled in Biysk using SKD technology. The Hebei brand has not been forgotten either - under this brand they recently released a car that completely copies the Toyota Land Cruiser 100, calling it Fuqi 6500.
The location of the main plant (the city of Baoding, 138 km from Beijing, Hebei Province) will alert the attentive reader: production sites of such companies as HUABEI, Baoding Dadi and Great Wall are also located here. And, judging by the fact that the cars rolling off their assembly lines are sometimes indistinguishable, the degree of cooperation among Chinese automakers is significantly higher than what is officially declared.
ZX (we will call it that for simplicity) was one of the first among Chinese automakers to enter the foreign market. In March 2000, the company shipped 500 pickup trucks to Iraq, and in November of the same year, the vehicles went to Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Egypt. Egypt also became the first country where external assembly of the ZX was organized - in 2003. A year later, the above-mentioned Biysk plant, converted from a manufacturer of boiler equipment, started operating. In 2005, the leaders of Avtotor even had their eye on the Landmark model, but things did not go further than the intention to make 75 thousand (!) cars in Kaliningrad by 2010.
In 2005, the first Landmark crossed the border of the European Union and settled in Germany, with a certain Mr. Wagner. This allowed ZX executives to announce the start of expansion into European markets. But the joy turned out to be premature - so far only a few people have purchased ZX cars in Europe. Things are going better in Asia, Africa and South America, and very well in Ukraine and Russia. The Russian – and, more broadly, the CIS market – is considered by the Chinese to be one of the key ones. Therefore, in 2006, they gladly accepted the proposal to organize the Landmark assembly in Russia. At first they wanted to implement this project in Zlatoust, but then they settled on Novouralsk, where TATA trucks and Geely Otaka cars are also made. And even though the absolute sales figures are still far from expected (in the first half of 2008, 424 LandMarks and 270 Grand Tigers were sold in Russia), compared to the sales of some other Chinese SUVs, this is perceived as an obvious success. In the full-size Chinese SUV segment, only GW Hover sells better, and among pickup trucks, GW Wingle and Sailor.
All Landmarks sold in Russia are collected here. Pickup trucks are imported from China - it’s more profitable. In the Russian specification, Landmark exists in four versions - two different configurations with two types of transmission - mechanical and automatic. The cheapest modification (MT-1) costs 563,500 rubles, and the most expensive (AT-2) costs 615,850 rubles. Note that, regardless of the configuration, all cars are equipped with ABS+EBD, two airbags, air conditioning and alloy wheels. Such attention from the manufacturer to security systems is not yet very typical for the Chinese. Naturally, all cars meet EURO-3 standards, but on sale you can still find 2007 models “tailored” to EURO-2; They are currently on sale at good discounts.
ZX cars for the Russian market are equipped with only one 4G64 gasoline engine with a volume of 2.4 liters and a power of 126 l/s. This is the famous “all-Chinese” engine, which traces its origins to Mitsubishi and is used in the vast majority of Chinese frame SUVs. Its production volume exceeds 1 million pieces per year, and it has been produced for more than six years. It is clear that with such volumes, all “childhood diseases” have long been studied and conscientiously cured. In addition, with low power, this engine has good torque and, more importantly, the torque peak is shifted down to the low speed zone. This gives a good return “at the bottom”, bringing the engine closer to a diesel engine in terms of traction capabilities. Unfortunately, a real diesel engine is not provided for “Russian” LandMarks - the car turns out to be expensive and uncompetitive. In the Chinese specification, the ZX diesel engine is called QD32, has 110 l/s with a 3.2 liter displacement and copies the design of Nissan. In addition, Landmark can be equipped with gasoline engines a la Toyota of 2.2 and 2.7 liters, but, as already mentioned, they will not be sold in Russia yet. Accordingly, we had little choice of modifications for face-to-face acquaintance. We got the Landmark in the MT-1 configuration, the simplest possible.
Analyzing the appearance of a Chinese car often comes down to a guessing game. The Chinese auto industry has not yet created its own design traditions, so you can find borrowed elements and entire images in any car. And with SUVs, the situation is generally tragic: despite all the wealth of models and their manufacturers, they are assembled from a very limited number of components, freely sold by large manufacturers of automotive components. Strictly speaking, a Chinese frame SUV or pickup truck is a construction kit, where the final manufacturer sometimes only has the honorable duty of assembling it. Motors, axles, gearboxes and transfer cases, even frames and power body elements (doorways, side members) - all this, as a rule, is done “outsourced” and, in the right combination, is used by specific assemblers. Designers can only “play” with the design of the front and rear parts (bumpers, lighting, radiator grille) and sometimes the outer body panels. This approach is completely economically justified, but has costs in the form of different cars with the same interiors or, say, with the same chassis.
The creators of Landmark, of course, also did not escape the temptation of unification. And the temptation to borrow in styling. For example, in profile the car resembles the latest Opel Frontera and its ilk – the 1997 model Mitsibishi Pajero Sport. And ¾ of the way in front is the same Pajero Sport, even more unambiguous.
