Overview

FOR some time now Australians have known of the Chinese brand Chery, with a run in Australia starting in 2011 with the likes of the small Chery J11 SUV.

Today’s new Chery models the Omoda 5 released earlier this year and now the Tiggo 7 Pro seem like a world away from the poor old J11. To say the new models like the Tiggo 7 Pro officially launched this week are an improvement is an understatement.

The three-model Tiggo 7 Pro range are offered with drive-away pricing starting with the Urban at just $39,990, the Elite at $41,990 and the Ultimate at $45,990. The main option is metallic paint: Lunar White, Star Silver, Mercurial Grey, Space Black, Martian Red is $600 across the range, while two-tone space black roof is an optional extra on Tiggo 7 Pro Elite and Ultimate (in Martian Red or Lunar White only) at a further $600.

Standard in entry Urban is LED lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels (with full-size spare), artificial leather seats with front-seat heating, dual-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, multi-colour LED ambient cabin lighting, native satellite navigation, dual 12.3-inch infotainment and instrumentation screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, an eight-speaker Sony-sourced audio system, and ‘Hello Chery’ voice commands control.

The mid-grade Tiggo Pro Elite adds a 360-degree camera system, auto folding wing mirrors, powered tailgate, illuminated sill covers, optional black-painted roof, cabin air quality management system and a cargo blind.

Then there’s the Ultimate with all-wheel drive, 19-inch alloys, six drive modes (Eco, Sport, Normal, Snow, Mud, Off-road), red-painted brake calipers, memory mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, ventilated front seats, and driver’s seat memory.

There’s bad news for anyone planning to tow with the Tiggo 7 Pro; while Chery is investigating a tow rating and towbar options locally, for now the Tiggo 7 Pro doesn’t have a towing capacity.

The Chery warranty is a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre arrangement, while capped price servicing extends to seven years/105,000km with $2204 for the Ultimate over this period (slightly less for Urban and Elite).

On the safety front, the comprehensive list of driver aid systems including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Speed Limit Information Function (SLIF), Speed Control Function (SCF), Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Braking (RCTB), Rear Collision Warning (RCW) and Door Opening Warning (DOW).

Plus all models have a reversing camera while the upper-tier models the Elite and Ultimate also get a 360-degree camera. 

Chery executives at the launch this week said that the Tiggo 7 Pro was designed to meet 2023 ANCAP standards, and therefore should pass with a strong result when ANCAP publish their rating for the new model within the next few months.

The only powertrain offered for all Tiggo 7 Pro variants is a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine delivering 137kW @ 5500rpm and 275Nm @2000rpm. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission as standard and in front-wheel drive format is said to consume 7.0 litres per 100km with CO2 emissions of 163 grams per kilometre (ADR Combined cycle) while figures for the all-wheel drive Ultimate are 7.8L/100km and 181g/km.

The minimum octane requirement is premium (95RON) while the tank capacity is 51 litres in Urban and Elite and 57 litres in Ultimate.

The five-seat Chery Tiggo 7 Pro measures 4513mm in length, 1862mm in width and 1696mm in height, and rides on a 2670mm wheelbase. Cargo space is noted as 626 litres with all seats up or 1672 litres with the rear seat dropped down.

The Chery looks even better in the metal than in photos, although a far more conservative design than the Omoda 5. The interior looks very plush and up to the minute in detail finish. It has a faint whiff of Mercedes-Benz about it, especially when you look at the door speaker grilles and power window switches.

Drive Impressions

When driving the Chery in traffic it performed as you would hope; perhaps the dual-clutch auto was a bit keen to lurch sometimes when taking off, but otherwise proved a comfortable, easy to drive and see out of wagon. Performance is good, with a responsive engine that maybe gets a little harsh when revved.

There are some areas where the Chery is not quite where it could be. When accelerating with even just part-throttle in some situations, the turbo hits boost and the power delivery is not linear. 

Fuel consumption seemed a little high, too, with the averaging nudging 8.0L/100km with quite relaxed, mostly open-road driving. The Ultimate’s claimed extra urban figure is 6.6L/100km.

The active cruise control also became a bit too active as we drove up the F3 freeway towards Sydney; or, at least, the lane-keeping assist function component of it did. While this function is not obvious when the ACC is not turned on, when activated, the steering wheel assertively tugs at your hands, overcorrecting as the system seemingly wants to keep the vehicle perfectly centred in the lane.

As you try to correct it, you end up weaving from side to side. There doesn’t appear to be any way to turn this function off using the driver assist setting menu in the infotainment system, although we’d be happy to stand corrected.

Although Chery is beginning to undertake local testing and giving its home market engineers input to make changes for local consumption, it would appear that the company has some way to go yet.

Nevertheless, if value, features, and aftersales offerings are the priority, there’s no doubt the Chery not only excels in those areas that but looks good while doing so.