Chery is entering the compact SUV segment – arguably one of the country’s most hotly contested segments – with a winning combination of style, luxury, and performance.
The company launched the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro with a choice of two petrol engines, three transmissions and three different specification levels. A Special Edition tops the range and adds even more luxury to the standard Urban, Comfort and Elite models.
Designed to turn heads
There will be no mistaking the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro for any other compact SUV on local roads.
The new model is the flag bearer of Chery’s new design language and proudly 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.
The grille is flanked by 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.
A muscular bonnet with strong creases and a lower mounted bumper with additional air intakes and a faux strike plate design round off the top and bottom of the front design.
It is worth noting that all models have electrically adjustable side mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, while Elite models’ mirrors can also electrically fold inwards in tight spaces.
At the rear, the LED rear lights are housed in sculpted housings that are hollowed out in the middle for a three-dimensional visual effect and to house the brake and main lights and dual rear fog lamps. A chrome strip and large Chery logo connect the rear lights that are fitted above a faux strike plate and dual chromed exhaust outlets.
A high-level LED brake light bar, roof mounted antenna fin and spoiler round off the rear design.
Proprietary petrol performance
Before climbing into the luxury cabin of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, it is worth noting that customers will have the option of two in-house designed 1.5 litre, four-cylinder petrol engines.
The Urban and Comfort specification grades offer the normally aspirated 1.5 litre engine, with 83 kW at 6 150 rpm and 138 Nm of torque at 4 000 rpm. In the case of the Urban grade, the power is delivered to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The Comfort model is fitted with Chery’s smooth, continuously variable transmission with paddle shifts for manual override mode.
Customers who opt to step up to the Elite and Elite SE model grade have the choice of either a manual transmission with six speeds or the CVT transmission. These models also replace the normally aspirated four-cylinder for a powerful 1.5 turbo-petrol engine.
The Chery 1.5T delivers 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.
Digital luxury abounds
While the design and performance of the Tiggo 4 Pro will hold its own in a very crowded SUV market, the interior luxury is what will make it truly stand out.
All Tiggo 4 Pro models have a digital instrument cluster with multi-information readout. On the normally aspirated models, this screen is 3.5” wide with high-definition colours.
What doesn’t differ between any of the Tiggo 4 Pro models is the beautiful, fast and touch-responsive 10.25” central infotainment system. This system is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports in the front and one in the rear, a DVD player and Bluetooth hands-free connectivity. This system also displays the image from the reverse camera on all but the entry-level Urban model.
In the normally aspirated Urban and Comfort models, the infotainment system is linked to four speakers, while the Elite versions add two more speakers for a more immersive sound experience.
Elite versions also have intelligent voice control built in, with a special semantic processing system that understands many different accents and pronunciations.
Lastly, the Elite models have full leather upholstery with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat.
Safety and security built in
All Chery models offer a high level of passive and dynamic safety.
All models have all the electronic safety equipment mentioned earlier, including TRC and ESP.
All models also offer keyless access and a Start / Stop button. The Tiggo 4 Pro will lock and unlock automatically as you approach or leave the vehicle, and doors will lock automatically as you drive away.
All models also have a child lock system, a vehicle immobiliser and alarm system and at least two airbags. Elite models are further equipped with front side and curtain airbags for a total of six.
Unmatched peace of mind
To add additional peace of mind to customers who opt for one of the modern and stylish Tiggo 4 Pro models, Chery has announced an unmatched 10-year / 1-million-kilometre engine warranty (see separate release).
All Chery Tiggo 4 Pro models are also sold with a 5 year / 60 000 km service plan as standard.
Customers who are keen to view and test the new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro model are invited to visit any of the 30 brand-new Chery dealerships across South Africa.
A full list of Chery dealers is available at www.chery.co.za.
