The scrappy, low-priced underdog among the goliaths of passenger cars may finally have been put to rest, according to a report by Samaa TV suggesting that Al-Haj FAW is no longer taking bookings for the V2 hatchback.
The car has reportedly been discontinued but the company seems reluctant to publically announce it.
V2 was discontinued in China in 2016, and now that the automaker has also ceased the production of its spare parts, the car is obsolete.
It was launched in Pakistan in 2014 as a cheaper alternative to the Suzuki Swift, which has also been discontinued. It has a 1.3-liter Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with variable cam timing (VCT) technology that made 90 hp, 120 Nm of torque, and is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Despite being a 13oo cc, relatively comfortable, albeit slightly under-equipped hatchback, the FAW V2 was arguably one of the few ‘good value for money’ new cars in the Pakistani market. Last year, its price had gone from Rs. 1.57 million to Rs. 1.61 million, which still made it cheaper than the Suzuki Swift by almost Rs. 400,000.
Although FAW V2’s interior quality was unimpressive, it has all the basic features expected at the price point. These included power windows, power steering, a digital odometer, a decent A.C., front disc brakes w/ABS technology, and standard driver and passenger-side airbags.
V2 was one of the better commuter cars in the Pakistani market that had potential but maintenance issues and the pertinent resale value concerns of Pakistani car buyers diminished it in a market that is dominated by Japanese contenders.
Now that this fine little Chinese budget hatchback is probably extinct, it is uncertain whether Pakistan will ever get a replacement of its kind ever again.
