JAC JS4: from daily drives to ‘vacay’ vibes

Filipino families have shifted from loving sedans to appreciating the comfort and convenience of small sport utility vehicles (SUV). 

Among the models in the segment is the JAC JS4, a nameplate that offers a good value proposition for households who require a capable daily driver and a ride that can be used for quick weekend getaways.

Zigwheels Philippines was able to take the capable cruiser on a trip down south during the Holy Week break. Here is why the author thinks the JAC JS4 is one versatile vehicle. 

Sleek, stylish 

The JAC JS4 commands attention, thanks to its sleek and stylish exterior design. 

It has notably shed the bold, rounded headlights found on old JAC models in lieu of thinner, more streamlined daytime running lamps connected by a chrome strip. This is complemented by an elegant-looking grille with large horizontal slats bordered by halogen headlamps, whose housing also gets some shiny chrome accents.

Strong is the small SUV’s chin, which offers some cladding and a decent approach angle. Speaking of which, the bumper seamlessly connects to the plastic coverings protecting common touch points on the JSC JS4’s flanks. They come in the form of blacked-out wheel arches, lower door shields, and side sill protectors. 

Pitch black too are its pillars and roof rails. On the other hand, some contrast can be found on its side mirrors (with turn signal indicators), which are painted white with a black trim. The writer is not usually a fan of two-tone wheels, but the black-on-silver look of its 17-inch aluminum set pairs well with the overall panda, black-and-white theme of the vehicle. 

At the back, the JAC JS4 gets a discreet roof-mounted spoiler with an integrated brake lamp, a decent-sized rear glass, and a pair of taillamps bridged by a horizontal light bar. The rear bumper appears tall with reflectors on each of its sides. Finally, a rear skid plate rounds up the notable features of the small SUV. 

Overall, its modern looks and contemporary character make the JAC JS4 a head turner with motorists and passersby alike giving us curious looks as we made our way from Santa Rosa, Laguna to Talisay, Batangas, and back again. 

For those wondering, here are its measurements: 

Overall dimensions ( LxWxH in mm)	4,410 x 1,800 x 1,660
Wheelbase (in mm)	2,620
Ground clearance (in mm)	150
Approach angle (in degrees)	17
Departure angle (in degrees)	23

 

As the above figures suggest, the JSC JS4 is not only handsome but also fairly capable. Its size is ideal for conquering both the narrow streets of the metro as well as the open highways that lead to vacation spots outside of the city. 

Commendable is its ground clearance, as it is able to make easy work of common road obstacles. Additionally, the small SUV’s decent-sized 215/50 radial tires help with ride quality and combat the harshness brought by road imperfections. Likewise, its approach and departure angle mean that it can go to places most low-riding crossovers and sedans can’t. 

Easy-to-clean interior 

Strengthening its foothold as a good daily car is its easy-to-clean interior, which many car buyers would find convenient. Its leather upholstery makes vacuuming dust (and snack leftovers) a breeze. Likewise, wiping smudges off these surfaces is relatively effortless.

When the time comes to take the small SUV on long road trips, owners will be pleased to find that the JAC JS4’s cabin offers decent levels of comfort. 

The leather trims, which can be found on the seats, steering wheel, gear shifter boot, door cards, dashboard, center console, and front armrest, ensure that the driver’s and the front passenger’s elbows and knees will come into contact with soft-touch materials. 

Occupants sitting at the back will enjoy the same level of comfort as the second-row seating, and portions of the door trims are also finished with leather. 

Other notable features also add to the comfort and convenience offered by the small SUV. They are listed below: 

• Power windows
• Automatic air conditioning
• Rear air conditioning vents 
• Semi-flat second-row floors
• Second-row charging ports 
• Tonneau cover 
• Small sunroof (for that perfect warm lighting for cabin selfies) 

Travel-friendly cubbies 

The JAC JS4 also gets plenty of cubbies. To the author’s delight, the water bottle holders on the door cards can accommodate large canteens with additional pockets that can cater to small packs of snacks. 

Additionally, the front armrest has two cup holders that are ideal for one’s to-go coffee. Rear-side passengers will also get their own pull-down armrest with two beverage holders. 

