Pocket Rockets: Fast Compact Cars Under 20K of China-made

Introduction: The Thrill of Fast Compact Cars

When it comes to compact cars, speed and excitement may not be the first things that come to mind. However, a new breed of fast compact cars is changing the game. These pocket-sized powerhouses deliver heart-pounding acceleration, razor-sharp handling, and a driving experience that will leave you craving for more. In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the best options that combine compact practicality with the thrill of high-speed performance.

Introducing the Chery Arrizo5 GT 2022: A Budget Performance Car

If you’re on a tight budget but craving the thrill of a fast car, look no further than the Chery Arrizo5 GT 2022. Chery, a prominent Chinese automaker, has gained international recognition for its exports and a diverse customer base. Interestingly, the Arrizo5 GT goes by a different name overseas, often referred to as the Arrizo6.

Performance-Packed: Two Powertrain Options

This car offers two powertrain options. The first is a 1.5-liter engine paired with a CVT transmission. The second, which we’ll focus on today, boasts a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine generating a robust 197 horsepower and 290 Nm of torque. While these figures may not steal the spotlight in the world of performance cars, Chery’s extensive experience in engine development and its commitment to technological innovation shine through in the Arrizo5 GT’s impressive tuning.

Blazing Acceleration

What truly sets this car apart is its acceleration. With a tested 0-100 km/h time of approximately 6.89 seconds, it ranks among the fastest in its class. And the best part? It comes with an affordable price tag.

Key Dimensions: Length: 4710 mm, Width: 1829 mm, Height: 1490 mm.

Loaded with Features

The Arrizo5 GT offers a satisfying array of standard features, including:

• Front and rear six airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Three selectable driving modes
• Front and rear parking sensors
• A reverse camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Keyless start and entry
• Remote start
• Stylish and Practical

The car also features LED headlights with automatic high beams and matrix lighting. Inside, you’ll find a generous 10.25-inch central touchscreen with support for CarPlay and a matching 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster. Both the front and rear seats come with USB charging ports, and the audio system consists of six speakers.

Budget-Friendly Thrills

While the Arrizo5 GT provides manual air conditioning, it’s important to note that it offers the most budget-friendly entry point among all the cars we’re recommending today. With a starting price of just $16,731 USD, it’s an exceptional value. What’s more, Crisscross Auto registered members can enjoy discounts of over $1,500 USD, making it an even more enticing option for budget-conscious performance enthusiasts. Don’t miss out on this affordable thrill ride!

Top Recommendation for Performance and Features: Changan Uni-V 2023

In our ascending price order, the second recommendation for those seeking an adrenaline rush without breaking the bank is the Changan Uni-V 2023 1.5T Prestige Edition. This car is equipped with a punchy 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that delivers a maximum power output of 188 horsepower and a peak torque of 300 Nm. The engine, with model JL 473ZQ7, is paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission for smooth and responsive shifts.

Impressive Size and Features

When it comes to size, the Uni-V stands as the longest among the six cars we’re recommending, with dimensions of 4680 mm in length, 1838 mm in width, 1430 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2750 mm. Uni-V is a sub-brand of Changan Group, representing a youthful, sporty, and stylish design language.

Loaded with Safety and Convenience

Standard features of the Uni-V Prestige Edition include:

• Dual front and side airbags (totaling six airbags)
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Three selectable driving modes
• Lane departure warning with active braking
• Forward collision warning
• Engine start-stop functionality
• Hill-start assist
• Front and rear parking sensors
• A 360-degree panoramic camera with six ultrasonic radar sensors and a millimeter-wave radar
• Full-speed adaptive cruise control
• Road condition display for enhanced driving safety
• Stylish and Tech-Savvy

The car boasts sporty exterior styling, featuring an electrically adjustable rear spoiler with sensor-based activation, an electric tailgate with position memory, a Bluetooth key, remote keyless entry, keyless start, and hidden electric door handles for added convenience. It even comes with remote start functionality, making it easier to prepare your car in advance.

The Uni-V Prestige Edition comes with LED headlights, an electric panoramic sunroof, a 10.3-inch central touchscreen, and a matching 10.3-inch LCD instrument cluster. Charging options are abundant with USB ports available in both the front and rear rows. The vehicle also offers a power-adjustable driver’s seat, split-folding rear seats, a six-speaker audio system, and automatic climate control.

