Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – stacked with features but lacking driving finesse.

04/26/24 • 1 min

Driving Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – available in three 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed
dual clutch automatics – I tested the mid-spec Elite front wheel drive at $39,990
drive-away and the top grade Ultimate all-wheel-drive at $43,990 drive-away –
both stacked with features a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 360 degree
camera, power front seats and 18 smart driver assistance systems – all in a
comfortable roomy five seat cabin with good luggage capacity, better than
average build quality five star safety, a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and low
service costs. But that’s where the good points stop. The drive experience
average at best with noticeable turbo lag, a hesitant transmission and an
underdone suspension tune with inadequate damping and above average fuel
consumption. Chinese cars as a rule simply lack driving finesse – yes, they have
lots of features, in this case 18 smart driver assist elements but they are not
tuned to our market requirements and some features like lane keep assist, driver
attention alert and speed zone recognition simply drive you crazy. Also driving
conditions here are different to crowded Chinese cities – our traffic is faster
moving, and we require better driving dynamics and suspension tune. The Chery
Tiggo 7 Pro SUV offers good value but that’s where the buying equation stops.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previous Episode

Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – best value in the Urban front drive with $3,000 bonus.

Driving the new Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV today. Chery’s initial arrival here under
an importer was marred by an asbestos recall and poor safety scores and it
eventually left our market. However, after an absence of eight years it relaunched
late last year as a factory backed franchise with the small Chery Omoda 5 SUV.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and goodness knows where they got that name from, is
marginally bigger to the Omoda 5. Three models – 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed
automatic - the Urban and Elite, both front drive, and in the Ultimate in all-wheel-
drive. In a highly competitive SUV market, all three have already been discounted
- the Urban by $3,000 to $36,990 drive-away, the Elite and Ultimate models
receiving a $2,000 factory bonus - $39,990 and $43,990 drive-away respectively.
The Tiggo Pro 7 achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a
seven-year/ unlimited km warranty, very well supported with low service costs of
$840 over three years. And it’s stacked with 18 active drive assist features and a
load of comfort and convenience equipment – I tested both the front drive Elite
and all-wheel drive Ultimate. Despite their outstanding value the drive experience
simply disappointing. Details next segment.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.