2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Review

In the early 2000s, Chinese carmakers had a habit of producing cars imitating other designs – none of which were particularly popular, even in China. It wasn’t until Chery joined forces with Pininfarina in 2008 to produce the originally designed A3 sedan that the world began to take notice.

Fast forward to today, and the Chinese car scene is buzzing with brands like BYD and MG pushing boundaries in design and technology. Meanwhile, Chery has quietly become China’s largest car exporter; and while its earlier attempt to break the New Zealand market didn’t quite stick, the timing may now be right for Chery to return with the all new Tiggo 4.

Value for money

The Tiggo 4 is Chery’s response to the urban inspired compact SUV segment, and it comes in two flavours: the entry-level Urban, and slightly more dressed up Ultimate. Both variants are well-appointed in terms of technology and features and have a big car energy that makes you double-check the badge to confirm you’re not driving something twice the price.

With the Urban starting at $24,990 and the Ultimate at $29,990, there isn’t a massive difference between the two in terms of pricing. The difference is mainly down to specifications, with the Ultimate receiving wireless phone charging, artificial leather upholstery, heated front seats, power folding mirrors, sunroof, and customisable ambient lighting.

Under the hood

Both models pack a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, delivering 108kW and 210Nm straight to the front wheels. That doesn’t seem like a lot of power on paper, but around town the engine feels zippy and responsive. Even on the open road, it never felt out of breath, with plenty of straight-line speed to overtake with determined efficiency.

The CVT gearbox receives our nod of approval. It provides smooth acceleration and the additional eco and sport modes – with imitation gear changes and manual shift option – provides a bit of fun when you want it.

The combined fuel economy is a stated 7.4L/100km which is on par with the competition but isn’t going to save a whole lot at the pump compared to the hybrid version. During our weeklong road test, that contained a mix of motorway and urban environments, we managed to achieve around 8.0L/100km.

Designed for the city

Make no mistake, the Tiggo 4 is designed for the urban environment. It’s compact enough to slip into tight parking spots and easy to see out of while managing to be surprisingly spacious on the inside. The Urban variant gives you a trusty reverse camera, but if you want the full 360-degree surround-view experience, you’ll need to step up to the Ultimate.

Taking the car on the open road, the cracks begin to show. The steering has a reassuring weight to it but lacks any connection with the road at higher speeds. You’ll find yourself making micro-adjustments just to keep it in a straight line, with the force feedback having an artificial feel that seems like a constant tug-of-war with the wheel. The Tiggo 4’s DNA is clearly tuned for city streets, rather than open road driving.

Comfortable interior

Step inside and you’re greeted to a comfortable interior that feels more premium than the budget price tag might assume. The cloth seats are surprisingly plush contributing to an overall atmosphere that leans toward homely rather than cold and high-tech. Some of the other materials give a feeling that borderlines on identity crisis – you’ve got a gloss-black centre console, a leather-wrapped dashboard that whispers luxury, and then textured grey plastics that feel like they wandered in from a different car altogether.

Luckily, functionality shines through with good old-fashioned knobs for adjusting air conditioning temperature and fan speed – no fiddly sliders or buried menus in the screen. The rest of the controls are handled via a responsive touchscreen interface that’s easy to navigate once you get the hang of it.

The dual 10.25” screens – one for infotainment and the other your instrument cluster – that dominate the dash are crisp, bright, and offer enough customisation to satisfy technology savvy people. Whether you want a minimalist design or full data overload, the system changes to match your vibe. It’s all there technology-wise; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and voice command adds a futuristic touch – just say “Hello Chery” and the system is ready to assist.

The Tiggo 4 offers generous space with ample legroom in the back and a 380-litre boot space that extends out to 838 litres with the rear seats down. We give it bonus points for the inclusion of a temporary spare wheel, which is becoming a rare sight these days.

Exterior and safety

The Urban variant rolls on 17-inch alloys (with the Ultimate stepping up to 18-inch alloys). With red brake callipers peeking through the wheels, rear spoiler, and narrow LED lighting flanking the wide diamond studded grille, the Tiggo 4 has an undeniably sporty look that’s hard to find on a base model.

Additionally, the Tiggo 4 has all the safety credentials you’ll need. A five-star ANCAP safety rating and a spec sheet containing 17 different driver assistance systems. Thankfully, they’re quiet and non-intrusive, making them more silent guardians than backseat drivers.

The verdict

Overall, the Tiggo 4 is extremely capable, and the cheap appeal isn’t to be messed with as it remains a highly attractive urban SUV packed with features and good looks. And, with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, Chery isn’t just dipping a toe back into the NZ market, they’re here for the long run. In short, this is a car that thrives in the city: it’s nimble, practical, and easy to live with.