Engineering solutions were most likely chosen based on the economics of the project: what can be bought cheaper or, focusing on the minimum cost, produced by oneself. The Chinese traditions of “Jeep building” generally come down to repeating the components of two platforms – Toyota and Isusu. Here too you can see well-known, time-tested solutions developed by the Japanese in their time. Landmark is, of course, a frame car. The body is attached to the frame at 10 points, and to the delight of lifting enthusiasts, the supports are well welded, and the mounting method easily allows for the installation of spacers. The power unit is located almost exactly above the front axle (its small offset allowed for a good approach angle), the rear of the gearbox rests on a massive arc cross member. The cardan transmission is composite, and the first shaft is practically pine with an intermediate support (the deviation into the frame here is no more than one to one and a half degrees), but the second part of the cardan is located in relation to the rear gearbox at a rather large angle. Considering that this shaft is long, it is a source of hum and vibration, as well as increased load (and, accordingly, limited resource) of the cardan joints. A car ride confirmed this assumption: the low-frequency howl, well known to Niva owners, is quite noticeable; although, of course, it cannot be compared with the Niva. However, we repeat: this design is typical for Chinese SUVs and is not the weakest component of this car.
The plastic gas tank is located longitudinally, on the right, between two frame cross members and, in principle, does not require additional protection from below. But the “spare wheel” is located far into the rear overhang and significantly limits the departure angle. For those who are planning to go off-road, we advise you to put it in the trunk in advance.
The wheel suspension is classic: at the rear there are small-leaf longitudinal springs on which a continuous axle hangs, and at the front it is independent, on very long longitudinal torsion bars. Accordingly, the suspension travel is significant, which is certainly a benefit for an SUV. By the way, the kinematics of the rear axle is adjusted by a transverse traction rod, which is mistaken by many for a stabilizer.
The drive to the front wheels is connected in the transfer case through an electrically controlled overrunning clutch, which relieved the driver of the second transmission control lever (its functions are assigned to the rotating handle). Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to check whether both shafts are disconnected - and for Chinese cars this is a pressing issue. The fact is that some manufacturers (let’s not point fingers at the baby elephant) simplify the design by opening only one shaft, leaving the second in constant engagement. This produces additional noise and vibration, and also leads to uneven wear. So, just in case fate brings you to a ZX car dealership, we advise you to clarify this aspect with the managers.
The salon is decorated without the embellished decorations of the Chinese in the form of blue light bulbs and wood-like plastic. This alone is conducive. But in general, it’s quite cozy here, fortunately there is no pungent smell, and the build quality is at the level of modern VAZs. Or even better, since nothing creaks or falls off. The interior aesthetics are a compilation; many of its elements - deflectors, console design, instrument panel - we could see on different European cars. The steering wheel, in particular, was copied from Mazda's. But everything is done with a certain taste and there is no feeling of disharmony. Climate control is assigned to three rotating knobs (the optimal solution), the cabin fan is moderately noisy. But its efficiency, alas, is not sufficient: where on other machines you can get by with first or second speeds, Landmark requires turning on the fourth. There is a feeling that the issue is not so much in the performance of the fan impeller itself, but in the design of the air ducts: a weak “stream” from the deflector indicates losses at the joints and bends of the pipes. Everything would be fine, but this also makes the air conditioner of little use: at +25 degrees outside, its effectiveness is clearly not enough, and in humid weather it does not always cope with the fogging of the windows. To be fair, we note that the air conditioner “takes away” quite a bit from the engine; Turning it on does not affect the dynamics of the car in any way. But we don’t even know how to explain the lack of airflow for the legs of the rear passengers - miscalculation, economy or ideology...
The driver’s seat is a classic “jeeper”, that is, pushed close to the windshield. It would be nice to introduce seat height adjustment here - some may find the seating position a bit low. The steering wheel is adjustable only for tilt. The seat is comfortable: once you sit down, you stop noticing it. All controls are at hand and do not require additional effort when manipulating. The speed of adaptation to the driver's seat is very high, which indicates the absence of obvious ergonomic miscalculations. Only the feeling of some constriction does not leave me. You expect more space from a car of this size. This is even more pronounced in the back seat.
Well, as always, there are unpleasant little things typical for the Chinese automobile industry: an ashtray lid that is hanging from its mountings, a gearshift lever knob that rotates at hand, and an audio system that is modest in sound quality. To sum up the impressions, let’s say: for the ZX, LandMark’s interior is a huge step forward compared to what they do on other models, on the same Admiral, for example. There the “Toyota” panel is copied, generously framed with crazy plastic “wood”. And at LandMark everything is cultural, without being tacky.
Landmark has a sensitive clutch pedal and quite informative gas and brake. You get used to the controls almost immediately, you can dose the thrust literally by millinewtons. The moment of closure of the clutch disc with the flywheel is stretched just enough so that you can move off in any conditions at the lowest possible speed, so to speak, tightly, without slipping (this is the advantage of a “low-torque” engine!). At the same time, you can’t complain about the pedal travel being too long - no, everything is fine, your leg doesn’t get tired. The gears are switched on clearly and clearly, there are no errors. The loose knob is annoying, but it’s not difficult to fix it yourself. The steering is worse - it is too “loose”, there are almost no feedback reactions. The performance of the hydraulic booster is clearly excessive and this, of course, affects reliability (see below). During intensive taxiing, the pressure in the hydraulic system grew so much that oil was thrown out directly from under the closed cap of the expansion tank!
The road character of LandMark is largely determined by the height of the wheel profile. On standard tires it is quite rolly, steering responses are blurred, which is aggravated by the disgusting steering tuning. It is necessary to work with the steering wheel with some advance, taking into account the inertia of the suspensions and the large slip of the tires. In principle, for a car with such a high center of gravity, the Landmark is quite predictable, but I would still like a clearer steering and more responsive shock absorber responses to rebound.
