Body metal thickness of Chinese cars: table for and comparison with European brands

Why does the thickness of the metal body of Chinese cars raise so many questions?

Chinese cars are confidently occupying an increasing share of the Russian market, offering modern design, rich equipment and attractive prices. However, many buyers still have doubts: How strong is the body of a Chinese car compared to European or Japanese counterparts?? The main fear is that thin metal rusts faster, provides worse protection in case of an accident, and is more difficult to repair.

Indeed, just 10 years ago, Chinese cars were often criticized for cheap metal and insufficient anti-corrosion treatment. But today the leading brands are Geely, Changan, Haval and BYD — actively work to improve quality. In this article we will look at:

• 📊 Real metal thickness in key areas of the body (doors, wings, side members) on popular models.
• 🔍 How to check it yourself thickness of paintwork and metal when buying a used car.
• ⚖️ Comparison with European cars: where the Chinese are lagging behind and where they are superior.
• 🛠️ Consequences of thin metal for repair and safety.

Spoiler: The metal thickness of modern Chinese cars is on average comparable to budget European models, but varies greatly depending on the brand and price segment. For example, Geely Coolray and Changan CS55 use thick metal 0.7–0.9 mm in the doorway, which is close to Volkswagen Polo or Skoda Rapid.

Chinese car body metal thickness table (2022–2026)

Below are data on metal thickness in key areas of the body for popular Chinese models. Sources: factory specifications, C-NCAP/Euro NCAP crash test reports and measurements by independent experts (including Russian service stations).

Model	Doors	Wings	Hood	Spars	Roof
Geely Coolray (2023)	0.7–0.8 mm	0.6–0.7 mm	0.65 mm	1.2–1.5 mm	0.7 mm
Changan CS55 (2026)	0.75–0.9 mm	0.6–0.7 mm	0.7 mm	1.3–1.6 mm	0.75 mm
Haval Jolion (2023)	0.7–0.8 mm	0.55–0.65 mm	0.6 mm	1.1–1.4 mm	0.7 mm
BYD Song Plus (2026)	0.8–0.9 mm	0.65–0.75 mm	0.7 mm	1.4–1.7 mm	0.8 mm
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (2023)	0.65–0.75 mm	0.5–0.6 mm	0.6 mm	1.0–1.3 mm	0.65 mm

⚠️ Attention: Thickness may vary depending on modifications (for example, Haval Dargo has thicker metal than Jolion) and year of manufacture. Data is given for basic versions.

For comparison: Volkswagen Tiguan (2023) doors - 0.8–0.9 mm, wings - 0.7–0.8 mm, spars - 1.5–1.8 mm. That is, in terms of key load-bearing elements (spars, struts), Chinese cars are not inferior to European ones, and in terms of external panels (fenders, hood) often lose.

How to measure the thickness of the body metal yourself?

If you are buying a Chinese car (new or used), be sure to check the thickness of the metal and paintwork. This will help identify:

• 🔧 Hidden damage after an accident (if the metal is thinner than the factory one).
• 🎨 Repainted parts (thick layer of putty + paint).
• 🚗 Build quality (uniformity of thickness throughout the body).

For measurements you will need paint thickness gauge (from 1,500 ₽). Popular models: Etari ET-11P, CHY-113, UNI-T UT391B. Verification algorithm:

Measure the thickness on all doors (compare with table above)

Check the wings - they are often thinner and more likely to get damaged

Pay attention to the joints of the panels (there may be putty there)

Compare the indicators from different sides of the car (a difference of >15% is a reason for questions) -->

⚠️ Attention: On new cars from the interior, the permissible thickness of the paintwork (paint + primer) is - 100–150 µm. If the device shows 200+ microns, the car was painted. For a used car the norm is up to 250 µm (taking into account factory coating and slight shrinkage).

Example: on Geely Atlas Pro (2026) factory thickness of paintwork on the door - 120–140 µm. If the thickness gauge shows 180+ microns, the door was repainted.

Comparison with European and Japanese cars: where do the Chinese lose?

To objectively assess the strength of Chinese bodies, let’s compare them with popular European and Japanese models in the same price segment (up to 2.5 million ₽).

Parameter	China (Geely/Changan)	Europe (VW/Skoda)	Japan (Toyota/Nissan)
Door thickness	0.7–0.9 mm	0.8–1.0 mm	0.75–0.95 mm
Wing thickness	0.5–0.7 mm	0.7–0.9 mm	0.6–0.8 mm
Spars	1.2–1.6 mm	1.4–1.8 mm	1.3–1.7 mm
Anti-corrosion treatment	Zinc + cataphoresis (3–5 years warranty)	Zinc + cataphoresis (6–12 years warranty)	Zinc + epoxy coating (5–10 years)

🔹 Where Chinese cars lose:

• 🛡️ External panel thickness (fenders, hood) - on average 10–15% thinnerthan the Europeans.
• 🔬 Anti-corrosion protection — less zinc in the metal, shorter warranty against through corrosion.
• 🔧 Maintainability — thin metal is more difficult to weld, there is a higher risk of “leading” after straightening.

🔹 Where Chinese cars are not inferior:

• 🚗 Load-bearing elements (spars, struts) - the thickness is comparable to budget European cars.
• 💥 Crash tests - many models (Geely Coolray, Changan CS55) receive 5 stars C-NCAP (Chinese equivalent of Euro NCAP).
• 🔄 Modern technologies - use high strength steel (up to 1500 MPa) in critical areas.

Consequences of thin metal: corrosion, repair, safety

Thin body metal affects three key aspects:

1. Corrosion and durability

The thinner the metal, the it rusts faster if the paintwork is damaged. Particularly vulnerable:

• 🚪 Bottom edges of doors - often scratched on curbs.
• 🚗 Wheel arches — suffer from sandblasting and reagents.
• 🔩 Panel joints — if the anticorrosive agent is bad, rust creeps from the inside.

