Chery Tiggo Cross pricing vs Haval Jolion Pro vs Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro was initially met with skepticism. Our first taste of Chery products left a bitter taste despite their affordability. The QQ3 and original Tiggo weren't winning hearts, but they were providing mobility for enough South Africans for them to warrant a second chance. The new-age Tiggo 4 Pro touched down and started changing perceptions, showing the weary public that convenience features don't always need to come at a price.

Related: What safety features does the Chery Tiggo Cross have?

That first Tiggo 4 Pro will continue to be sold in South Africa, offering a more affordable alternative to its global replacement, the Tiggo Cross. The Tiggo Cross is the latest Tiggo 4 Pro in mainland China. 

Locally, it competes against the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Haval Jolion Pro, which have similar prices and not-too-dissimilar drivetrain configurations. Below is how their pricing compares.

Chery Tiggo Cross

Comparatively priced, the Cross offers the latest tech and features, employing the company's lessons learned since the first Tiggo 4 Pro was launched in South Africa.

It's available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that sends 108kW and 210Nm torque to the front wheels through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Chery claims a combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.2 L/100 km from this model.

The Tiggo Cross offers some welcome improvements, and it settles itself neatly not only in the Tiggo range but also in the ever-competitive compact crossover SUV space. The Tiggo Cross is aggressively priced and offers some solid specifications. It is yet another disrupter in the segment. 

- Tayedza Mbiri

Chery Tiggo Cross - First Drive Review

Haval Jolion Pro

The latest Jolion offering does much the same as the Tiggo Cross, improving on a tried-and-tested recipe. It offers a high level of standard equipment and convenience features for an agreeable price.

The Jolion offers a choice of two powertrains: a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with either 105- or 130kW, the latter found in the Jolion Pro S. The torque output is either 210- or 270Nm, depending on specification. The second option is the hybrid model, powered by a 1.5-litre engine but supplemented by an electrified drivetrain. This unit produces 140kW and 375Nm torque.

Fuel consumption figures are 8.1 L/100 km for regular variants and 7.5 L/100km for the S variant. The hybrid is touted to return a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 5.21 L/100 km.

If this car had a price tag of over R600 000—which is what you pay for a new Volkswagen T-Roc these days—I would probably call it average and score it 6 out of 10. But this top-spec Ultra Luxury model, which offers the same amount of room and more luxury features as the VW T-Roc but at no extra cost, comes in at under R500 000. As I've mentioned, the smaller VW T-Cross competes with the Jolion Pro.

Also, the Jolion Pro 1.5T S Ultra Luxury is not the model I would buy if I were to buy a Jolion. The Haval Jolion Pro 1.5T Super Luxury is priced at R425 950, and it includes specs like vinyl seats, a sunroof, and a host of safety features, so I'd go for this model.

So, while the Jolion Pro has its issues, it's still a good deal, and it's safe, practical, and modern, with a myriad of amenities, and oodles of room inside, even if it's not "a hoot to drive", as they say.

- Ané Albertse

Haval Jolion Pro (2024) 1.5T S Ultra Luxury Review

Suzuki Grand Vitara

The Grand Vitara nameplate is no stranger to the local market. Even before Suzuki relaunched in 2008, the Grand Vitara could be found on our roads, usually in the hands of die-hard enthusiasts who adored their 'GV'. The latest incarnation is a little softer and more compliant for daily use, but it still remains the value proposition that it always was.

All new Grand Vitaras are powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, producing 77kW and 138Nm torque, except for the Hybrid AllGrip variant that produces 76kW and 137Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels in the non-AllGrip versions (and all for in the AllGrip version) through a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic for a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.0 L/100 km. The Hybrid brings this number down to 5.6 L/100 km.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara in GLX trim is a very capable crossover with lots of space, a compliant drive, a punchy motor and lots of tech. At the price point, considering how well it ticks the boxes for most families, we would wholeheartedly recommend it as an option for single individuals or small families looking for a frugal and capable car for the city and the occasional adventure.

- Ryno Fourie

Suzuki Grand Vitara GLX (2023) Review