But with comfort everything is in perfect order! The long-travel and impenetrable suspension does not let the problems of the road surface get further than itself, and you especially begin to appreciate this on a country road, where you can drive at the same speed as on asphalt. The length of the wheelbase also contributes to driving comfort - 2850 mm, one of the largest in this class. Alas, long wheelbase, all other things being equal, is also a tendency to skid. Its Landmark shows it regardless of the type of drive; when the front end is connected, it is even more difficult to control the trajectory (there is no differential!). A skid, as it should be, occurs after the tires and suspension have chosen a resistance resource. So, at the moment the wheels fall off, even completely safely, some unexpected displacements of the rear part are also felt relative to the sliding path, caused by the return of the broken tires and suspension to the working position. If you add thrust at this moment, then even at “childish” speed you can run into serious trouble. Drifting is clearly not Landmark's element!
Off-road, Landmark is no less comfortable than on asphalt. The main problem with cross-country ability is related to the low-hanging spare tire. But, in general, the geometry of the car makes it possible to overcome many problem areas. Probably, the UAZ Patriot will win several meters off-road from Landmark due to its higher ground clearance and better ramp angle, but at the same time it will shake out its soul. And the “Chinese” does it more gently, without injuring the vestibular apparatus.
I must say that we received this Landmark already quite “rolled”; however, it’s difficult to expect anything different from a car from a dealer test drive. With a mileage of just over 13 thousand kilometers, the gearbox howled, the revs fluctuated, and the “check engine” indicator periodically came on. There was some kind of malfunction in the chassis that made the car’s ride “heavy”; it was clearly difficult for it to demonstrate all its capabilities. Subsequently, we compared the behavior of this LandMark with the new one - and the difference turned out to be very noticeable. And by the time he returned to the dealer, he was completely capricious - he began to twitch, the revs did not rise above 2000, and he had to drive in first or second gear. At the same time, every 2-3 kilometers the car stalled and started only after a five-minute “rest”. At such a ragged pace, we drove along the traffic-jammed Volgogradsky Prospekt to Zhulebino, commemorating in certain words those who do not really care about cars...
Now is the time to summarize the experience of Russian Landmark owners; fortunately, quite a lot of cars have already been sold and we can talk about statistics. Of course, there is no official information on this matter, but we spent some time on the Internet forums of ZX car owners and talked with some of them personally. The picture appears something like this.
The biggest complaints are about the power steering: oil oozes, and in some cases even gushes, from under poorly tightened clamps, rack seals, and cracked hoses. The high pressure hose bursts too often to be considered an accident. We would advise those who are faced with such a problem far from a service center to be psychologically (and physically) ready to independently remove the power steering pump drive belt and drive further without a booster at all. It's hard, but repairing the pump, or rather replacing it, will be very expensive.
There are similar problems with other seals: the gearbox shank oil seal, the rear axle. They are less systematic, but also not uncommon.
Automatic hub couplings are unreliable not in themselves, but because their operation is associated with compliance with certain (to put it bluntly, inconvenient) requirements, which are most often not met. The most common is driving with the front axle drive engaged on hard surfaces. This leads to power circulation in the transmission and its most delicate components, the hubs, suffer. It’s even worse when, without waiting for the clutches to fully engage, the driver backs up; this “cuts off” the engagement elements. It would be advisable to get rid of these mechanisms altogether, replacing them with “manual” ones; fortunately, the choice of suitable diameters is very wide.
It has been noticed that on many cars the fuel level indicator lies shamelessly. Whether it is the indicator itself that is “fooling” or, more likely, the problem is in the sensor, is not known for certain, but we recommend not to be surprised by strange indicators.
Another problem is related to the poor design of the fuel tank neck. The refueling “gun” does not fit completely into it and there are frequent cases of it falling out right during refueling! In this case, no back pressure is created, which means that the “cut-off” does not work and gasoline gushes onto the asphalt. So hold on and warn the gas station attendants.
There are a few other minor inconveniences: it is difficult to fill the washer fluid into the rear reservoir, the front reservoir is too small, it is inconvenient to change spark plugs, the interior light only turns on when the ignition is on. Painted bumpers tend to peel off.
These are the most typical problems discussed by LandMark owners all the time. Others happen, of course, but, as a rule, haphazardly and over long distances. In general, in terms of reliability, Landmark is approximately at the level of its closest competitor - GW Hover.
But in terms of availability of spare parts, Landmark loses to Hover by one goal. Even now, when a year and a half has passed since the launch of its production in Novouralsk, the wait for a trifling piece of hardware drags on for months. But our goal once again showed how cunning it is in invention: on the Internet it is easy to find lists of interchangeability of many parts and, in accordance with them, select something from other, more common machines. Much is suitable, for example, from Pajero-2, RAV-4, GW Hover. This is not surprising: ZX uses many “global” components produced by Delphi, MAGNA STEYR, Siemens VDO, Valeo... And some rubber-metal bushings even fit from the VAZ 2109!
It turns out that in terms of “problematics” Landmark is not far behind domestic cars. But if everything is fine with the owner’s hands, then it makes sense not to rely on the factory warranty and service the car yourself or at a familiar service center. However, this applies to most Chinese SUVs. Serious unit breakdowns are rare among them, and “little things” are easier to fix yourself.
