Make way for the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, the Chinese SUV manufacturer’s middle ground offering to further shake up and stir the local SUV market.
The Chery nameplate has introduced itself as a stylish, well-appointed and competitively priced SUV competitor to established brands such as Volkswagen and Hyundai.
Now, a new challenger steps into the ring sporting the Tiggo moniker, the Tiggo 7 Pro. The first models are expected to arrive “in the next couple of weeks” said Chery South Africa Executive Deputy General Manager, Tony Liu.
The firm’s initial offering was the Tiggo 4 Pro which is a compact 5-seater SUV. Then came the larger and more refined Tiggo 8 Pro, which offers more seats, more space and a little more refinement. The Chinese manufacturer has announced a new addition to its SA range that will slot in between the Tiggo 4 and Tiggo 8 in price, specification, and size. The firm’s middle child will further entrench the already popular marque within the hearts and wallets of the local market.
Flying in with a decent amount of ‘baggage’ and an already impressive list of accolades, the Tiggo 7 Pro has managed to achieve great success in other countries, which Liu describes as having “a similar buying profile, road network, and infrastructure as South Africa.” Peru, Chile, Brazil, Qatar, and a few others have nominated the Tiggo 7 Pro for a multitude of awards. With a strong sense of feasibility and practicality coupled with a noteworthy track record, so far, Liu believes that it is time to join the global launch schedule. More details such as price will be made public when the car is revealed local in the second quarter of this year.
The Tiggo will be powered by the firm’s latest generation of turbo-petrol engines. The 1,5-litre motor produces 108 kW and 210 N.m of torque that is mated to a nine-speed, stepped CVT transmission. The Tiggo 8 Pro is capable of a fuel economy figure within the 7,2- to 7,4 L/100km range – the Tiggo 7 will supposedly return 6,8 L/100 km.
Staying true to the now beloved design DNA while innovating slightly, the Tiggo 7 will be based on the firm’s T1X chassis which offers higher ground clearance, better off-road performance as well as better headroom and cabin space. Adopting many infotainment architecture points from its larger Tiggo 8 sibling, the Tiggo 7 will have an 8-inch LCD touch screen centre console and a 12-inch LCD digital dash display. The interior is very similar to the Tiggo 8 and the same can be said for the exterior.