Impressive Performance

In a closed-surface 0-100 km/h acceleration test, the Uni-V Prestige Edition impressively clocks in at approximately 6.85 seconds. While its FOB guide price of $17,797 USD is just $1,000 USD more than the Chery Arrizo5 GT, the wealth of features and technology it offers more than justifies the slight increase in price.

Versatile Options

It’s worth noting that Uni-V also offers a plug-in hybrid version, which not only provides an impressive electric-only range of 113 kilometers but also offers exceptional fuel efficiency and powerful performance. If you’re interested in other versions or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Experience the thrill of the Uni-V 2023 without compromising on practicality or budget.

MG6 2021 Pro 1.5T Auto Trophy Flagship: Striking Design, Rich Features, and Honesty

The third option we present is the MG6 2021 Pro 1.5T Auto Trophy Flagship from the MG brand. It features a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a model number of 15C4E, offering a maximum output of 181 horsepower and 285 Nm of torque. This model adopts a hatchback design, with dimensions measuring 4727 mm in length, 1848 mm in width, 1470 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2715 mm.

Feature-Rich and Stylish

Let’s take a closer look at its features. Standard equipment includes:

• 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
• Dual front airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Three driving modes
• Rear parking radar
• 360-degree panoramic camera system with four ultrasonic radars and four cameras
• Adaptive cruise control
• Satellite navigation

It also provides keyless start and entry, as well as remote start functionality. The car boasts LED headlights, an electric sunroof, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster. It offers two USB charging ports in the front and rear, a 9-speaker Bose audio system, and automatic air conditioning.

Honest Performance

According to the manufacturer’s official announcement, the MG6’s 0-100 km/h acceleration should be around 6.95 seconds. However, it’s important to maintain honesty, and we believe that achieving such a number in everyday driving may be somewhat challenging, with a more realistic range being around 7.3 to 7.5 seconds. After all, it’s powered by a 1.5T engine, and the power figures may not be overly impressive. MG’s strengths lie in its attractive exterior design and rich features, while its weakness is the chassis quality, which may not be ideal.

GAC Trumpchi Empow 2023 400T R Pro: Unleash the Power of the 2.0T Turbo Engine for Exceptional Performance

Continuing our list of budget-friendly, high-speed cars under $20,000, we introduce the fourth recommendation: the GAC Trumpchi Empow 2023 400T R Pro. Unlike the previous three cars with 1.5T or 1.6T engines, the next three boast potent 2.0T turbocharged engines, and we’ll delve into their real-world performance.

Potent Powerhouse

The GAC Trumpchi Empow is equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged engine, identified as the 4B20J3, delivering an impressive 265 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. This engine isn’t exclusive to compact sedans; it powers larger SUVs and MPVs, showcasing its robust capabilities. However, a car’s performance depends on more than just the engine; the transmission and their compatibility play a significant role.

Spacious and Loaded with Features

This car comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission (8AT), making it the sole automatic transmission option among our six recommended models. Its dimensions are as follows: a length of 4,753 mm, a width of 1,850 mm, a height of 1,432 mm, and a wheelbase of 2,736 mm, making it the longest car in our selection.

In this class, excessively long vehicles may affect handling and drifting performance. Standard features are impressive, including:

• Front and rear airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Four driving modes
• Front and rear parking radar
• A reverse camera
• Keyless entry
• Keyless start
• LED headlights
• An electric sunroof
• A 10.25-inch central touchscreen
• A 7-inch LCD instrument cluster

It also provides USB charging ports in both the front and rear rows, a combination of leather and fabric seats, power adjustments, heated front seats, an eight-speaker sound system, and 32-color ambient lighting, along with automatic air conditioning.

Impressive Performance and Value

According to the manufacturer’s official data, the Empow 400T R Pro can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in nearly 5.7 seconds. However, achieving this 5.7-second mark might be approached through two different methods. First, providing the test car with some special adjustments to make it appear exceptionally fast, or second, taking the traditional route of increasing turbocharger pressure or lowering the air-fuel ratio. Both methods, however, can potentially harm the long-term reliability of the vehicle.

