JAC Sunray

The cabin of the 2024 JAC Sunray is practical. Commercial vans are meant to be less premium since these are mostly let out for weekend trips and office outings. Hard plastics have been used abundantly in the cabin to justify the Sunray's affordable price tag. The dashboard panel feels hollow. Most of the panel alignment is good, except for the trim around the dashtop bin. There are a number of shelves, but no cupholders. Depending on the model, the 2024 JAC Sunray comes with up to 16 faux leather seats across four rows. There are two seats in the front. Those are the only two seats for the JAC Sunray cargo model. The rest of the cabin is empty to accommodate cargo. As for entertainment, the JAC Sunray gets a radio system with four speakers and Bluetooth. There's an analogue information display unit.

The 2024 JAC Sunray looks strikingly similar to the Mercedes Sprinter. It's not surprising because a number of Chinese vehicles bear a resemblance to American and European cars. But the 2024 JAC Sunray isn't a carbon copy of the Mercedes van. It has a modern and practical design that allows it to carry passengers or cargo. It gets a simple front fascia with a quad-style grille. Five horizontal stripes house the Chinese Jack logo. The grille is surrounded by powerful halogen headlights along with daytime running lights (DRLs). But the swage lines, window shape, and the grille itself will immediately remind me of the Mercedes Sprinter. Even the hubcaps are quite identical. But the 2024 JAC Sunray is a shorter wheelbase version. Both vertically and horizontally, the roof is lower than that of its rivals. The van runs on 16-inch alloy wheels. The JAC Sunray gets a mechanical step under the side door that deploys faster than an electrically powered one.

The 2024 JAC Sunray gets a spacious cabin. For the passenger van, all occupants get enough legroom and headroom. The seats are nicely padded and have straight-back support. A van, of course, can't offer sedan-like comfort, but the JAC Sunray's seats keep fatigue away for long trips. The soft suspension absorbs most bumps and potholes. Only the worst of them are felt inside the cabin. The van gets roof-mounted air-conditioning vents that cool the cabin fast. However, the short wheelbase and high ground clearance cause some oscillation inside the cabin. There's still enough cargo space even when all seats are occupied.  

The 2024 JAC Sunray is hauled by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.7-litre diesel engine that produces 150 PS/355 Nm. The motor is mated to a five-speed manual. The larger displacement lends the van more useful torque off-boost. But the Sunray still struggles a bit with its 2.2-ton curb weight while going up steep climbs. The five-speed transmission doesn't allow high-speed cruising. But that's not required from a passenger van either. There's some body roll, like most vans.

The 2024 JAC Sunray's standard driver-assist features and safety equipment include dual airbags, antilock braking, vehicle stability control, cruise control, and tire pressure control. A rearview camera can be added as an option. 

The 2024 JAC Sunray is affordably priced. It's far from premium but still offers a decently comfortable ride. It's also cheaper to run. But JAC is still a new player in the Emirates market, and the availability of spares could be an issue. The Sunray will be mostly used by cab aggregators and fleet operators, and they'll love the van's attractive pricing. It's also hugely spacious for a commercial van.