Chinese automakers, such as Chery, have been making massive in-roads into the SA new car market. This will likely increase in the months to come with the addition of new Cherys on the sales listings. 

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

Max Power And AWD

The first of the new Cherys is a Max option in the Tiggo 7 Pro range. In Chery speak, ‘max’ refers to the larger engine offered in any range. The Tiggo 7 Pro has, until now, been offered with a 1,5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. The Tiggo 7 Pro Max offerings boast a 1,6-litre turbopetrol motor. This larger option has 145 kW of power and 290 N.m of torque on tap. The Max versions are differentiated by a few styling cues, which include specific alloy designs, an updated frontal aspect and lighting signatures.

In addition, the more powerful engine is available with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is the default choice of transmission across the range. 

Click here to read our launch report of the recently launched Tiggo 8 Pro.

Tiggo 7 Pro Max Pricing

Distinction 2WD – R529 900
Executive 2WD – R559 900
Executive AWD – R609 900

Click here to read about our visit to the Chery factory in Wuhu, China.

Budget Conscious

Chery SA has also added a new derivative to the small Tiggo 4 range. The Tiggo 4 Pro LiT (pr: lite) in the new entry point into Chery ownership. It is priced at just R279 900, which makes it a direct rival for the likes of the Suzuki Fronx.

Incidentally, that price includes a three-year/30 000 km service plan plus three-years/30 000 km of roadside assistance thrown into the deal. Chery also offers its one-million kilometre/10-year engine warranty, but the latter applies solely to the first owner. 

You can read our impression of the Tiggo 4 Pro Elite at this link.

The Pro Lit has the same exterior appearance as others in the range, even the 16-inch alloys. Some of the cost-saving measures include cloth upholstery and an injection moulded steering wheel. Standard features include the dash-mounted 10,25 infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, air-conditioning, keyless entry, a digital instrument cluster and two USB ports. 

The Chery Tiggo 4 Lite is powered by the same naturally aspirated 1,5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as other Tiggo 4 versions. Peak power is 83kW with 138 N.m of torque sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. There is an automatic option as well, but that costs a little more.