Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate review: sometimes less is better

While it's currently making headlines as one of the latest Chinese brands to re-enter the market, this isn't Chery's first rodeo.

Chery first arrived in New Zealand back in 2011, as one of the earliest Chinese automotive brands to set foot (well, wheel) on our shores. However, its initial offerings were far from impressive, with the small J1 hatch and J11 SUV being very much built down to their low prices. Needless to say, this early foray did not leave a lasting positive impression.

After a period of absence under its own name, Chery vehicles quietly returned to New Zealand about a year ago, but they were marketed under different badges, with the brand initially selling cars under the Omoda name, followed by its sister brand, Jaecoo.

Now, Chery is officially back in New Zealand under its own name, with its range of Tiggo SUVs. And despite being the parent company, Chery is positioned as a combustion and hybrid SUV brand with a budget focus. Or at least, a “cheapest in segment” focus.

As such, the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid enters the competitive small SUV market as a more frugal alternative to its impressively cheap petrol-only sibling. While it shares the same basic platform, it adds a dedicated hybrid transmission and a small battery, promising a significant drop in fuel consumption from a claimed 7.4 L/100km to just 5.5 L/100km.

But there is a catch, as the hybrid usually asks an $8000 premium over the standard ICE model, which means Chery’s littlest SUV would struggle to back up that claimed drop in fuel use to justify the extra cost. There's currently a promotion on it that drops the difference to $5k, but that's still quite a bit more cash for the hybrid system to justify.

On the outside: what are the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate's main design features?

The exterior of the Tiggo 4 Hybrid is probably best described as inoffensive and quietly handsome. It's a well-proportioned small SUV that adheres to contemporary design trends without doing much to stand out from the crowd.

The ride is comfortable and the steering is incredibly light, which makes manoeuvring and parking an effortless affair.

The front is dominated by a large grille with a generous smattering of satin chrome, a common Chery styling cue, and while it won't turn heads or do much to particularly excite onlookers, its design is clean and unlikely to offend anyone. In essence, it's a handsome little vehicle that plays it safe with its styling. Probably just what a small, cheap SUV should do, really.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate's cabin like?

Stepping inside, the cabin’s design feels more traditional than the minimalist approach seen in many modern Chinese vehicles, which is definitely a positive for the segment it is playing in.

The dashboard and high-contact areas are trimmed in pleasant, soft-touch materials, and while you can feel they are not of the highest quality, they are certainly a step up from the hard plastics often found in budget cars, which are thankfully kept to lower, less visible areas.

The interior is accented with attractive satin chrome on the door handles and trim, along with a textured inlay on the doors that adds a touch of sophistication. The seats are very comfortable, and the high seating position provides a commanding view of the road for a small SUV.

A major win for usability is the inclusion of a separate display and physical controls for the heating and ventilation, avoiding the frustration of digging through touchscreen menus for basic functions. However, these do quickly becomes a mess of smudgy fingerprints, thanks to the shiny gloss black finish.

The Tiggo 4 is not without its functional quirks either; the gear shifter requires a long, deliberate hold to engage, making quick manoeuvres like a three-point turn annoyingly slow, while the indicator chime (or rather, chimes; you have a choice) is also unusual, sounding more like a soft driver alert than a simple signal. 

Despite these minor hiccups, the fit and finish are very good, and the cabin is a surprisingly pleasant and comfortable place to be, particularly given its low price. It even features a pretty good stereo system, punching above its weight for a budget vehicle.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate like to drive?

The Tiggo 4 Hybrid offers a mixed, but ultimately competent driving experience.

Around town, it's a pleasant and easy car to live with. The ride is comfortable and the steering is incredibly light, which makes manoeuvring and parking an effortless affair. However, this lightness comes at the cost of any real feel or feedback from the road.

Compounding this is the steering's incredibly direct nature; the slightest movement of the wheel translates to a change in the car's direction, which can make it feel twitchy and require constant small corrections to stay centred in a lane at open road speeds.

