Chery shook Australia’s new automotive market earlier this yr when it introduced its new entry-level SUV was launching with a beginning worth of below $25,000 drive-away.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Professional slots below the Omoda 5 small SUV within the Chinese language carmaker’s native lineup and brings the combat to different gentle SUVs together with the Hyundai Venue, Kia Stonic, Mazda CX-3, Toyota Yaris Cross and Volkswagen T-Cross.
Chery already achieved a report gross sales determine in November thanks partly to the Tiggo 4 Professional. It outsold each different mannequin within the vary for the month, and in 2025 it’s anticipated to be the best-selling gentle SUV in Australia.
At launch, there are two variants on supply, and on check right here is the flagship Final, which is priced from simply $26,990 drive-away.
After my colleague Josh Nevett had a short stint behind the wheel of a Tiggo 4 Professional on a closed monitor a number of months in the past, it’s now time to see the way it fares in the actual world.
How a lot does the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional value?
Not very a lot in any respect.
On check right here is the flagship variant within the Tiggo 4 lineup, the Final.
To see how the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional stacks up towards its rivals, use our comparability software
What’s the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional like on the within?
Quite plush and well-equipped for the value.
It’s simple to get into the Tiggo 4 Professional due to its lifted journey top, which is synonymous with crossover SUVs. It’s a great instance of why individuals who need a greater view from the motive force’s seat, or these with restricted mobility, like a lot of these automobiles a lot.
A flowery contact as you open the door and hop into the automotive is an illuminated Tiggo facet sill plate. I wouldn’t anticipate one thing like this in a automotive that prices lower than $30,000 drive-away.
When you’re in, there are fake leather-appointed seats that get a bit scorching and sticky when parked within the solar. Throughout cooler months you do have the choice of heating, but it surely’s operated by way of the touchscreen and never a bodily button.
The motive force’s seat itself is squishy, however not overly supportive, which is a standard factor in budget-oriented autos from rising Chinese language manufacturers.
You additionally really feel such as you’re sliding off the seat base as a result of the angle of the cushion is just too flat, although fortunately it’s not as dangerous as within the GWM Haval Jolion.
In Final guise the motive force’s seat is electrically adjustable, although there’s no adjustable lumbar assist, plus the pinnacle restraint is built-in into the backrest and may’t be adjusted. Fortunately the latter is gentle and squishy.
Forward of the motive force is a properly sized leather-wrapped steering wheel that’s good to carry. Whereas there’s each attain and tilt adjustment, I want the steering wheel got here only a bit nearer as a result of I needed to compromise my foot area so I might comfortably seize the wheel.
All of the buttons and switches on the steering wheel have a clicky motion, and are clearly labelled. Regardless of this, there have been a number of events once I by chance cranked up the music quantity as a substitute of adjusting the cruise management set pace.
Behind the steering wheel there’s a brilliant and high-resolution 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. There are three completely different layouts you may select from, plus informative content material within the center that may be cycled by way of.
Whatever the format and knowledge panel, there’s all the time a big digital speedometer readout.
Transferring throughout, there’s a sizeable-for-the-price 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system that, just like the digital instrument cluster, is brilliant and high-resolution. However barely obscured by the steering wheel and the place you place your left hand on it.
Each screens run a really similar-looking working system as different present Chery fashions, and after you acquaint your self it’s simple to work together with and exhausting to get misplaced in. Even for those who do, there’s a house icon on the touchscreen, in addition to a bodily residence piano key button beneath.
As normal, there are each wired and wi-fi types of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With my iPhone 15 Professional Max related wirelessly it was typically high quality, although there was the occasional dropout that appeared random.
Surprisingly, the wi-fi smartphone mirroring connection didn’t appear fazed by recognized interference factors, like toll cubicles, however would typically simply lag after which ultimately drop out round 10-Quarter-hour right into a journey.
Though the Tiggo 4 Professional has wi-fi Apple and Android cellphone connectivity, there’s no wi-fi cellphone charger to maintain your battery topped up. Positive, there’s a cute phone-sized slot within the centre console, however it’s essential to plug into one of many USB ports to cost up the battery.
The twin-zone local weather management setup is fascinating as there’s a giant digital show on the centre console, which I initially mistook for a touchscreen. As an alternative, you need to use bodily switches to vary the temperature and fan pace, plus there are a number of touch-capacitive buttons for different climate-related capabilities.
If you do that nonetheless, the local weather management menu on the touchscreen pops up and fills the complete display screen for an annoying period of time. That is irritating for those who’re attempting to do one thing with the display screen, or have to be watching the place to make your subsequent flip.
Wanting across the cabin, there are a stunning quantity of soft-touch surfaces, particularly given the Tiggo 4 Professional Final prices basically $27,000 drive-away. No automotive at this worth level has a soft-touch dashboard with fake stitching like this.
Regardless of this, the quantity of shiny piano black materials on the centre console is an ghastly sight. That is sure to get scratched and ruined in a short time when you drive away from the supplier lot.
