I can’t fault the Chery Tiggo 4 for offering great value, but should you buy one?

I can’t fault the Chery Tiggo 4 for providing nice worth, however must you purchase one?

Chery is one other newish Chinese language model that has arrived on the scene and already has the Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 to select from. Anybody needing one thing smaller than these sizable SUVs however who nonetheless craves house will like this, the Chery Tiggo 4. It’s a comparatively compact crossover-style creation that, inevitably, seems to be like one thing you’ve seen earlier than. And, whereas the outside design is moderately forgettable, there’s no doubting its practicality. Plus, it’s low-cost.

Certainly, by way of worth, it stacks up nicely, being manner cheaper than the likes of the Ford Puma, Dacia Duster or Vauxhall Frontera as three of our principal rival decisions. The Chery Tiggo 4 Aspire prices simply £19,995 whereas the Summit trim I attempted is priced at £21,995 (as ever with Chinese language automobile manufacturers, the Tiggo isn’t bought within the US). It’s due to this fact a good selection if worth is your principal consideration in the identical manner because the equally reasonably priced MG3 Hybrid+ is. For the cash, each are completely tremendous on the small automobile entrance.

Gear ranges are good too. Even the cheaper Aspire trim comes with all the things anticipated together with alloys, LED headlights and beneficiant ranges of tech. Stretch to simply underneath £22,000 and the Summit version provides on a greater inside, which options an electrical driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, wi-fi telephone charging and 360-degree parking cameras. Chery throws in a seven-year 100,000-mile guarantee for good measure. Of us in search of worth with none thrills will discover it ticks a number of the correct packing containers.

The styling

I used to be fairly impressed by the general look of the Chery Tiggo 4 within the Summit trim. Granted, the outside design is moderately nondescript and a bit generic, however all the things appeared prefer it was in the correct place and there was a top quality really feel on provide. The LED headlights, daring grille design, sensible alloy wheels and common trim prospers had been simply sufficient to make it appear particular sufficient. The truth is, for the cash, the compact SUV felt like a little bit of a cut price in a lot the identical manner as MG will get issues completed so nicely with its present crop of vehicles.

The inside on my Summit trim featured fake leather-based, which lifted the appear and feel of issues properly. The truth is, for the worth, I believed the general match and end was superb. One other bonus with the high-sided styling of the Tiggo 4 was the best way it supplied a lot of room for passengers each back and front, helped by a wheelbase simply over 2.6 metres. I favored the view out of the home windows too, with good ranges of visibility except for out the again, though a powerful 360-degree digicam setup took care of that.

The drive

I discovered the Chery Tiggo 4 a barely unusual automobile to drive. There have been loads of choices for getting the driving place simply as I favored it, together with an electrically adjustable seat. Nonetheless, from the off, the Tiggo 4 felt a bit odd, particularly when it got here to the sunshine steering, which felt obscure and fairly wayward out on the open street. Mixed with the suspension association, my preliminary driving impression wasn’t nice. This was made worse by annoying ADAS options, which took some effort to tame through a lot of muttering and display screen prods.

After all, issues improved as I received used to the Tiggo 4’s floatiness, which wanted cautious administration (extra so than the driving force aids) when it got here to placing on the facility. The self-charging hybrid setup was mainly tremendous, however energy supply may very well be a bit unpredictable because the petrol engine and electrical motor setup talked amongst themselves. The Tiggo 4 felt quick sufficient for the job although, with sufficient acceleration to get these on a regular basis driving jobs completed.

However, the automobile was positively most pleasurable when it wasn’t being pushed and, as an alternative, pushed sensibly alongside main roads. Much less nice sections of tarmac, like nation lanes and potholed sections round city, felt fairly disagreeable to me because the suspension did battle with the lumps and bumps. The Chery Tiggo 4 additionally didn’t like being pushed via tight bends both, and I quickly realised that this can be a automobile that must be pushed gingerly, moderately than enthusiastically.

All that’s tremendous although, particularly as I stored reminding myself simply how a lot the Chery Tiggo 4 prices. It ought to be an affordable automobile to run as nicely, with miles per gallon reaching nicely into the 50s throughout my time with it. And, being a hybrid, any of {the electrical} stuff is all completed in home, that means there’s no plugging in or charging faff wanted from the proprietor. Wind noise felt moderately minimal and, at simply over 4.3 metres, it was additionally an excellent measurement for parking and getting across the city panorama.

The expertise

It was good to be behind the wheel of a Chinese language automobile that didn’t count on me to do all the things through the dashboard-mounted infotainment display screen. The format includes a brace of 12.3in screens, one within the center and the opposite in entrance of the wheel. I believed it appeared moderately like one thing present in a Hyundai, which is not any unhealthy factor. The graphics and backbone had been respectable sufficient, however the perfect factor was the best way there was a bodily contact button panel operating down into the centre console.

This was an actual bonus because it had a row of bodily tabs for core controls and a complete part beneath that for local weather management. Apparent and simply reached A/C and fan controls have been important of late and, for that, I used to be greater than grateful. The general ranges of tech, for a automobile of this class, had been strong and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto left me feeling that almost all of latest house owners would really feel fairly happy with what is obtainable contained in the Tiggo 4. That even extends to the usual Aspire version moderately than the marginally plusher Summit trim.

Elsewhere, the Summit trim supplied a 50W wi-fi charging pad, USB A and C ports together with an audio system that, while enough, wasn’t particularly nice by way of the sound it delivered. That rear-view digicam labored nicely although, through the infotainment display screen and, total, I believed the Snapdragon-powered software program setup was as responsive as the rest I’ve pushed just lately, though the format and execution of the graphics was a bit bit pedestrian.

Chery Tiggo 4 verdict

Chery Tiggo 4 review aerial

The Chery Tiggo 4 is a type of vehicles that positively wants an intensive check drive earlier than committing to it full-time. It has some pronounced quirks, together with steering that feels barely odd and a suspension setup that struggles with poor street surfaces.

Nonetheless, it additionally has lots going for it, with beneficiant ranges of package, a smart and classy inside that packs loads of practicality and it is usually cheap frugal for good measure. It’s laborious to quibble with the worth too, however shopping for one additionally means there’ll should be a couple of compromises on the expectation entrance.

Chery Tiggo 4 technical specs

Scroll to see extra →

Specs Chery Tiggo 4
Powertrain Petrol engine, everlasting magnet electrical motor
Battery 1.83kWh
Energy 204bhp
Torque 229lb-ft
0-62mph 8.9 sec
Prime velocity 93mph
Vary 500+ miles (mixed)
Cargo quantity 430 litres