Cost of maintenance (basic work, rub.)
TO-0: 8100
TO-1: 4750
TO-2: 5800
TO-3: 4750
TO-4: 12650
TO-5: 15300
TO-6: 5800
TO-7: 4750
TO-8: 12650
TO-9: 15300
ZX Landmark, 2007
The car is narrow. I switched to it from the Niva. Once I measured the distance between the doors: it was already 10 cm. I was very upset, but then I got used to it. And in the city it’s more convenient in traffic. Assembly of the Ural plant. In the first month, the door became distorted, I don’t know how, but it was corrected in the cabin. Low quality spare parts. In the first 2 months, 4 “hubs” (automatic machines) were replaced under warranty, after 2 years I tore them and threw them away, installing manual ones. They serve properly. The ZX Landmark has expensive parts and they are not available. Luckily, I found an online store - the price is 3 times lower than in our salon. Door locks were breaking all around. The rear door gas stops stopped working during the 2nd winter. Changed it. At 75 thousand km I had to replace the crankshaft. The pulley became loose, the key began to “eat” and the elbow became an oval. And the car is really beautiful. Comfortable on the highway, in the swamp the ZX Landmark is like an UAZ. Gears shift clearly, steering is clear. I accelerated it to 150 for testing (according to the speedometer, 145 according to GPS), and it behaves quite well. It is stable in turns, and on bad roads the ZX Landmark “swallows” bumps and holes without noticeable inconvenience. I sleep in the trunk at height (175), and my granddaughter was playing hide and seek there at the lake. Consumption 12-15. I was serviced first in a salon, then by a friend of mine. I note that all the stereotypes about poor Chinese quality somehow do not apply to the ZX Landmark. Even the most stubborn “China haters”, having taken a ride in the passenger seat or simply walked around, condescendingly make an exception. In general, I am very pleased with the car after 5 years and 110 thousand km. I’ll add that my neighbor in the garage had exactly the same Landmark, we took it together. He was luckier - the locks were all intact, the pulley did not come loose.
Advantages : appearance. Large body. Comfort.
Flaws : shortage of spare parts. At the service station, the “Chinese” are feared like fire. Public opinion. So it's hard to sell.
Sergey, Chelyabinsk
ZX Landmark, 2006
I bought a ZX Landmark from a car dealership in 2007. Year of manufacture: 2006. Rear-wheel drive. In general, the price-quality ratio, in my opinion, is quite adequate. I bought my Land Mark for $21,000. To date, the mileage is 65,000 km. Immediately after the purchase, I changed the tires (the factory ones glide even on dry asphalt) and all the shock absorbers, since the original ZX Landmark rocked on the road like a boat on the waves. In addition, I slightly modernized the front anti-roll bar (installed “ears” from the GAZelle and rubber bands from the “Lanos”), because The original rubber bands had to be changed after 4,000 km, and then after another 4,000 km. I changed the power steering tube - after 5,000 km it rubbed against the frame (under warranty), front wheel bearings, universal joints, suspension bearing and brake pads at 30,000 km. This winter, the lock on one door broke, the hydraulic struts on the trunk lid broke, and the fuel sensor began to blatantly lie (it lowers the remaining fuel in the tank by 15 liters). Moreover, the sensor seems to be normal, but the failure seems to be in the on-board computer (I’ll look into it in the summer). And that, oddly enough, is all. More than 5 years of operation and 65,000 km of mileage, no repairs (oil changes do not count). What I like most about the ZX Landmark is the large, spacious interior. At the same time, I slightly modernized the fastening of the rear seats and moved them back by 10 cm. This did not affect the size of the trunk in any way, and sitting in the front (the seats were moved completely back) and in the back, even for me with a height of 185 cm, became quite comfortable. But in the summer the air conditioner copes poorly with such a volume of the interior, and in the fall and spring in rainy weather, even with the air conditioner turned on, the side windows (all except the windows of the front doors). I drove the ZX Landmark several times to Crimea (more than 800 km one way). I was very pleased.
Advantages : equipment. Reliability. Price-quality ratio.
Flaws : fuel consumption 12-13l./100 km. In winter, rear-wheel drive has poor cross-country ability. Shock absorbers and tires.
Pavel, Kyiv
ZX Landmark, 2007
I’ll say right away - the car was bought for work and is used 7 times a week, sometimes 20 hours a day. The ZX Landmark did not have serious breakdowns so that the car would not “stand up”. Everything the driver needs works. The car was a pleasant surprise - there are no creaks in the cabin (except for the 5th door), everything fits more or less, the plastic in the cabin is moderate. The stock radio plays great and pushes the bass. You don’t need to catch the car at speed so often, even at 150 the car’s reactions are predictable. The engine is a little weak for a 2-ton ZX Landmark, but it is enough to go anywhere and everywhere. What really struck me was the lack of transmission vibration (Niv and UAZ owners know what it is). All components and assemblies to this day have no leaks and do not “sweat”; I refer to the fact that the components and assemblies, plus the frame, were taken from Pajero Sport and made under license. By the way, the car was made in the Russian Federation. What was surprising was that the activation of all-wheel drive does not manifest itself in anything other than the lighting of the lamp on the panel, there are no sounds or shocks, only the reduction must be engaged when stopping. The climate control copes with its task at the very least: it heats well, but cools by 3 points, which is affected by the large interior. By the way, the interior of the ZX Landmark transforms very well, plus the trunk is very large and comfortable. I was struck by the small and very light steering wheel. Also, when leaving the cabin, the fuel level sensor did not work (we fixed it ourselves by disassembling the pump). It turned out that the contacts had stuck together, shook it and everything worked. The stock tires are not of very good quality, the car does not hold up at speeds, plus the car skidded on wet asphalt when turning at a speed of 40-50. I also don't like that the spare tire is under the bumper. Also, a tall driver will feel a little cramped behind the wheel of the ZX Landmark (this seems to be the lot of all SUVs of this class) because there is not enough headroom.
