الموضوع: رأى محايد للتيجو 1600

June 2009Chery Tiggo 1,6 TXBy Kelly Lodewyks Strongest and weakest point

Neat styling, practical packaging

Wek engine, durability a concern

Reviews of the same vehicle Post your own driving impression A “made in China” stamp is seldom something to get excited about. With it comes a number of preconceived concerns. Whatever the product may be, it’s probably a carbon copy of something already available on the market, reports will surface that it’s hazardous because of some or other chemical in the paint, glue, etc. or that it will break within days (if not hours) of purchase. So, it’s with some bit of apprehension that we greeted the Chery Tiggo when it arrived at the CAR office…

At a glance, yes, the Tiggo looks like something else already available out there. But with the front’s easy-on-the-eye appearance; simple, pleasing lines and its Toyota RAV4 resemblance, I can’t really fault the Tiggo’s styling. Plus, it has proper roof racks that adjust to suit your load – something seldom seen on more upmarket and expensive vehicles.

Move inside and you see a bit more of the perceived “cheap” quality coming through in the excessive use of hard plastics on the facia. The fabric upholstered seats are quite comfortable and, thanks to the wide range of adjustment for both the seat and steering wheel, it’s easy enough to find a comfortable driving position. There are storage compartments dotted about the cabin, and I was impressed to find that the audio system was MP3 compatible and had an AUX input for an MP3 player. As for hazardous chemicals…Well, the only inclination that anything of the sort existed was the funny smell that lingered in the cabin. But, the team lives on, so we doubt that it’s really harmful in any way.

It’s on the performance front where the Tiggo falls short. Powered by a 1,6-litre unit, the Tiggo has a maximum output of 80 kW at 5 800 r/min and 147 N.m at 4 300 r/min. As such, it feels rather breathless when going uphill, and overtaking requires a great deal of forethought and judgment. The engine becomes rather vocal higher up in the rev range, and what little insulation there is doesn’t stop its boomy nonte from permeating the cabin. At times, the Tiggo felt a bit top heavy around bends, but it wasn’t unsettling. It felt secure and, unlike some other Chinese vehicles we’ve driven, the steering was acceptable.

Overall, the Tiggo manages to dissolve many of the negative preconceptions that tend to accompany Chinese vehicles. It feels like a good package and offers a lot more practicality than many other faux-SUVs out there. My main concern, however, centers on the Chery’s durability. The combination of hard-worked powertrain and questionable build quality could count against a car such as the Tiggo, especially given the varied and unforgiving roles vehicles in its segment have to play. This is especially the case when something like a second-hand RAV4 or Daihatsu Terios, both of which have proved to be hardy pieces of kit, can be had for similar money.

Only time will tell if the durability issue will become another Chinese vehicle preconception ready to be dismissed. In the meantime, it wouldn’t be too bad to give this Chery a chance…

فعلا تكسب وكمان لو تلافو المشاكل اللى بدأت تظهر
بس فى كلمة فى التعليق مش واضحة وهى خاصة بالعزم لانى وجدت ان جميع الاراء تشكر فى عزم العربية وانى مش وحش؟؟