Keeping small items won’t be a problem as the JAC JS4 has a decent-sized compartment under the armrest. On the center console is a smartphone holder. The driver’s sunglasses have a dedicated storage space located alongside the cabin light buttons, while necessary documents can be kept in the glovebox compartment. 

Even more impressive is its boot space, which was able to carry a medium-sized luggage, a camping chair, a first aid kit, a tire inflator, and a small ice box. Needless to say, we were able to bring all we needed, with some more room to spare, during our Lenten break trip. 

For daily use, the said space can accommodate grocery bags as well as laundry baskets.

Decent tech 

The JAC JS4 offers decent automotive technology that helps the driver and the passengers enjoy both short and long trips. 

Past the multi-functional steering wheel is an instrument panel that combines both analog gauges and a digital screen. 

Here are some relevant driving information one can check on the instrument cluster:

Analog meters

• Speedometer
• Tachometer 
• Temperature gauge
• Fuel gauge 

Digital screen

• Odometer
• Trip computer
• Tire pressure monitor 
• Estimated range 

It helps that the instrumentation screen is simple and straightforward, which makes it easy to understand. Likewise, controls on the steering wheel are easy to get used to.

Here, one can find the following buttons: 

• Cruise control 
• Volume up, down 
• Hands-free call answering, dropping 
• Audio skip forward, backward 

Smartphone integration was also seamless as the 10.25-inch floating infotainment screen quickly detected my mobile phone as soon as the cable was plugged in. My only gripe is that it could have done better if it had wireless connectivity and charging. 

Nevertheless, the ability to use navigation programs and music applications from the phone made the trip to our destination and back home, safer and more convenient. 

Agile, spirited driving 

The JAC JS4 is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. The said powertrain unit produces the below figures: 

Maximum power output (in horsepower)	147
Maximum torque (in Newton-meters)	210

 

The above numbers translate to a peppy drive with power evenly distributed throughout the rev range. On that note, it handled stop-and-go city traffic (with frequent acceleration from full stop) pretty well. Movement was relatively smooth given the nature of its transmission. 

Even with three people onboard (two adults, one child) and a luggage compartment carrying clothes and other items, the JAC JS4 still had enough “oomph” when cruising through the straightaways of the South Luzon Expressway and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Expressway. 

Likewise, no lack of power was perceptible when going over the slightly ascending thoroughfares offered by the Talisay-Tanauan Road. 

Halts and deceleration — which were facilitated by disc brakes front (ventilated) and back (solid) — felt sound. Thanks to its Mac Pherson independent front and torsion beam semi-independent rear suspensions, the small SUV felt agile enough when taking on the light bends of the aforementioned Batangas highway. 

Some noise can still penetrate the cabin, but not enough to annoy its occupants, as the JAC JS4 is equipped with an engine noise isolator. This (or because his energy was already spent from all the activities) contributed to the little one sleeping soundly on our way back home. 

Safe family car 

It’s no secret that when ferrying one’s family, safety is the top priority. That said, the JAC JS4 comes packed with a robust list of safety features that can make daily driving and the occasional weekend getaways relatively secure. 

Here are some of its standard technologies: 

• Dual front airbags
• Dual front side airbags 
• Side curtain airbags 
• Height-adjustable front-row seatbelts 
• Front seat seatbelt with alarm reminder 
• Rear middle seatbelt with three-point safety belt 
• ISOFIX anchors 
• Auto hold 
• Anti-lock braking 
• Electronic brakeforce distribution 
• Electronic stability program 
• Hydraulic brake assist 
• Hill-start assist control 
• Brake override system 
• Cruise control 

Final thoughts 

Slotted under the JAC JS8 (full review, here) and above the JS2 Pro (link to full review, here), the JS4 offers would-be owners the right features to make both everyday commutes as well as the spontaneous vacations more enjoyable. 

Notable was its efficient performance, easy maneuverability, and overall passenger comfort that the wife kept mentioning that she would choose this model over other Chinese-made small SUVs. 

With that said, the JAC JS4 is offered in the Philippines in a single variant (Luxury), priced at P1.025 million. 

Below are its available colors: 

• Pearl White 
• Carmenere Red
• Stylish Black
• Obsidian Grey
• Moonstone Blue

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