The legendary Chevrolet Damas, familiar to many Kazakhs, has received a modern replacement. The new Damas Move, based on the Chinese compact van Wuling Hongguang, is already being assembled in Uzbekistan. Kazakh auto blogger Timur Yenikeyev tested the model and admitted that it pleasantly surprised him with its dynamics, handling and comfort. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Before the trip, the host of the YouTube channel "Kolesa KZ" admitted that he did not expect revelations from the new Damas: the interior looked quite simple. But the first meters behind the wheel changed the impression.
"Oh, how pleasantly and smoothly the engine started and runs quietly enough," he noted before starting.
Yenikeyev was even more surprised by the dynamics. According to him, the minivan accelerates confidently, and the manual transmission works much more pleasantly than you would expect from a commercial model.
"Listen, the dynamics are pleasant. Moreover, it accelerates normally," the blogger shared.
However, engineers could not completely get rid of the legacy of the old Damas. During the test drive, the author noticed a characteristic hum of the transmission and a crunch of the gear shift mechanism.
The strongest emotions were caused by handling. According to Yenikeyev, the new Damas goes through turns much more confidently and does not create the feeling that it could tip over during a sharp maneuver.
"I enter the arc and understand that I will not fall anywhere on my side," he described his feelings.
The new layout with the engine in front instead of under the front seats played its role. The car also received a stabilization system, ABS and airbags - none of which the classic Damas had.
Under the hood is a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine with more than 100 hp. For comparison: the engine of the previous model developed less than 40 hp. The total weight of the car now reaches almost 2 tons, which has significantly expanded its capabilities as a commercial vehicle.
The driver's workplace has also noticeably transformed. The review author praised the full-fledged seats, easier seating, electric power steering and convenient location of controls.
However, there were drawbacks. The steering wheel is not adjustable for reach and tilt, and drivers taller than 180 cm, according to the blogger, will be cramped.
Passenger comfort also turned out to be not ideal. Despite the improved suspension, the rear row still noticeably reacts to road irregularities.
"But this is not the same story, because in the old Damas you are thrown to the ceiling," the author commented.
Among other disadvantages, Yenikeyev noted the lack of a rear view camera, manual adjustment of exterior mirrors and a rear door wiper.
Currently, the new Damas is sold only in Uzbekistan, and demand is so high that the queue for the car has stretched until the end of the year. There is no official information about its appearance in Kazakhstan yet.
Prices from official dealers, depending on the version, range from 5.6 million to 6.2 million tenge.
At the end of the review, Yenikeyev cited sales statistics. According to him, in 2025, 93.7 thousand Damas were produced in Uzbekistan, while only 116 such cars and 64 cargo versions Labo were officially delivered to Kazakhstan.
Earlier, Kursiv Avto reported how the new Chevrolet Damas in Uzbekistan was compared with the Chinese original.