The ride can become somewhat brittle and jiggly, out on the open road too, a trait likely due to a combination of its short wheelbase and hard, budget-oriented tyres. Wind and road noise are also quite noticeable at higher speeds, betraying the car's budget origins.

The chassis is surprisingly capable and the car feels well-balanced and composed through corners, resisting body roll effectively.

The hybrid drivetrain is generally smooth, but the transition between petrol and electric power can occasionally feel clunky, while the engine can become coarse when pushed, particularly when accelerating hard or climbing hills.

Despite these refinement issues, the chassis is surprisingly capable, and the car feels well-balanced and composed through corners, resisting body roll effectively. It changes direction eagerly, thanks to that direct steering, and remains stable over mid-corner bumps.

While it's not exactly fast, and runs out of breath at the top of the rev range, it has a good amount of mid-range torque, making it feel reasonably brisk when accelerating from 60 to 80km/h.

The driver-assist systems are a genuine surprise. While you might be tempted to assume that a budget Chinese offering might well be either devoid of sophisticated ADAS features, or drenched in unrefined ones that don't work well at all, the Tiggo 4's systems are a genuine highlight, being well-calibrated and non-intrusive, offering helpful interventions without fighting the driver.

Perhaps most importantly, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid actually delivers on its key promise of fuel economy. During our time with the car, consumption consistently hovered between 5.0 and 6.0L/100km, making Chery's claimed average of 5.5 L/100km entirely believable.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate's warranty and servicing situation?

The Tiggo 4 Hybrid comes with Chery's 7-year/Unlimited kilometre warranty, with an 8-year/Unlimited kilometre warranty on its battery. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

On the whole: what do we think of the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate?

As with all cars it eventually comes down to price. But this is particularly important when it comes to cars at the budget end of that price scale.

Initially, the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid comes across as a somewhat coarse and unpolished vehicle with a few annoying quirks. However, you get used to those and they quickly become a non-issue. When it costs $24,990 or even $29,990 in the case of the up-spec Tiggo 4 Ultimate model, that is.

However, adding an extra $8k onto that ask (taking things to $37,990 for the Ultimate Hybrid we drove here) brings the coarse edges into sharper relief and, even with the considerably more frugal fuel consumption is still a hard price to swallow, making the entry level Hybrid Urban model that lands at $32,990 a far more appealing proposition.

The saving grace at the moment, however, is the fact that Chery is offering a $3k discount on the hybrid models, taking the Ultimate we drive here down to a more palatable $34,990. But then the Urban also gets the discount , which drops it down to a genuinely compelling $29,990.

Perhaps most importantly, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid actually delivers on its key promise of fuel economy.

For a $34,990 price tag, you do get a lot of car with the Ultimate, however, and it's a surprisingly competent, comfortable, and remarkably frugal small SUV that does everything well enough. But then so is the entry Urban model that offers all the fuel economy benefits for a far sharper price by shaving off a lot of stuff you don't expect in a budget car anyway.

Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate FAQs

What kind of car is the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate?

A small SUV.

Does the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes. The Tiggo 4 Hybrid uses a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that combines a 1-speed transmission and electric motor.

What’s the fuel economy of the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate?

Chery claims a combined fuel consumption of 5.4L/100km for the Tiggo 4 Hybrid, although that is measured under the outdated ADR 81/02 testing.

Is the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate safe?

The Tiggo 4 Hybrid has a 5 Star safety rating from ANCAP that was derived from "partner testing" of the Tiggo 7, and comes with a total of seven airbags, including a front centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the [car name] have?

What are the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate's main rivals?

• MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ ($38,990): more refined, but less equipment for the money
• Dongfeng Vigo ($37,990): sharp launch pricing for a full EV, but with frustrating ADAS
• Suzuki S-Cross Hybrid JLX 2WD ($43,990): more expensive, not as frugal, but a familiar brand
• Honda HR-V L e:HEV ($43,500): more expensive, but significantly higher quality
• BYD Atto 2 Dynamic ($39,990): Full EV, but with a PHEV version coming soon that will be cheaper