The Yusheng S350 is a mid-size rugged ladder-frame SUV launched under JMC's Yusheng sub-brand, making its official market debut in December 2010. Marking JMC's maiden foray into the passenger car segment, the development project was kicked off in 2006, featuring exterior styling penned by acclaimed Italian designer Marc Deschamps. Built on a heavy-duty body-on-frame chassis and positioned in the hardcore off-road market, the Yusheng S350 has evolved across four product generations. The final 2020 iteration offered 3 variants on sale with official retail prices ranging from RM122,800 to RM188,800, measuring 4,710 mm in length, 1,895 mm in width, and 1,845 mm in height, with a 2,750 mm wheelbase. Key market rivals included fellow Chinese ladder-frame SUVs such as the Haval H9 and Beijing BJ40.
The exterior styling of the Yusheng S350 adheres to JMC's corporate design language, maturing through four generations of styling evolution. The most notable update on the 2020 fourth-generation model was the deletion of the original Yusheng emblem in favour of bold "JMC" block lettering across the front fascia. Up front, it features a prominent gaping grille flanked by the JMC lettering and split LED headlamp clusters. The side profile exhibits clean, muscular character lines complemented by pronounced wheel arches and side skirt claddings, while the rear gets a full-width chrome trim garnish, delivering a sturdy and commanding road presence.
Inside, early iterations featured a two-tone black-and-beige cabin with a textured soft-touch dashboard finish resembling leather, accented by chrome air vent surrounds and gloss black centre console panels for a noticeably refined build quality compared to segment peers of that era. The third-generation model shifted to a contemporary black-and-grey interior theme accented with silver inlays, injecting a more youthful, layered ambiance. Following the mid-life facelift, the cabin was further upgraded with faux woodgrain trim pieces and leatherette upholstery wrapping, elevating the overall premium and executive feel.
The Yusheng S350 was offered with both petrol and turbodiesel powertrain options. The petrol variant is powered by a Ford-derived 2.0-litre EcoBoost GTDi direct-injection turbocharged engine producing 162 kW (approx. 220 PS) and 350 Nm of torque, an engine that previously clinched the "Ward's 10 Best Engines" award for two consecutive years. The diesel version runs on a 2.0-litre Topanther VGT turbodiesel unit outputting 104 kW (approx. 141 PS) and 340 Nm of torque, which won China Heart's Top Ten Engines award in 2011. Earlier models were also available with a Ford Transit-sourced 2.4-litre turbodiesel (103 kW / 375 Nm) and a Mitsubishi-derived 2.4-litre petrol engine. Transmission options across the range include a ZF 8-speed automatic, a ZF 6-speed automatic, and a Getrag 6-speed manual. The petrol version completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in approximately 8 seconds, while the diesel unit delivers an NEDC combined fuel consumption of 6.8 to 8.1 L/100 km.
The Yusheng S350 employs a body-on-frame ladder chassis architecture featuring a heavy-duty "two longitudinal and eight crossmember" frame comprising over 98% high-strength steel, ensuring exceptional torsional rigidity and structural load capacity. This chassis architecture shares structural lineage with the Toyota Fortuner. Suspension-wise, the front uses a double wishbone independent setup with coil springs, while the rear features a five-link rigid axle coil spring non-independent suspension with a lateral Panhard rod, striking a balance between generous off-road wheel travel and on-road stability. Drivetrain options include a BorgWarner TOD (Torque-on-Demand) on-demand 4WD system as well as a conventional part-time 4WD system, facilitating seamless transitions between 2WD and 4WD modes. Higher-spec 2WD and 4WD models are further equipped with an Eaton mechanical rear differential locker. In terms of off-road clearance credentials, it boasts a minimum ground clearance of 225 mm, approach angles of 27° to 29°, departure angles of 26° to 29°, and a wading depth of 800 mm, delivering outstanding all-terrain capability among Chinese off-roaders. The steering system in later versions was also upgraded from hydraulic power steering to an electric power steering (EPS) setup.
The Yusheng S350's cabin appointments evolved significantly across its lifecycle. The infotainment display upgraded from an early 7-inch unit to 8-inch and 10-inch floating touchscreens running the Feiyu intelligent voice operating system, supporting voice commands for multimedia, satellite navigation, and hands-free telephony. High-spec trims are equipped with a full digital instrument cluster, smartphone connectivity, and telematics services, offering an increasingly competitive tech package. In terms of comfort amenities, the Yusheng S350 provides genuine leather or leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, seat heating and ventilation, along with dedicated rear air conditioning vents to elevate ride quality. Mid-to-high-spec variants also feature keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and a power sunroof. The cabin provides 26 practical storage cubbies, alongside a generous boot capacity expandable via split-folding rear seats.
On the passive safety front, the Yusheng S350 is equipped with dual front airbags and front side airbags as standard across the range, with side curtain airbags added to top-spec grades. The body shell incorporates Ford's impact energy dissipation and absorption architecture coupled with a collapsible steering column to maximise occupant safety in the event of a collision. While performing well in full frontal and side impact barrier tests, a lower score in the 40% frontal offset crash test brought down its overall result, culminating in a C-NCAP four-star safety rating. In terms of active safety and driver assistance, mid-to-high-spec variants achieve Level 2 ADAS capability, featuring Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). Standard active safety equipment includes Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Programme (ESP/ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
The market performance of the Yusheng S350 remained lacklustre throughout its lifecycle. Total annual sales stood at 6,892 units in 2018 before dropping by 16.21% to 5,775 units in 2019. In March 2020, single-month sales slumped to just 120 units, lagging well behind competing nameplates. This sluggish sales performance stemmed primarily from three factors: first, an uncompetitive pricing strategy where the RM159,800 to RM201,800 price bracket felt steep for prospective buyers, who preferred more established competitors like the Haval H9 or Beijing BJ40 with identical budgets; second, JMC Yusheng's weak brand equity, with buyers in the RM150,000-plus segment heavily prioritising brand prestige; and third, early production batches suffered from build quality issues such as steering vibrations, starting faults, underbody rust, and abnormal fluid loss, which dented long-term market reputation. In owner reviews, positive feedback highlighted its solid ladder chassis, strong ground clearance, commendable off-road chops, and the fuel economy of the turbodiesel engine; conversely, complaints centred around heavy steering weight, body corrosion, sluggish spare parts supply, and a lack of 4S dealership network coverage in certain areas. The Yusheng S350 is currently discontinued. As JMC's initial venture into the passenger-oriented rugged 4x4 segment, the Yusheng S350 demonstrated genuine engineering substance in its mechanicals and off-road capability, but was ultimately sidelined by weaknesses in brand equity, dealership footprint, and quality control—a Chinese off-roader whose mechanical capability far outweighed its commercial success.
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