The small SUV/crossover space is full of options for local buyers. You can see just some of the options available locally at this link. The latest is the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. Chinese brand Chery isn’t a new name on the South African market, but has been relatively quiet in recent years. Now, it’s marking an official return to local shores with this new crossover.

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Second chance

Alright, so it’s not as if we haven’t seen the nameplate before because the original model debuted locally about a decade ago. At the time, much of it resembled the previous generation Toyota Rav4, especially along the profile and at the rear end.

Chery’s design team has come up with original styling for the Tiggo 4, which is the first to feature the company’s new design language. The unique nose is something that would be home on the product of a premium brand, with automatic headlamps and LED daytime driving lights that flank a 3D-look grille. At the rear are LED taillamps and dual exhaust tips.

The base spec Tiggo 4 Pro Urban model and, next-one-up, Comfort variants ride on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Elite and Elite Special Edition range toppers have 17-inch items shod with lower profile rubber.

Two engine options

Chery uses two 1,5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines across the range; a normally aspirated unit that produces 83 kW of power and 183 N.m, and a turbocharged version that produces 108 kW along with 210 N.m of twist effort. Depending on the model, torque is send to tarmac via five-or six-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (see breakdown below).

Inside, there are mod-cons like a digital instrument cluster and touch-sensitive infotainment system. The four speakers on the Urban and Comfort models get upgraded to six on the Elite models, which also feature a voice control system and leather upholstery.

Groundbreaking

Chery is keen to underline the quality of its new product and is offering an industry-leading ten-year or 1 million km engine warranty. The warranty has two elements: a standard five-year/150 000 km factory warranty applies to all new Tiggo 4 Pro models sold. This warranty remains with the vehicle. The second, a free extension for further five years and a 850 000 km on the engine, is added automatically at the end of the first warranty, provided that the vehicle is still owned by the original owner.

Prices

Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1,5 Urban (5MT)  R269 900
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1,5 Comfort (CVT)  R299 900
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1,5 Elite (6MT)  R319 900
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1,5 Elite (CVT)  R349 900
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1,5 Elite SE (CVT)  R359 900