Chery Tiggo 7 Professional SUV previewed in Malaysia – CR-V, CX-5, X70 C-segment rival with 1.5 Turbo CVT combo

Chery is again in Malaysia and the Chinese language carmaker previewed a few its SUVs yesterday. The returning model’s vary at Setia Alam yesterday comprised the Omoda 5 and a trio of Tiggo Professional fashions. The latter begins with the 4, earlier than going to the 7 and the flagship 8. Right here, we’re specializing in the C-segment Tiggo 7 Professional.

Underpinned by Chery’s T1X platform, the Tiggo 7 Professional is 4,500 mm lengthy and has a 2,670 mm wheelbase. That’s the scale of fellow Chinese language SUV Geely Boyue (Proton X70), which is 4,519 mm lengthy and has the identical 2,670 mm wheelbase size. The five-seater SUV’s boot holds 475 litres, or as much as 1,500 litres with break up folding again seats down.

The Tiggo 7 Professional is kind of good-looking. The fashionable design seems to be nothing like the unique Tiggo that was offered in Malaysia – some may do not forget that one from the Chery Alado days, which aped the second-gen Toyota RAV4. Up to date design cues embrace a hexagon grille with “galaxy-inspired geometric matrix diamond” mesh, slim LED headlamps and T-shaped LED daytime working gentle and fog gentle housings.

The blacked-out D-pillars and window kink may remind a number of the X70, however the decrease line is extra pinched and beneath that may be a outstanding shoulder line crease and one other one which extends from the tail lamps into the rear doorways. Talking of tail lamps, the Tiggo 7 Professional will get an in-trend full-width LED gentle bar with the Chery script brand above. A lot of empty house on the hatch, Volvo XC40-style.

The wheels on this child blue demo unit are 18-inch two-tone alloys, wrapped with 225/60 tyres. Contrasting the paint job are crimson brake calipers (back and front) and a crimson T badge on the entrance wing.

The Tiggo 7 Professional dashboard has the identical household fashion as its siblings and which means a slim, horizontal foremost piece with a tall centre console. As soon as once more, it’s a very good trying and up to date dashboard, even when it seems to be a bit acquainted in locations. The AC vents aren’t visually joined, however the sea surrounding the vents are lined in stitched leather-based for a sophisticated impact.

Like within the Tiggo 8 Professional, there are three screens, together with a digital instrument panel and a ten.25-inch infotainment one with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a 360-degree round view monitor. Beneath this sits a flush monochrome display screen for the dual-zone air conditioning (with N95 air filtering) with contact panel buttons.

Within the flagship Tiggo 8 Professional, this AC panel display screen is a color unit, however I really choose the extra “background” impact of this B&W display screen. What’s good is that there are bodily controls for fan pace and temperature both facet of the stubby gear lever – regularly used capabilities reminiscent of these ought to by no means be hidden away inside a touchscreen.

The seats – six-way powered for the motive force – are lined in black leather-based with distinction stitching. Voice management, wi-fi charging and selectable LED ambient lighting are additionally accessible. Additionally on the package checklist are a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate and the total ADAS suite of driver help options together with six airbags.

The unit you see right here is powered by a 1.5 litre four-cylinder turbo engine. The in-house Acteco unit makes 147 PS at 5,500 rpm and 210 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. Energy is shipped to the entrance wheels through a CVT with 9 digital ratios. As with the Omoda 5, a 1.6L turbo with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission may be specified, and AWD is an possibility too. By the best way, this unit doesn’t symbolize the eventual native specs that Malaysia will get – planning remains to be within the early phases.

So, what do you consider the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional? I feel it seems to be good each in and out, and the inside design is far more fashionable than that of the Chinese language SUV everybody is aware of (X70). You’re getting rather a lot for positive, however for what cash? That’s the unenviable job dealing with Chery – they’ve a well-specced and handsome automotive, however are certainly conscious that as a newcomer dealing with family names such because the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, you’ve obtained to undercut in RRP.

After which there’s the Proton X70, which is a Chinese language counterpart with Malaysian PR standing. It’s not straightforward to get close to to the tiger-badged Boyue’s worth, because the Geely has nationwide automotive advantages, however such a worth might be what shoppers are used to, and count on. Scale back the package rely to be worth aggressive? That can dilute the attraction of a Chinese language automotive, which is anticipated to supply extra for much less. As I mentioned, it’s an unenviable job, even with a very good product – Malaysia is a tough automotive market to enter. Anyway, jiayou.

GALLERY: Chery Tiggo 7 Professional in Malaysia

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