There’s ample storage up, together with two cupholders with none tooth to assist safe drinks, a centre console field and glovebox, plus a useful space for storing below the centre console. The latter is frequent in Chinese language autos.
The Tiggo 4 Professional’s cabin is fairly brilliant and ethereal. It’s much more so in Final guise due to the sunroof.
Transferring to the second row, it’s stunning how a lot area there’s again there, given how small the outside dimensions are. Like many Chinese language autos, there’s an emphasis on second-row consolation, and that is evident with how snug the bench seat is.
Don’t go pondering the Tiggo 4 Professional is overly spacious within the second row, nonetheless. Squeezing three folks again there wouldn’t be very enjoyable in any respect as a result of automobile’s slender width.
Second-row facilities embrace a singular USB-A port, fold-down armrest with cupholders, and a centre console-mounted air vent. The latter could be very uncommon for this phase, particularly at this worth level.
Across the again there’s a handbook tailgate that’s bigger than you suppose. It additionally requires a great slam while you need to shut it. I hopped in to drive a number of instances and didn’t realise the tailgate wasn’t correctly latched till the automotive informed me.
The boot area on this gentle SUV is basically stunning. Chery claims that with all of the seats upright there’s 380L of boot capability, which is beneficiant. There aren’t many facilities, however a useful function is a lightweight.
Lastly, it’s nice that Chery has fitted the Tiggo 4 Professional with a short lived space-saver spare wheel. Though it’s not as useful as a full-sized unit, it’s a great compromise to make sure there’s nonetheless sufficient boot area.
What’s below the bonnet?
The Tiggo 4 Professional is powered by the identical 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine as core variants within the bigger Omoda 5 vary, paired with a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT).
How does the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional drive?
Beginning up the Tiggo 4 Professional, you get a crispy engine rev adopted by a quick idle rom the four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine when it’s chilly. It doesn’t linger for lengthy although because the engine doesn’t take lengthy to heat up.
It’s simple to pick drive utilizing the no-fuss gear selector. Then when you’re shifting, there’s loads of punch from the identical 1.5-litre engine as seen within the bigger Omoda 5. It’s enjoyable having the ability to hear the turbo do its factor while you lay into the throttle.
Though there’s loads of obtainable oomph for such a small automobile, the way in which the Tiggo 4 Professional delivers its energy is a bit disjointed. This may be put right down to its throttle calibration, in addition to how the repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) works.
There are additionally solely two drive modes – Eco and Sport. If you swap between the 2 the automotive nearly shouts ‘It’s now in Eco mode’, or ‘It’s now in Sport mode’, which by no means made me giggle.
In Eco mode preliminary acceleration is basically speedy, which took me off-guard a number of instances, however then when you’re above 20km/h or so, ahead progress dies off and the engine revs plummet to minimise gas consumption.
I’ve skilled a really comparable acceleration curve within the present Nissan Qashqai, which funnily sufficient can also be a four-cylinder turbo-petrol powered automobile with a CVT.
When you push the throttle a bit more durable, or meet a steep hill, the Tiggo 4 Professional’s engine will flare because the revs quickly. It’s not the best-sounding engine ever, nonetheless, and it sounds a bit shrill within the cabin.
Though this engine is Euro 6b emissions-compliant, it doesn’t include an engine idle cease/begin system. Which means in city site visitors the gas consumption blows out significantly, although on open roads it settles down.
On the highway, a direct draw back with the Tiggo 4 Professional is its steering is means too gentle. There’s nearly no really feel by any means and at instances it looks as if you’re driving in a online game.
The sunshine steering makes this automotive means too simple to throw round, and it isn’t a very dynamic automotive to start with. The Mazda CX-3 is way more rewarding to string metropolis streets in, due to its weightier steering really feel.
Fortunately, an upside of the sunshine steering really feel is it makes navigating tight city streets and carparks quite a bit simpler.
On the parking entrance, there are rear parking sensors as normal throughout the vary. The Final, as examined right here, additionally picks up a surround-view digital camera that has first rate high quality for the value level.
Round city and on pimply metropolitan streets the Tiggo 4 Professional is significantly extra settled than I initially thought it could be, particularly given how hit-and-miss different Cherys journey. It strikes a pleasant stability between being not overly gentle and wallowy, and too harsh. Goldilocks would approve.
Out on the open highway the turbo-petrol engine will get up to the mark effectively, and it’ll sit at freeway speeds with no worries. When you meet a steep hill or need to overtake a automotive, nonetheless, the engine will rev effectively above 3000rpm on the drop of a dime, which made me cringe each time.
Whereas the engine is as much as the duty of long-distance freeway touring, the cabin doesn’t have a lot sound insulation, which implies there’s copious quantities of highway and tyre noise. That is frequent in cheaper small automobiles, however the Tiggo 4 Professional stays comparatively loud and the sound system can barely drown out the noise.
One other annoyance is the surplus steering help at increased speeds. Throughout my week of testing I drove to Geelong in torrential rain, and I used to be terrified the Tiggo 4 Professional would spin out if I by chance yanked the steering wheel simply that bit too exhausting.
