Chery isn’t exactly new to the Nepalese automotive market. The Chinese manufacturer gained a bit of traction during the mid-2010s with a roster consisting of the A1, QQ3, and the Tiggo 2.0. But, in time, the brand fizzled out. Fast forward to present day 2021 and Chery has made a comeback. Now, being distributed by SPG Automobiles Pvt Ltd, a company under Sharda Group the brand has been injected with new life and is showing signs of making a strong return.

The brand itself was established in 1997 and has made significant strides in the automotive sector. Chery has implemented a globalization strategy since its establishment and has become the first passenger car company in China to export complete vehicles, CKD parts, engines, manufacturing technology, and equipment to the global market. Up to now, Chery has exported to more than 80 countries and regions, establishing more than 1,500 sales and service outlets with more than 1.8 million accumulative export volume, remaining the biggest exporter of passenger vehicles in China for 18 years in a row.

However, back when Chery first came to Nepal, the standards set by most Chinese manufacturers were subpar (to put it gently). They were cheap, unreliable, and did not appeal to auto enthusiasts by any stretch of the imagination. And, if you remember the older Chery vehicles, you will also remember that they weren’t impressive. They looked and drove like the Chinese cars of the time.

Conversely, in recent times, Chinese manufacturers have developed in leaps and bounds. They now produce vehicles of much higher quality and capability. Following this trend and leading Chery’s new foray in the Nepalese market is the Tiggo 4 Pro, a small compact SUV.

Now, anyone and everyone who’s had an eye on the Nepalese automotive market knows how competitive the segment is. The Tiggo 4 Pro has to compete against the likes of the Kia Sonet, Skoda Kushaq, Hyundai Venue, and Volkswagen Taigun, to name a few. Needless to say, Chery has its work cut out for it. Not only is it facing tough competition, but Chery also has the cumbersome task of changing people’s preconceived notions about China-made cars.

So, does it have what it takes to restore the reputation of cars that come from the Land of the Dragon? We find out.

They say looks aren’t important,

But they’re wrong. No one wants to be seen driving around in an ugly car, especially if you’re spending a fortune to buy it. That isn’t something to worry about with the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. It has a contemporary design language that manages to turn heads in traffic. Although compact in dimensions, the Tiggo 4 Pro is a handsome-looking car with an array of stylistic cues to enhance the aesthetics.

The front fascia gets a sophisticated hexagonal waterfall grille with the Chery logo in the middle. On either side are LED projector headlights that wrap around to the sides and below them are fog lamps that are housed in the bumpers inside aggressive cutouts. The bonnet gets muscular contours to help enhance the robust design of the vehicle.

On to the side, you will notice a strong waistline that runs from the end headlights and merges with the rear passenger windows. The black 17-inch machine-cut alloys look great and the black claddings on the bottom add further character to the profile of the Tiggo 4 Pro.

Around the back, you get wraparound blackened LED tail lamps that flank a slim chrome slat. The Chery badging is classy and does not feel overdone. While the faux silver skid plate in the rear adds a style element, we felt the HMSL appeared a little tacky on what is otherwise a great-looking car.

Life on the inside.

Step inside the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and you’re greeted with a spacious interior that is well integrated and exudes quality. We loved how the front dash and other touchpoints use soft-touch material. Chrome and silver are also tastefully used and thus manage to stand out well against the all-black interiors. We especially like the designs of the aircon vents with a circular knob for adjustment.

On the dashboard, you get a pop-up 10.25-inch central HD touch screen display that comes as standard. The unit itself is decently responsive and easy to use, although we have come across faster and more seamless units. You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 7-inch full LCD screen behind the steering wheel displays a host of information including speed, fuel, range, and more. The flat-bottom steering wheel is chunky and gets tilt and telescopic adjustment. You get buttons for media and telephonic controls which are easy to use.

The central console gets a beautiful piano black finish, but it is a massive fingerprint magnet. The console houses the gear shifter and buttons for the parking brake and auto hold. The console extends to the dash where the automatic dual air conditioning with PM 2.5 air filter controls are placed. We would have loved to have physical buttons for the aircon controls which would make operating it easier on the go. We found it especially difficult to operate the fan speed with the touch screen slider while driving.

