What is the Oley Car?

[SaraAnn]

Oley is a compact car under the FAW Oley brand, specifically a hatchback model. It is equipped with a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine delivering a maximum power of 75kW and a peak torque of 135Nm. The engine reaches its maximum power at 6000 rpm and peak torque at 4400 rpm. This engine features multi-point fuel injection technology and utilizes an aluminum cylinder head with a cast iron cylinder block. The front fascia design of the Oley mirrors that of the sedan version, retaining the hexagonal grille with wide horizontal slats. The lower air intake adopts a U-shaped smiley-face style, blending sporty aesthetics with approachable charm.

[VanAlice]

I previously researched the Oley, a self-owned brand sedan launched by FAW in 2012, targeting the young and sporty market. This car was developed based on the modified PQ32 platform of the old Jetta, emphasizing a cost-effective approach. What's particularly interesting is its winged front grille design, which was quite trendy at the time, and many owners even customized it with body decals. It was equipped with either a 1.5L or 1.6L engine, paired with a 5-speed manual or Aisin 4AT transmission. Unfortunately, sales never took off, and it was discontinued around 2015. Nowadays, you might occasionally spot a few second-hand Oleys on the road, but finding parts for them is indeed challenging. Its positioning was actually to succeed the entry-level Xiali model, with a price range of around 60,000 to 90,000 yuan.

[McCecilia]

I remember this car so clearly! Back in the day, it was a common sight at auto repair shops, with many modified versions featuring red paint and black roofs. The Oley was actually a derivative of the old Jetta, sharing almost the same chassis, but FAW redesigned it with a fastback style. It was marketed with a focus on modification culture, even sporting a checkered flag logo on the steering wheel to represent its racing DNA. Powered by the CA4GA series engine, the manual transmission was notably smooth and responsive. The interior did feel a bit plasticky, but it was perfect for young drivers to practice with. Unfortunately, as market competition intensified and rivals like the Emgrand offered increasingly better features at the same price point, the Oley gradually faded away. Nowadays, it's rare to find one in good condition on the used car market.

[LaHarley]

The Oley was an early attempt by a domestic brand to explore the sports sedan segment. FAW modified the old Jetta platform to lower the entry barrier, resulting in a compact car just 4.2 meters long that was agile and easy to drive. Its dashboard featured three independent hooded gauges, and even the trunk release button was cleverly hidden under the logo – designs that felt quite cool at the time. The 1.5L manual transmission version delivered fuel consumption around 6L/100km, with air conditioning that outperformed Japanese cars of the same era. However, rear seat space was notably cramped, with headroom insufficient for passengers over 1.8m tall. The transmission used the same outdated 4AT as the old Vitz, resulting in somewhat jerky gear shifts. The biggest issue was depreciation, with three-year-old models retaining less than 40% of their original value.

[VanRichard]

As a fan of domestic cars, let's talk about this niche model: the Oley. With a length of 4.2 meters but a wheelbase of 2.52 meters, its short front overhang and long rear overhang give it a sporty feel. The engine is a modified 16-valve unit based on Volkswagen technology, delivering 86 horsepower to pull the 1.1-ton body, which is adequate. Interestingly, the dashboard is designed in a fighter jet style, and the center console features carbon fiber-patterned trim. Unfortunately, it was launched at an inopportune time, coinciding with a wave of price cuts by joint-venture brands. If you're looking to buy a used one now, the 2014 manual luxury edition with the factory body kit is recommended as it holds its value better. A heads-up: original headlight assemblies and bumpers are now hard to come by.

[LeElena]

From an automotive media perspective, the Oley embodied FAW's ambition to capture the youth market at that time. Reverse-engineered based on the Volkswagen PQ32 platform, it even retained the torsion beam rear suspension. The design featured eagle-eye headlights and a U-shaped front grille, making it significantly more stylish than the Xiali N5. The top-trim model with paddle shifters was particularly rare, and its interior with red stitching paired with faux metal panels was quite trendy back then. However, the 1.6L automatic version had an actual fuel consumption of 8.5L, and its noise insulation was mediocre. The short product cycle was mainly due to its awkward positioning between the Besturn B30 and Xiali. Today, some automotive museums still display this domestic experimental model.