An upside is journey high quality stays snug and compliant at increased speeds. It isn’t fussed by singular exhausting bumps, and surprisingly it doesn’t bounce round an excessive amount of on undulating roads.
On the protection entrance, the Tiggo 4 Professional is absolutely loaded, however the way in which these techniques are calibrated leaves a good bit to be desired. This can be a frequent trait with many present Chinese language autos, although Chery says it’s engaged on driver help system calibration.
As normal, there’s adaptive cruise management and it’s typically high quality when it comes to its operation, although it does wish to brake too exhausting when it detects a automotive forward. That is irritating as different automobiles lower in entrance of you often.
Additionally, when it not detects a automotive and also you’re travelling below the set pace, the engine revs the bejesus out of itself to get again to hurry as shortly as potential. I’d a lot want the automotive preserve its revs below 3000rpm and the acceleration be extra measured.
The lane-keep help system could be very hands-on while you get near a lane marking. That is made worse as a result of extremely gentle steering, requiring you to yank it again in the suitable course with typically an excessive amount of drive. Poorly marked roads make this even worse.
There’s additionally a lane centring system that can be utilized together with the adaptive cruise management, however when energetic it makes the steering apply nearly continuous micro-adjustments, and it often ping-pongs the automotive in its lane.
This method is meant to make a driver much less fatigued on lengthy drives, however in observe it does the alternative since you’re continually preventing towards it.
Nonetheless, the motive force consideration monitoring system is nowhere close to as intrusive and annoying as such techniques in different autos. It barely intervened in any respect throughout my time within the Tiggo 4, and a type of instances was once I had my sun shades on and the solar was obvious straight on the cabin.
What do you get?
There are two trim ranges obtainable. On check is the flagship Final.
Tiggo 4 Professional City gear highlights:
- LED headlights
- Rear fog lights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Heated facet mirrors
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 4-speaker sound system
- AM/FM/DAB+ radio
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Clever voice assistant (Whats up Chery)
- Twin-zone local weather management
- 2 x front-row USB-A ports
- 1 x rear USB-A port
- 12V socket
- Proximity key with distant engine begin
- LED first-row inside lights
- Boot gentle
- Leatherette steering wheel
- Fabric upholstery
Tiggo 4 Professional Final provides:
- Automated LED headlights
- Automated high-beam
- Purple brake calipers
- Energy sunroof
- Chrome window {surround}
- Energy-folding mirrors
- 6-speaker Sony sound system
- LED second-row inside lights
- Leatherette upholstery
- Heated entrance seats
- Energy-adjustable driver seat
- Encompass-view digital camera
Is the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional secure?
The Chery Tiggo 4 Professional is but to obtain a security score from ANCAP or its European counterpart Euro NCAP.
Customary security gear consists of:
- 7 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management
- Site visitors jam help
- Built-in Cruise Help (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
- Lane change help
- Lane-keep help
- Lane departure warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver monitoring system
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Rear parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
Final provides:
How a lot does the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional value to run?
The Chery Tiggo 4 Professional is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee. As normal, you get one yr of roadside help, however for those who service at a Chery supplier and observe the logbook servicing intervals, that is prolonged for as much as seven years.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Chery Tiggo 4 Professional
Now that is the kind of automobile that deserves to promote in droves.
The Chery Tiggo 4 Professional is a breath of recent air within the Australian new automotive marketplace for its asking worth alone, particularly given the price of residing disaster we’re experiencing.
It’s significantly extra fashionable inside than lots of its gentle SUV rivals, plus the quantity of soft-touch cabin finishes is astounding for the value level.
Higher but, this tiny SUV isn’t horrible to drive! The turbo-petrol engine pinched from the Omoda 5 is even sweeter on this smaller bundle, although the CVT transmission’s considerably crude calibration dulls the general driving expertise.
I’d respect extra really feel by way of the steering wheel as a result of it’s means too gentle and obscure, and for the motive force help techniques to not be so exuberant.
Though this top-spec Tiggo 4 Professional Final has loads of enchantment, particularly given it’s not way more costly than the bottom City, I’d argue the latter is the candy spot because it nonetheless comes with a great deal of normal gear.
If I used to be getting a primary new automotive and wished an SUV for below $25,000, the Tiggo 4 Professional could be firmly on the prime of my listing. It’s time for rivals to elevate their recreation as a result of Chery has levelled up this widespread market phase.
Enthusiastic about shopping for a Chery Tiggo 4 Professional? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: The whole lot Chery Tiggo 4 Professional
Professionals
- Punchy turbo engine
- Properly-equipped
- Shocking quantity of soft-touch finishes
Cons
- Thirsty within the metropolis
- Numerous highway noise
- Overbearing driver assists
High Line Specs
- Energy: 108kW
- Gas Kind: Premium Unleaded Petrol
- Economic system: 7.3L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 166g/km
- ANCAP Security Score: Untested