📌 Example: U Haval Jolion (metal wings - 0.6 mm) after 2–3 winters in Russia they often appear "bugs" on arches, if not treated with anti-gravel.

2. Difficulties of repair

Thin metal (0.5–0.7 mm) has two disadvantages when doing body repairs:

• 🔥 Risk of burnout when welding (you need an experienced craftsman and precise adjustment of the device).
• 🔄 "Leading" metal after straightening, it is more difficult to return to the original shape.

⚠️ Attention: When repairing Chinese cars, craftsmen often use spot welding instead of solid, and used for leveling cold straightening (no heating). This increases the cost of work by 15–20%.

3. Safety in case of accidents

Metal thickness not important safety is more important body structure and use high strength steels. However, thin outer panels (0.5–0.6 mm) can:

• 💥 Bend under light impacts (for example, in a parking lot).
• 🚨 It's bad to extinguish energy in case of lateral collisions (if there are no reinforced beams in the doors).

🔹 Plus: Modern Chinese cars (for example, BYD Seal) use aluminum and carbon steel in load-bearing elements, which compensates for thin external panels.

The Myth of "Tin Cans"

Many people believe that Chinese cars are made of “tin,” but this is not entirely true. Yes, the metal is thinner than that of premium Europeans (for example, Mercedes E-Class has thick doors 1.0–1.2 mm), but comparable to budget models (Renault Duster — 0.7–0.8 mm). The main problem is not the thickness, but the quality of anti-corrosion treatment and welds.

Which Chinese cars have the thickest body metal?

If body strength is critical for you, pay attention to these models (data for 2026):

1. BYD Han (sedan) - metal doors 0.9–1.0 mm, spars 1.6–1.8 mm. Uses aluminum in the hood and trunk lid.
2. Changan UNI-K (crossover) - doors 0.8–0.9 mm, reinforced side beams. One of the leaders in security in China.
3. Geely Xingyue L (crossover) - metal body with double galvanized, the thickness of the panels is at the level Skoda Karoq.
4. Haval Dargo (large crossover) - spars 1.5–1.7 mm, doors 0.8 mm. The best choice for off-road use.

💡 Advice: Check when purchasing galvanization certificate - some dealers provide data on the thickness of the zinc layer (optimally - 8–12 µm).

⚠️ Attention: Even "fat" models can have weak points. For example, at BYD Han the aluminum hood is softer than steel, and Haval Dargo The rear bumper often cracks with light impacts.

How to care for the body of a Chinese car to avoid corrosion?

Thin metal required more thorough care, especially in Russian conditions (reagents, salt, temperature changes). Here mandatory minimum:

• 🧴 Anti-corrosion treatment - once every 1–2 years (for new cars) or every year (for used ones over 3 years old). Best compositions: Dinitrol 479, Tectyl Bodysafe.
• 🛡️ Protection of arches and sills - apply anti-gravel (for example, 3M Scotchgard) or install mud flaps.
• 🚿 Washing in winter - wash the car once every 2 weeks, even if it is not dirty (wash off the reagents!). Use contactless car wash or soft brushes.
• 🔧 Checking the Drain Holes — once every six months, clean the holes in the doors and thresholds (they become clogged with dirt, causing water to accumulate inside).

📌 Important: Do not use wax polishes in winter - they do not protect against corrosion, but only mask scratches. It's better to apply ceramic coating (for example, Ceramic Pro) or liquid glass.

💡

The main mistake of Chinese car owners is to ignore anti-corrosion treatment in the first 2 years. During this time, the metal has time to become covered with microcracks, and rust begins to spread from the inside.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the metal thickness of Chinese cars

❓ Why do Chinese cars have such thin metal?

Main reasons:

• 💰 Saving on materials - thin metal is cheaper, especially in budget models.
• ⚖️ Weight loss — the lighter the body, the better the dynamics and lower fuel consumption (important for electric cars, for example, BYD).
• 🏭 Production technologies - modern steels (for example, boron-containing) allow you to make thin but durable panels.

However, this is not always a minus: for example, Tesla Model 3 also has a thin aluminum body, but at the same time receives high ratings in crash tests.

❓ Is it possible to strengthen the body of a Chinese car?

Yes, there are several ways:

1. Installation of crankcase protection and thresholds (for example, aluminum sheets thick 3–4 mm).
2. Additional galvanization — applying a zinc layer to vulnerable areas (arches, thresholds).
3. Strengthening the side members — welding of additional stiffeners (relevant for SUVs).

⚠️ Attention: Any modifications to the body can void the warranty dealer. Before strengthening, consult a specialist.

❓Which Chinese brand has the most durable body?

According to the results of crash tests and analysis of metal thickness, the leaders are:

1. BYD - uses aluminum and high-strength steel, many models receive 5 stars C-NCAP.
2. Geely — the best anti-corrosion treatment among the Chinese (guarantee up to 6 years for through corrosion).
3. Changan - the thickest metal in the segment (for example, UNI-K has doors 0.9 mm).

The worst results are Chery and FAW — their budget models often skimp on metal and anti-corrosion.

❓ Is it worth buying a Chinese car because of thin metal?

It depends on your priorities:

• ✅ Worth it if: is important to you modern design, rich equipment and low price, and you are also ready to pay attention to anticorrosion.
• ❌ Not worth it if: you plan to use the car longer than 7–10 years in aggressive conditions (northern regions, off-road) or often get into accidents.

🔹 Alternative: When in doubt, consider korean cars (Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos) - their metal is thicker (0.8–1.0 mm), and prices are comparable.