Advantages : a real frame SUV for your money. Large trunk. Good equipment. All-wheel drive electrical connection. Nice build. It doesn’t bother me about little things like the domestic ones.
Flaws : light steering. The mechanism for switching on the lowering is not convenient. Fragile plastic. Not enough room for a tall driver.
Alexey, Yegoryevsk
One of the most anticipated new products in the Chinese automotive industry has become the Landmark SUV from the ZXAuto concern. The body of the device, in its characteristics, is very similar to the Toyota Land Cruiser and the models with which it competes. However, Landmark cannot be classified in the same class of cars. Therefore, all that the concern could boast of was just the release of another average Chinese SUV, without any claims for great success.
Even in videos demonstrating how to control a car, drivers can be seen driving unsteadily. It is especially surprising when full braking is carried out in front of minor potholes and bumps that the SUV must easily overcome. For some reason, new owners prefer to omit these and many other points in their reviews. The sensations from a test drive are unlikely to surprise a potential buyer, and neither will the technical performance of the car. The same cannot be said about the cost, which is noticeably inflated.
Characteristic features of the interior and exterior of ZH Landmark
The peak of Landmark sales in Russia occurred in 2007-2008, since this period was associated with the launch of production. In our country, assembly was carried out in Novouralsk, but the Chinese version can also be found on the road.
The appearance of the car is truly extraordinary - there is no pretentiousness characteristic of most budget Chinese SUVs. In general, as we have already noted, the outside of the body is very similar to the Japanese Cruiser, so many will like this solution. And if we take into account that the “Chinese” costs several times less than its twin (so to speak), then in 2008 it had no equal in its segment. Some of the interior features include:
- good architecture of the driver’s seat and lack of free space in the work area;
- the seats are quite uncomfortable due to lack of space and poor quality of materials;
- cheap plastic, including on the front control panel, which soon leads to its wear and replacement;
- the main elements of the working area are quite reliable - no rattling or squeaking is heard while driving;
- very roomy trunk, but little free space for passengers sitting in the rear seats.
In general, the salon looks modest, so to speak, not worth its money. The situation is worsened by the mediocre technical component of the car, but more on that later. However, the external design and quality of the body and paint materials remain at the same level. This was one of the decisive moments thanks to which the SUV found its first buyers on the Russian market.
Of course, the price of the ZX Landmark was decisive, which in the crisis year (year of production) was no more than 550 thousand rubles. In general, in reviews from Landmark owners, the SUV is characterized as a reliable Chinese car, which is explained by the good condition of its body and operating units even after eight years of active use.
ZX Landmark specifications and riding impressions
If the ZXAuto concern also worked on the internal filling of the SUV, as well as on the external decoration, then the number of sales on the Russian market would increase significantly. However, this did not happen, and the Chinese Landmark turned out to be much more primitive from the technical side than it might have seemed at first glance.The power plant, fortunately, is not so mediocre, as the 2.4-liter engine with 136 horsepower was a success in cars such as Great Wall and Mitsubishi. However, the selection of the remaining components was a serious failure, which left a negative impression on potential buyers. For example, as a result of a test drive of the ZX Landmark, it was discovered that activating all-wheel drive is by no means easy. Other features should also be mentioned:
- To customize the car for yourself, you need to figure it out for more than one hour. In this area, the SUV is far behind leading car brands, whose interface is easy to understand;
- the presence of outdated components and assemblies that did not perform well on many Japanese cars;
- obvious overkill in copying other models of the Chinese and Japanese automobile industry, which deprives the car of its individuality;
- the engine is quite acceptable for its price, but it is not able to reveal its full potential;
- The 4-speed automatic transmission does not meet the realities of our time, which is a huge minus for the manufacturer;
- Difficulties with activating all-wheel drive do not allow us to talk about Landmark as a full-fledged SUV.
Summarizing the above, we conclude that the ZX Landmark is another Chinese SUV that has very impressive dimensions and provides a fairly large number of options to its owner. In reality, the car is not able to justify its title as an SUV, since it experiences difficulties with maneuverability in areas of even moderate difficulty. Accordingly, there can be no talk of any safe and comfortable driving.
Even during a test drive of the Land Mark Zx, it becomes clear that no one will buy a car on the Russian market for the initial price (20 thousand dollars). Sales will take place only on the secondary market, where the price tag drops to 300-500 thousand rubles. Before purchasing, we highly recommend reading reviews and ordering a test drive.
Crash test ZX Landmark video
Let's draw the line
Of course, the attractive price of the ZX Landmark is one of the few advantages of this Chinese car. This is a budget option for an SUV that boasts an exceptional design and a high-quality engine. If all the above-mentioned shortcomings of the car do not scare you, you can safely give your money for it.Otherwise, in order to dispel all doubts and dot all the i's, we recommend making a test drive and making a final decision.
