Founded as a joint venture between Chinese automaker Chery and Israel Corporation, Qoros Auto->ke4662 was established in 2007 during a peak time in the development of China automotive industry. It's main goal is to compete against well-established manufacturers in Europe and Asia before expanding to other continents. After signing a cooperation agreement with Magna Steyr in 2009, Qoros completed its first prototype in 2011. Two years later, the first production car, the Qoros 3, made its debut at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.->ke228 On sale in China since late 2013, the 3 Sedan->ke142 also spawned a hatch and a wagon, all of which were penned by ex-Mini designer Gert Hildebrand. As we pass onto the 2015 model year, Qoros is launching the fourth vehicle underpinned by its front-wheel-drive platform. This time it's a crossover that goes by the name 3 City SUV.

As the name suggests, we're dealing with a compact, car-like crossover.->ke288 In fact, the City SUV->ke145 is just a perched 3 hatch with plastic cladding around the edges and no off-road skills whatsoever. With Qoros one of the many Chinese automakers that could start selling cars in North America, we decided to take a closer look at this crossover and find out whether it would be a good fit for the U.S. market or not. Check out the full details after the break.

Click past the jump to read more about the Qoros 3 City SUV 1.6T.

Exterior

Design-wise, the City SUV borrows heavily from the 3 Hatch. That's not a bad thing though, as the Qoros 3 is among the very few Chinese cars that actually sports an appealing design. The modern front fascia is equipped with LED headlamps, a unique front grille with a massive chrome frame, and a sculpted bumper. Down below, a skid-plate and body cladding add a touch of ruggedness to the otherwise hatch-like body.

The black cladding extends all the way up to the front wheel arches and incorporates the side sills before reaching the rear wheel arches. It continues around back where it includes another skid plate and a pair of large tail pipes. The rectangular taillights, the chrome strip on the tailgate, and the large Qoros emblem dominate the rear fascia. The protruding roof spoiler makes the City SUV look sportier than it really is, but that's a trick automakers have been using for years in this segment.

The entry-level crossover comes with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, while 18-inch wheels can be had on the better-equipped versions. Five exterior paint options are available. The colors include solid Crystal White and four metallic hues: Starlight Black, Diamond Silver, Shimmer Grey, and Sunrise Red.

Exterior Dimensions

Interior

The cabin's design is simple and clean, emphasizing the crossover's roominess. A horizontal trim runs along the dashboard, separating the infotainment system and the controls from the upper section. The instrument cluster is also simple, but it appears to serve its purpose quite well. Glossy and aluminum-finished trims adorn the door panels, with white stitching decorating the seats, the hand brake and the gearshift lever. Granted, there's nothing exquisite about the City SUV's interior, but the overall package isn't bad either. However, Qoros definitely needs to replace those rock-solid surfaces with softer materials before bringing this crossover Stateside.

Standard equipment includes the company's Multi Media Hub infotainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, electric windows, electric mirrors and keyless start, with more features added as customers work their up toward the range-topping model. The Style trim, for instance, adds dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control, rear parking camera, and QorosQloud 3G services for enhanced navigation and networking.

Select the Style Plus trim and you get leather-wrapped seats, heated front seats, and a power tilt-and-slide sunroof. Lastly, the range-topping Excite trim adds keyless entry and start, auto on/off headlamps, a rear parking camera with dynamic guideline and distance sensors, and full-cabin ambient lighting.

As far as practicality goes, the 3 City SUV offers up to 39 cubic feet of storage room with the rear seats down. 60:40 split rear seat backs are standard, while the Style Plus and Excite models come with a rear seat ski-hatch.

Interior Dimensions

Drivetrain

Motivating this crossover is a turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. Developed with the European market in mind, the four-pot cranks out 156 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 154 pound-feet of torque from 1,750 rpm.

When paired to a six-speed manual transmission, the 3 City SUV sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 10.1 seconds. The benchmark increases dramatically to 10.8 seconds with the six-speed DCT automatic. Top speed is achieved at 127 mph. Granted, these figures are far from impressive for a modern crossover, but decent for a vehicle that doesn't have any performance credentials whatsoever.

Drivetrain Specifications

Suspension and Brakes

The City SUV uses the same suspension system as the Qoros 3 Hatch and 3 Sedan, meaning it rides on MacPherson struts at the front and an Omega-shaped twist beam out back. The Chinese automaker claims the crossovers delivers the same ride, handling and steering characteristics as its smaller siblings due to a heavily modified chassis.

Stopping power is provided by 12-inch ventilated disc brakesup front and 11.2 solid disc brakes on the rear. The ABS and ESC systems -- developed in conjunction with TRW Automotive -- are also borrowed from the Qoros 3 Hatch.

Prices

The Qoros 3 City SUV is scheduled to go on sale in China in late December 2014 from RMB 140,000, which converts to $22,850 as of 11/24/2014. Should the City SUV come to America with a similar sticker, it will be enough to undercut every important competitor in the segment. However, an U.S.-spec model is likely to start from at least $26,000 with all the convenience and safety updates Qoros would need to add to stand a chance in America..

Competition

BMW X1

Being one of the best-selling vehicles in this market, the X1 is a crossover Qoros needs to consider, especially since the 3 Sedan is also aimed at the BMW 3 Series. And although the X1 is no beauty contest winner, the German rig is packed with enough luxury and convenience features to obliterate competition, 3 City SUV included.

The X1 is also a more powerful choice, with the entry-level sDrive28i having a 2.0-liter inline-four with 240 horsepower at its disposal. The xDrive28i adds all-wheel-drive to the same powertrain. BMW also offers the xDrive35i in the U.S., which comes with a 3.0-liter inline-six under the hood. The mill cranks out 300 horsepower, nearly double what the City SUV's drivetrain is capable of.

Pricing for the X1 starts from $30,900.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

The GLA is also a newcomer to the compact crossover segment, but, unlike the Qoros 3 City SUV, it has all the credentials to compete against the BMW X1. The Merc is also one of the more stylish vehicles of the segment, with cues borrowed form the good-looking A-Class hatch. Like any Mercedes, the GLA can be equipped with the finest leathers and the company's latest in terms of technology.

Only one model is available in the U.S., the GLA250. The badge stands for a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-banger that delivers 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The GLA needs only 6.4 seconds to charge from naught to 60 mph, making it almost four seconds quicker than the Qoros. Ouch!

The GLA doesn't come cheap though, with Mercedes-Benz asking at least $32,225 before options and all-wheel-drive.

Conclusion

Granted, Qoros has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to bring the 3 City SUV to North America. Compact crossovers may be increasingly popular these days, but customer demand has reached a new level in which a perched hatchback is no longer enough. With most drivers demanding more horsepower and premium features over affordable stickers, companies such as the Chinese can only survive by offering a comprehensive package that blends all these feats.

But after becoming the first Chinese automaker to receive a five-star safety rating from EuroNCAP, Qoros seems the most likely manufacturer to try and brings its products Stateside. At least they have a shot at passing the stringent safety requirements on this side of the pond.