Compact, Fuel-Efficient and Well-Equipped – The New Chery Tiggo 4 HEV

By Prashirwin Naidu

I’ll admit it: I wasn’t exactly buzzing with excitement at the thought of driving the new Chery Tiggo 4 HEV. To segue a bit, my experience with the Tiggo 4 Pro Cross earlier this year set the tone and not in a good way. It left me slightly irritated, its on-road behaviour still vividly etched in my mind. It felt jerky, thirsty, and occasionally sluggish, lacking the composure I expect from a modern compact SUV. That one ran a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine.

But the new Tiggo 4 HEV quickly refuted my earlier assumptions. Gone is the turbo, replaced with a hybrid electric system that dramatically improves efficiency. Chery claims fuel consumption in the early 5L/100km range, and in my experience, that’s not far off.

Chery is clearly doing something right: around 1,725 Tiggo 4s were sold in October alone, which speaks volumes. Chinese brands, Chery, OMODA, Jaecoo, GWM, Haval and others, are shaking up the market with compelling value and broad choice.

The interior of the new Chery Tiggo 4 HEV

The Tiggo 4 HEV, in particular, has restored some street cred in my book. But before I get to the positives, let’s talk about the quirks. The drive is noticeably more pleasant than the Tiggo 4 Cross. It’s quiet, and at times the engine noise fades away so completely, thanks to the hybrid system, that all you’re left with is the creaky cabin. The centre console jittered, and various knocks and pings from inside the cabin also made themselves known.

Then there’s the persistent engine drone at higher speeds; you can almost feel the poor motor working hard. But beyond that, I enjoyed its elevated driving position and the way it moves on the open road. Performance is respectable, with 150kW and 310Nm available, certainly not shabby for a compact hybrid SUV.

Visually, it’s an attractive car. Clean, modern lines give it presence, and the alloy wheels add a bit of distinction. The HEV badging on the body and wheels makes it easy to spot. It carries Chery’s contemporary design language confidently.

Two trims are available:

Comfort – R439,900
Elite HEV – R469,900

The price gap isn’t huge, and the top-spec Elite I drove comes with enough extra kit to elevate the cabin experience meaningfully.

Chinese brands often deliver generous spec lists but sometimes compromise on build quality. In this Tiggo 4 HEV, I found it to be reasonably well-put-together, ticking the boxes where it matters.

Inside, the cabin is tidy, spacious, and sensibly laid out. Two dual screens greet you with a quirky Chery jingle that sounds like a news broadcast intro, charming or gimmicky depending on your mood. Wireless charging is standard, and Android Auto worked smoothly for me, although it disables your phone’s Wi-Fi connection, which meant I had to stop to reconnect to my other hotspot for sending messages or opening my complex gate. Why can’t things just be simple?

Still, you get keyless entry and exit, seven airbags (on the Elite), ABS, traction control, stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX anchors. Boot space comes in at around 380 litres, adequate for a small family’s needs.

Overall, the Tiggo 4 HEV presents a strong value proposition: a hybrid SUV that blends economy, usable power, modern tech, safety, and generous features at a more accessible price point than most rivals. It earns a solid thumbs-up from me. © HigherEducationMedia