Chinese automobile manufacturer ZX Auto is a relatively young company and has been operating in the global and domestic markets since 1999. Basically, ZX Auto is engaged in the production of SUV class cars, that is, full-size SUVs. At first, their products were sold only in the domestic market, but after significant investment, the entire ZX model range gradually began to appear in other countries. Russia was no exception. In this review we will focus on the full-size SUV ZX Landmark (2007). Reviews, design and technical characteristics of this car are further in our article.
The appearance of the car on the world market
Thanks to the presence of two of its own bases and a research center, the manufacturer ZX Auto is capable of mass-producing up to 110 thousand cars per year. Today, the company's products, namely full-size SUVs, are officially exported to more than 40 countries around the world. The ZX Landmark car can be found on almost all continents and countries - in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia. It is also supplied to the Russian market. Moreover, a separate plant was built in Russia to assemble such SUVs on site. In the near future, the company is going to conquer the US market by starting exports of a new upgraded version of the ZX Landmark.
The manufacturer has an ISO9001 certificate, which guarantees the high quality of its products. Thus, the ZX Auto lineup can confidently claim large deliveries and compete with such industrial giants as General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota and many other concerns.
Design
The appearance of the car is not distinguished by its relief shapes or any expressiveness. The design of the Landmark is quite simple, which is quite common for a modern crossover. At the same time, it should be noted that this SUV is very similar to the Great Wall Hover, which was produced around the same years.
The front of the car is decorated with wide chrome contours which smoothly stretch up to the hood. The optics of the car resemble the headlights of some kind. The bumper, like on all SUVs, is plastic, with integrated fog lights. The power element itself is strongly pulled up - this allows the SUV to drive over uneven surfaces with a large frame angle. By the way, many global manufacturers are now trying, on the contrary, to lower the bumper as low as possible, equipping it with unnecessary embossed parts and other “bells and whistles”. This makes the machine suitable for use only in asphalt areas. The ZX Landmark can easily overcome obstacles such as stone, sand, and drive on dirt roads and gravel.
On the sides of the SUV, massive wheel arches and a chrome sill are clearly visible for easy boarding/disembarking of passengers. You can install roof rails on top of the car, which can significantly increase the volume of the luggage compartment or transport non-standard cargo, such as a bicycle, over long distances.
Dimensions and capacity of the car
The Landmark five-door SUV has the following body dimensions: length - 4.75 meters, width - 1.76 meters, height - 1.83 meters. The total volume of the luggage compartment is small - only 470 liters. The budget Dacha-Logan sedan has approximately the same volume. However, the driver can significantly increase the capacity of the luggage compartment by leveling the last, third row of seats to the floor.
Car interior
Inside, the SUV has a quite spacious layout. In total, the cabin can accommodate 6 people, including the driver. However, no matter how much prestige the manufacturer presents to the public, “Landmark” will still remain. And it’s not a matter of price (although we can give a number of examples where the company pays great attention to the quality of finishing materials, despite the price of 450-500 thousand rubles), and as an interior assembly. Even looking at a photo of the interior of an SUV, you can unmistakably determine how “high-quality” the plastic is here.
It looks as if this three-spoke steering wheel was made of plasticine. The only thing pleasing to the eye is the instrument panel with two recessed wells inside. Here, as we see, there are not only dial indicators (fuel level, tachometer and speedometer), but also digital indicators that measure the mileage traveled by the SUV. There is no center console, but there is a radio with a convenient CD connector.
The design of the controls somewhat resembles a domestic one (again, the cheapness of the design is to blame). The center console is covered by a huge plastic insert that looks like aluminum. There are also two stove deflectors with mechanical adjustment of the air flow. In all other details, you can also feel the “smell of budget” - whatever one may say, the Chinese had to meet the 16 thousand dollars.
ZX Landmark: technical specifications
In total, the manufacturer offers 3 different versions of this SUV. The engine range includes two petrol and one diesel units. Let's start with the youngest - the first 4-cylinder engine develops a power of 126 horsepower. The total displacement of this engine is 2.2 liters. The older unit already develops a power of 139 “horses”. The working volume of this engine is 2.4 liters.
As for the diesel unit, its volume is 3.2 liters and the power it develops is 108 horsepower. In terms of exhaust gas emission toxicity standards, it complies with the Euro-6 standard.
It should be noted that the entire line of engines was borrowed from the Japanese concern Mitsubishi, which means there is no doubt about the reliability of these power plants. As for transmissions, on the Russian market buyers will be offered both manual and automatic transmissions.
Dynamics
Many drivers note the good acceleration dynamics of this SUV. With a mass of 1,700 kilograms, it reaches a hundred in less than 16 seconds. The maximum speed of the car is 160 kilometers per hour. Of course, the Landmark is not a Mercedes Gelenwagen, and it cannot drive 200 km/h, but the all-wheel drive SUV accelerates very confidently and quickly.
Fuel consumption
Which is 13-14 liters per 100 kilometers in mixed mode, it cannot be called economical, but still do not forget about the budget cost of the Landmark, which simply does not allow making it less “appetizing”.
How much does ZX Landmark cost?
