IF you thought Chery Tiggo was dead and buried, you may have to think again.
It’s back with style, luxury and performance. If it was designed to turn heads, it has achieved that goal and beyond. This is judging by the nods and the thumbs up we got when we drove around in it.
Chery Automotive South Africa let us try out the new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro petrol engine and we loved it. Far from the previous Tiggo of many years back, this one is the perfect foil to enter Mzansi’s highly competitive SUV market.
Yes, SUVs are doing very well in the country. But make no mistake, Mzansi people have an appetite for good looking cars. The market is not good for just any SUV, but they have to be well designed to get our attention and the Tiggo 4 Pro ticks that box very well.
The car boasts its own distinct look, which carries the Chery logo and large hexagonal grille with unique diamond pattern. The grille is designed with a multitude of diamond-shaped holes, which narrow towards the logo at the top of the grille to create a three-dimensional effect.
Each individual diamond is fitted with chrome brightwork to give the Tiggo 4 Pro a distinct upmarket look and road presence, which makes it stand out from the pair. Flanking the grille are automatic headlamps – standard across the range – and LED daytime running lights.
The lights, halogen on normally aspirated models and LED on turbo models, are contained in clear housings with a bright background dubbed the Chery Crystal Diamond lens design.
All models have electrically adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, while Elite models’ mirrors can also electrically fold inwards in tight spaces.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro comes fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels across the range while the top spec we drove, the Elite Special Edition (SE) models, have 17-inch machined alloy wheels with a dark chrome finish.
Doesn’t that complete the look? With ground clearance varies between 170 mm and 180 mm, depending on the choice of wheel and tyre, the car is quite clear of any threats that lie waiting on our roads.
What awaits you inside the cabin of the 4 Pro is a touch of luxury that will leave you comfortable. It has a digital instrument cluster with multi-information readout. What stood out for me is it’s fast and touch-responsive 10.25-inch central infotainment system supported by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports in the front and one in the rear, a DVD player and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity.
Elite versions add two more speakers for a more immersive sound experience. Elite models have full leather upholstery with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, which adds to the relaxation and comfort of the driver and all passengers.
Let’s talk about 1.5 litre, four-cylinder petrol engines the Elite and Elite SE model grade engine choices of either a manual transmission with six speeds or the CVT transmission. These models also replace the normally aspirated four-cycle DER for a powerful 1.5 turbo-petrol engine delivering 108 kW at 5 500 rpm and a maximum torque of 210 in a wide engine speed band between 1 750 rpm and 4 000 rpm.
CVT models fitted with the turbo-petrol engine also have a special Driving Mode selection between Standard, Economical (Eco) and Sport and accompanying steering adjustment modes between Eco and Sport. Adding to the Tiggo 4’s pedigree are ABS and Electronic Brake Force equipped disk brakes all round with an electronic parking brake, as well as a full complement of electronic vehicle safety systems.
These include Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Traction Control (TCS), Roll Stability Control (RCS), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Assist. All these features are standard across the range.
Driving this car around the city or on long distances is fun. We took a spin to Newcastle, KZN and back and it cruises around with ease. Add to that peace of mind to buyers who opt for one of the modern and stylish Tiggo 4 Pro models, 10-year / 1-million-kilometre engine warranty. All Chery Tiggo 4 Pros are also sold with a 5 year / 60 000 km service plan as standard.
Pricing
Entry level start from R269 900 all the way up to R319 900 for Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5T Elite (six-speed manual).
This review was made possible by Chery Automotive South Africa
