Chery Developing 1.0-Liter Turbo Engine for Compact OMODA and JAECOO Cars

Chery is developing a new 1.0-liter turbo engine for future compact OMODA and JAECOO models. It's ironic that in Europe, three-cylinder engines are already being treated with caution: Volkswagen is gradually shifting to 1.5-liter four-cylinders, while Chery is going the opposite direction, returning to the idea of a small turbo.

According to Motor.es, the engine is in early development. It will be a three-cylinder turbocharged gasoline unit. The head of Chery Automotive's international powertrain division confirmed that the engine will have an ethanol-compatible version and an electrified variant producing around 135 hp.

This engine isn't intended for current large models. Chery already offers a 1.5-liter turbo and a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine, both four-cylinder and exceeding 140 hp. For compact cars like the upcoming OMODA 4 and OMODA 2, those engines could be overkill—too expensive, too high in taxes and fuel consumption, and poorly positioned.

The OMODA 4 has been confirmed as a global model, and the OMODA 2 is expected by 2028. For them, the small turbo could make entry-level versions cheaper and more economical. But this approach has a weak point: three-cylinder engines often lack smoothness, and the high load on the turbo and electronics demands very precise calibration.

Chery isn't starting from scratch. They already have the three-cylinder e3T10, which produces 100 hp with a turbo, direct injection, and an intercooler. It was used in the Tiggo 3X for markets including Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America.

For OMODA buyers, the main question won't be displacement but durability. A small engine can offer low fuel consumption and a good price, but only if Chery avoids the mistakes of European downsizing—where theoretical savings often turned into expensive repairs.