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This is article is available from ON THE ROAD magazine (Issue 93) First taste of a Chery
Since it was my first time testing a Chery or any China made cars for that matter, it was difficult to guess how it was going to be. After spending a weekend driving the Chery Tiggo, I have to admit it was not bad at all.
The overall appearance seems strikingly similar to the 2nd generation Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CRV, which is a good thing. There are 3 engine cc variants for the Tiggo, a 2.4, 2.0 and 1.6 but only the 2.0 and 1.6 is available here and both are only available in manual transmission. Plans to locally assemble the Tiggo have been laid out but at the moment only CBU (fully imported) are made available.
The number one selling point for the Tiggo is certainly its price, the 1.6 version is sold at RM78,888.00 OTR while the 2.0 version retails at RM81,888.00 OTR. Now, what do you get for this price?
Chery Tiggo 1.6 and 2.0 is fitted an ACTECO engine which produces 106 horses at 6150rpm. It’s a decent output for 1.6 powerplant but the Chery weighs 1350kgs and so don’t expect no manic sprints. The basic specs include 2WD drivetrain, dual SRS airbags (for the 2.0 variant), CD player, ABS and EBD.
Most of the action happens early on the rev counter and ends somewhere at the 4000rpm range. It pretty much drives like a diesel vehicle. The NVH (Noise Vibration Heat) levels seemed to be decent to a certain extent. The wind noise becomes
quite intrusive beyond 140kmh/h and the exhaust emits a sporty note which you’ll have to decide whether to like it or otherwise.
The aircond system coped well in the sweltering tropical heat and kept the interior cool throughout our journey to Melaka. It was surprising to see that the test drive unit still had the heater intact, wonder if you would ever going to need it here in tropical Malaysia.
When it comes to the build quality of the Chery Tiggo, I would have to say there have been vast improvements compared to the previous Chery models. But public perception of China made vehicles here could prove to be a tough obstacle for Chery at the present moment.
Past its little shortcomings, I noticed that this car was relatively fun to drive and easy to manoeuvre and handle. The Tiggo comes with a 3-year or 100,000 kilometer warranty, Chery Alado Automobile is committed to deliver satisfaction to its customers.
The Tiggo might not be a popular choice for people who had already owned cars but it will be an option to consider for someone look for an SUV on a tight budget. Currently Chery Alado Automobile Sdn. Bhd is dishing out a generous discount on the downpayment or alternatively a RM10,000.00 accessories package.
Engine1.6L ACTECO, 4 cyclinders (DOHC 16V)Power Output106hp @ 6150rpmTorque147Nm @ 4300rpmSuspensionFront – independent Macpherson strut, Rear – multilink with coil spring standardBrakesFront – ventilated discs, rear –solid discs (ABS & EBD assisted)Steering Radius5.5m(minimum)Tyres235/60R16Dimensionlength - 4285mm, width – 1765mm, height – 1705mm, Weight – 1375kgFuel Tank57litres
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