In practical closed-circuit road tests, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time is around 6.4 seconds. The GAC Trumpchi Empow 400T R Pro also offers a 1.5T engine and a 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain version with slightly slower acceleration times, approximately in the 7-second range. If you have any specific requirements or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.

China Geely Lynk & Co 02: Chinese Brilliance in Sedan and Hatchback Form

Lastly, we recommend two vehicles from the China Geely Group’s Lynk & Co brand: the Lynk & Co 02 and Lynk & Co 03.

Lynk & Co 02 2022 2.0T DCT Shine Plus Edition

First up, the Lynk & Co 02 2022 2.0T DCT Shine Plus Edition. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with the model JL H杠4G20 TD, producing a maximum of 190 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. While these numbers may not dazzle, paired with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), it offers a balanced driving experience. The car measures 4,448 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, 1,572 mm in height, and has a 2,702 mm wheelbase, making it the longest and widest among our recommended models.

Feature-Packed and Tech-Savvy

In terms of features, it includes:

• Front and rear airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Three driving modes
• Rear parking radar
• A reverse camera
• Four ultrasonic radars
• Cruise control
• 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
• Keyless start
• Keyless entry
• Remote start

It also features LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a 10.2-inch central touchscreen, and a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster. An eight-speaker sound system and automatic air conditioning add to the comfort. Performance-wise, it achieves a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.85 seconds on closed-circuit road tests.

After Geely Group’s acquisition of Volvo, Lynk & Co’s design language has taken on some Volvo-style elements. The FOB starting price on our platform is $23,414 USD, with a discount of over $3,000 USD available.

Lynk & Co 03: Elevating Chinese Automotive Excellence with Power and Precision

Introducing the Lynk & Co 03, the epitome of Chinese automotive excellence. This remarkable sedan harnesses power and precision to redefine the driving experience.

Powerful and Agile

Under the hood, the Lynk & Co 03 boasts a high-performance GLH杠4G20 TD C engine, delivering an impressive 254 horsepower and 350 Newton-meters of torque from its 2.0-liter turbocharged displacement. Paired with a responsive seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), it offers seamless power delivery.

Exceptional Handling and Safety

The Lynk & Co 03’s agile handling is a testament to its front and rear independent suspension, providing a balanced ride on various road conditions. Equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, it not only looks stylish but also ensures a comfortable and stable journey.

Safety and convenience go hand in hand with this sedan. It features front and rear airbags, tire pressure monitoring, and offers four driving modes to suit your preferences. Parking is a breeze with the rearview camera and ultrasonic radar sensors, ensuring you’re in control even in tight spaces.

Unlock and start your Lynk & Co 03 effortlessly with keyless entry and ignition, or remotely with the convenient remote start feature. The sporty exterior package adds a touch of athleticism to the vehicle’s aesthetics.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Illuminating the road ahead are powerful LED headlights with adaptive lighting, providing optimal visibility at night. And for those who appreciate a breath of fresh air, the panoramic sunroof is a delightful addition.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find a cutting-edge 12.8-inch central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, these displays offer a seamless user experience, making connectivity and infotainment easily accessible.

Comfort is paramount in the Lynk & Co 03, with dual-power-adjustable front seats for both driver and passenger. The premium audio system with multiple speakers ensures a superior auditory experience, while the automatic zone climate control keeps the cabin at the perfect temperature.

Impressive Acceleration and Value

But what truly sets the Lynk & Co 03 apart is its remarkable acceleration, achieving 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 6.56 seconds. This places it among the fastest in its class, demonstrating that impressive performance is not solely about raw power. It’s a result of years of expertise from the Geely Group, combined with invaluable support from Volvo and Mercedes-Benz.

In conclusion, the Lynk & Co 03 represents a pinnacle of Chinese automotive engineering, offering a blend of power, precision, and technological innovation. With its exceptional performance, luxurious features, and competitive pricing, it stands as a testament to China’s growing influence in the automotive industry.

Conclusion: Unleash Your Inner Speedster

Fast compact cars offer a unique blend of agility and power that can turn every drive into an adventure. They prove that you don’t need a big budget to experience the excitement of a sports car. So, why settle for the ordinary when you can unleash your inner speedster with these affordable yet thrilling options? Get behind the wheel and discover a world where compact cars redefine what it means to be fast and fun.