You do get buttons that control the volume, hazard lights, phone, and driving modes. We loved how the buttons are seamlessly integrated into a slim chrome insert on the dashboard. It would have been even better if the buttons had more travel and feedback. But at this point, we would be nitpicking.

There are useful compartments throughout the cabin. Both door compartments can fit a 1-liter mineral water bottle along with a few smaller elements. Under the front armrest on the center console is a cooled compartment that can accommodate smaller bottles and cans. You can get direct access to the cooled compartment by sliding the provided cup holders back under the armrest.

The seats are super comfortable and made of supple leather. Power controls are only provided for the driver’s seat. Knee and headroom for all passengers are decent. Since the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro doesn’t have an aggressively sloping roofline, the headroom for rear passengers is also great. Rear passengers also get a rear air convent to help keep them cool and a USB port to charge their phones or tablets.

A feature that we think is very useful in the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is the amount of boot space that it gets. The rear seat gets a 60:40 split, but even without folding down the seats, you get above-average cargo space.  Oh, and before we forget, the Tiggo 4 Pro also gets a powered sunroof. While it is a small glass area, it floods the cabin with light which makes for a more liberating experience. You also get automatic headlamps, climate control, and a voice command system.

On to the business end.

Under the hood of the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is a 1.5L petrol engine with a turbo (on top variant). This unit produces a healthy maximum power of 108BHP at 5500 RPM and 210 Nm of maximum torque at 4000 RPM. This engine is mated to a 9 speed CVT gearbox.

Driving around the city, the engine felt super smooth and the gearbox almost always managed to choose the right gear. You get two driving modes that you can toggle through with a single button. The eco mode has enough output to get you around the city. Switch to the sports mode and the Tiggo 4 Pro performs even better. We did notice a slight bit of turbo lag when flooring the accelerator, but once it kicks in, the power delivery is great. It does its best when you are utilizing its mid-range torque and you’ll find that gaining speed is not a big problem.

Ride and handling are also well managed with the McPherson struts up front and a semi-independent rear suspension. The car responded well to our steering inputs and driving through traffic was a breeze. Since the suspension setup felt slightly on the stiffer side of the spectrum, pushing the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro through corners was a joy. However, the stiff suspensions also meant that you could prominently feel the road undulations when driving on tattered roads.

In terms of safety, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro provides a lot of features. The chassis is made of 60% high-strength steel and you get 6 airbags in the top variant. Other safety features include ABS, EBD, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), TCS, Rolling Stability Control (RSC), Hill Assist, Hill Descent, and Direct Tyre Monitoring System. You can even set a fatigue alert that reminds you to take a rest if you’ve been continuously driving for too long.

Verdict

Chery is looking to turn a new leaf in the Nepalese automotive scene with its relaunch in Nepal. If you are familiar with the Chery vehicles of old, you are in for a surprise with the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro. Most of us have a harsh perspective when it comes to Chinese manufactured vehicles. However, times and cars are changing and the Tiggo 4 Pro is a testament to their massive improvements.

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro has a balanced design language. It doesn’t look like an extravagant, experimental design which used to be the case with many bug-eyed Chinese cars. The build quality also appears to be of high quality and it comes loaded with features. There’s an air of maturity about the Tiggo 4 Pro and we love it. Performance-wise it has what it takes to rub shoulders with the competition. And it does it without skimping out on the safety features.

Overall, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro impresses on many aspects. While it is difficult to comment on the longevity and reliability of the vehicle, our test drive drew optimistic conclusions. If it is a sign of what is to come, the resurrection appears to be set to be on the right path. And from what we can tell from our first impressions, the brand will do wonders to help build a positive reputation for Chinese vehicles. We certainly hope the distributors will provide proper after-care services and spare part availability to further establish the brand.

The pricing starts at Rs. 46.20 Lakh and tops out at Rs. 58.40 Lakh for the top variant which comes with turbo. (Prices correct at the time of writing. Please check with the authorised dealer for the changes in the pricing)