The price of a new car in 2014 is about 560 thousand rubles. There is little variety of trim levels here (more precisely, one, plus a choice between manual transmission or automatic transmission), so the price range is not very large.
And yet, more than 500 thousand is a good price for an SUV equipped with two front airbags, full power accessories, air conditioning and an ABS system. The only drawback of the jeep is its “unadvertised” nature. Only a few people know the ZX Landmark SUV, but if the manufacturer had done a good advertising campaign, perhaps the new product would have become a bestseller. Although, on the other hand, this would significantly affect the cost of the car - and then the public would pay attention to higher-quality crossovers from competing brands costing from 600 thousand to one million rubles. The new ZX SUV bears the symbolic name Landmark, which translates from English not only as a landmark or milestone, but also a turning point, a key point. Will the model become one for the brand?
Every new Chinese car evokes the familiar feeling of skepticism. They say that there has not yet been an AW car that would radically change the idea of the AW top industry in this country. But do not forget that with each independently created car, the Chinese are getting closer to the rest of the AW automotive world. Here is our current ward ZX Landmark - another milestone on this path.
The body of the new product looks neat. The fit of body parts, painting and set gaps are all very decent. And if you remember the price of 24,000 USD. e. (for an SUV!), then it’s quite acceptable. But what surprised me more was the interior.
It was raining outside, and I made short runs to the parking lot where my car was waiting for me. I open the door and... take a napkin and wipe the seat. The fact is that the water-catching channel of the seal along the edge of the doorway is not wide enough, and it turns out that the water that has accumulated between the door and the roof pours directly onto the seat when the door is opened. A little annoyed, I sit down in the salon. The seating position is traditional for Chinese SUVs. The seats are positioned close to the floor and the legs are extended forward, almost like in a sports car. The reason is the low body relative to the overall height of the AW car. A significant part is consumed by ground clearance and the frame. The adjustment range of the driver's seat is also small. 1.8 meters is the height limit at which the driver is enough for a normal landing.
The instrument cluster is logical and easy to read. The illumination is uniform and bright. And on the drive mode switching unit located between the front seats, it’s even too bright. When driving at night, it distracts the driver every now and then. But the switch itself is very convenient. With its help, you can switch from rear-wheel drive to all-wheel drive without any physical effort.
In terms of the quality of finishing and originality of interior design, the Landmark stands apart among all Chinese AW vehicles. Plastic without a strong odor, the fit of parts is neat and quite accurate. The warning light on the instrument cluster will indicate that all-wheel drive is engaged. But after turning on the lower row, additional signals do not appear.
There are no air ducts for the rear seats, so the large interior takes quite a long time to warm up. Although the “stove” works well, quickly warming up the front passengers.
At first glance, it is not clear why the back row of seats was not moved further back. They are screwed a good ten centimeters from the wheel arches. And the wheelbase of the car is the most impressive among competitors similar in price and size - Dadi Shutle or UAZ Patriot - (2.85 m). It turns out that in addition to the five-seater, there is also a version with an additional third row of seats. By the way, it also has heater air ducts for rear passengers.
Traditionally for Chinese AWs, the list of equipment is very extensive: air conditioning, electric windows and even 2 airbags and parking sensors.
Before starting the engine, you should study the equipment. So, Landmark goes to our technical center. It turned out that, despite all the external originality, the filling of this AW car is not super modern and is well known from other Chinese SUVs. This is a supporting frame on which a 2.4 liter 16-valve Mitsubishi engine is longitudinally mounted. Drive – plug-in full. The main drive axle is the rear one. But here's what's interesting. Unlike its fellow countrymen, Landmark switches the transfer case not with a mechanical lever, but with an electric drive.
Landmark suspension elements look impressive, both the front torsion bars and the solid rear axle on leaf springs.
The general technical review is completed. We return the car to the terra firma and start the engine. The sound of its operation is quite harsh, but not very loud. But the transmission howls even in single-drive mode.
The controls turned out to be quite easy. The process of driving this rather large AW vehicle does not require much physical effort and is quite within the capabilities of even women. The clarity of gear engagement is not bad, but there are difficulties with the first one. In our copy, it knocks out as soon as you let off the gas.
Landmark doesn’t feel like a stranger in the city. High ground clearance and high profile tires give you freedom of maneuver when avoiding traffic jams, parking, and simply driving through streets with broken asphalt. Although the rather soft suspension and considerable weight of the car cause the body to sway during acceleration, braking and maneuvers.
And off-road, Landmark fully lives up to its name. Like all its Chinese counterparts with a frame body structure, a rigidly connected drive and an endlessly energy-intensive suspension, our AW car easily overcame all the proposed obstacles. The high profile of the tires plus the long travel of the suspension makes them impenetrable and quite comfortable on rough terrain.
The first acquaintance with the ZX Landmark left me somewhat confused. Yes, this AW car has something to complain about. Much can and should be improved. But still, it is already quite pleasant to use. The external panels and interior plastic are fitted more carefully than those of many “compatriots”. The engine is quiet, the machine is easy to operate, and the list of equipment is quite extensive. In terms of price/quality ratio, the AW car is really interesting.
Definitely, Landmark will become a reliable stronghold of the brand.
http://www.autocentre.ua/
Test drive ZX Auto Landmark
In the spring of 2007, in the city of Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk region, AW vehicles of the Chinese brand ZhongXing began to be assembled. We took a Landmark SUV for testing. About three years ago, they brought us Tianе Admiral pickups, which looked similar to Toyota HiLux.
We then pretty much mocked the build quality and the lack of comfort... So, ZX is Tianе. More precisely, the ZhongXing brand belongs to this company and another Taiwanese one. And they continue to make their pickup trucks to this day, they just call them differently - Grand Tiger. Moreover, in China there is both Admiral and Tiger. But more about the pickup later. Now on our agenda is the classic five-door, five-seat Landmark SUV. I focused on five seats because a seven-seat version is also sold in the Middle Kingdom.
ABOUT Pseudosciences
For now, design in China is a bourgeois pseudoscience. Until recently, this category included ergonomics, coloristics, that part of the science of production culture that is responsible for quality, and, in the opinion of many, metallurgy and chemistry. At the same time, for four years now, everyone has been doing nothing but talking about the imminent takeover of the world car market by Chinese manufacturers... It is unlikely that the Chinese themselves have not heard about this, and since they have heard, they probably would not be against it, and therefore with the sciences it's time to figure it out. For example, sitting in Landmark is quite comfortable for a tall person. Pass in ergonomics. We look from below: in some places the hand of a fireman with a welding machine appears, but only in some places. Okay, in terms of technology and quality - a minus. In short, in most specialties the grades are at least satisfactory. But the appearance... “Chinese Pajero Sport!” – the guys from our service immediately dubbed Landmark. But it looks similar! But the doors are not the same, and the hood is not the same, and these nightmare headlights, and the taillights... Well, where are you, talented Chinese designers? Five thousand years of civilization where? Is it really impossible to get anything other than porcelain?
ABOUT INDECISION
“Hesitating is harmful!” - said one of the action movie characters, shooting another bad guy. When you drive even on smooth asphalt on Landmark, this phrase takes on a slightly different connotation. The SUV's looseness is no less striking than its dynamic characteristics. The car doesn’t just shake on bumps, it shakes from side to side, while large bumps like speed bumps go over very hard, and on small ones it shakes disgustingly. But the acceleration is frankly pleasing. The engine, which has Mitsubishi written large right on the valve cover so that no one doubts it, produces 126 hp. With. at 5200 rpm and 193 Nm at approximately 3000 rpm. His traction is smooth from the first thousand and a slight pickup after four thousand. At the same time, the relatively light SUV (curb weight just over 1,700 kg) accelerates the engine confidently and quickly - in no more than 16 seconds to 100 km/h. You can tear yourself away from the old classic Zhiguli at a traffic light, the main thing is not to hesitate and press the accelerator pedal firmly and to the floor. Fuel consumption at the same time jumps over the mark of 15 liters per 100 km.
In the city, evasiveness and dynamism are most valued. Outside the city - stability and streamlining. Off-road – geometry and torque. This is where Landmark is simply brilliant. Probably, this is the first time I have used such a degree for a Chinese AW car, but we must make a note that the “excellent” ratings for, for example, the Range Rover and for our ZX are slightly different in weight... So, Landmark is great off-road. Excellent engine thrust, sufficient ground clearance, and good geometry are multiplied by a huge reduction ratio. I don’t know its exact number, when the request comes from China, I will inform those interested personally... However, it is a fact that you can get out of a car moving at idle and in the first reduced state while moving, walk around it at a quick pace and climb back. Even on dry sand, the speed did not have to be raised above 2000, and it was possible to drive up hills up to 30% in third gear, and simply crawl into second. At bends in the terrain, it is necessary to pay attention to the clearance under the bottom, since the longitudinal flotation angle is not outstanding - 23 degrees, and the plastic tank is not covered. I was also worried about the spare tire hanging under the rear edge and reducing the departure angle to 25°. In front everything is in order - 32° and a steel cross member. The rear axle stabilizer bar is most vulnerable from below.
Landmark is equipped with an audio system from Siemens VDO. This is a breakthrough. No seriously! Until now, everything that was on all-wheel drive AW vehicles from China immediately went into the trash. An attempt to turn this on led to a loss of taste for life for an hour and a half. Here the sound is not even annoying. Obviously, it would be nice to add corresponding speakers to a potentially good head unit, but for an inexperienced listener it will do just fine. The salon was a total success. The high-standing seats are quite comfortable, the controls are in place, the three-spoke steering wheel is very good, and the second row is not cramped. The instruments are easy to read and quite accurate. Although the air conditioner is quite noisy, it blows and cools as it should. What’s bad is the barely bearable smell of phenol, which may not disappear even after six months.
ABOUT RANDOMITY
Is this not an accident? The Chinese SUV does not cause universal sadness (except for the smell in the cabin), it handles well, is dynamic, very comfortable, well equipped and also inexpensive. But, in fact, try to find an SUV equipped with power accessories, air conditioning, two airbags and ABS with a full five-seater interior, a decent trunk and for 560,000 rubles. Great Wall SUV - weaker, tighter, without airbags, Hover - more expensive, UAZ Patriot - again no airbags, air conditioning for an additional fee, music... The closest thing to him from the one currently sold in Russia is the Landwind X6, which is a copy of the Isuzu Rodeo, but it is smaller, tighter and more expensive. But there are also Landmark versions with an “AW Tomato” gearbox and a diesel engine. Maybe this is just the option that can win the fierce battle for the Russian market?
Text: Igor GUBAR
