Is Chery good for families?

South Africans are very particular about the vehicles they prefer and, for the most part, look for the best value for money offerings. Chery introduced a range of vehicles in the country previously, however, even with the affordable price tags, the models were plagued with reliability issues. This seems to be a thing of the past as the Chinese marque once again entered the local market, this time offering dazzling crossovers and SUVs with remarkable powertrain warranties. 

Styling and technology are but only two aspects that make up a good package and, for this article, we are focussing on the needs of families. Thus, let us take a look at the safety, space, fuel economy and general drivability of the current Chery models to find out if they will be any good for families. 

 

Related: Chery Tiggo 7 Pro (2022) First drive review

 

Safety

One of the key determining factors for anyone considering a new vehicle for their family needs should be its safety credentials. As the vehicle will be used to transport a spouse and or children, knowing that the vehicle will protect them in the case of an accident or offer you the tools to try and mitigate a dangerous scenario is very important.

At the time of writing this article, Chery offers three models in their product lineup; the Tiggo 4 Pro, Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro. All three come in a variety of derivatives specified differently. For this article, we will look at the base specification for each model range to determine which safety features come as standard equipment.

	Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Urban	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 1.5T Distinction	Chery Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6TGDI 290T Distinction
Brakes	ABS with Brake Assist	ABS with Brake Assist	ABS with Brake Assist
Traction Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Stability Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hill-start Assist	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tyre Pressure Monitor	No	Yes	Yes
Blind Spot Monitor	No	Yes	No
Park Distance Control	Rear	Rear + Camera	Rear + Surround View
Airbags	2	4	6
ISOFIX	Outer rear seats	Outer rear seats	Outer rear seats

*This table was created with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za and was correct at the time of writing the article. Specifications can change at any time and without notice.

Space

Another key aspect for buyers of family vehicles is space. While most vehicles that aren't sports-, super- or hypercars, will accommodate five occupants comfortably, luggage space is sometimes an issue. Below we list the vehicle dimensions as well as seating and boot space specifications for the different Chery models.

	Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Urban	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 1.5T Distinction	Chery Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6TGDI 290T Distinction
Length	4 318mm	4 500mm	4 722mm
Width	1 831mm	1 842mm	1 860mm
Height	1 662mm	1 705mm	1 705mm
Seats	5	5	7
Luggage space	340 - 1 100-litres	475 - 1 500-litres	193 - 892 - 1 930-litres

*This table was created with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za and was correct at the time of writing the article. Specifications can change at any time and without notice.

Fuel Economy and general drivability

Without a doubt, when owning a family vehicle, the idea is not only to use it on short stints but also on longer trips. This brings into question the fuel economy and the power produced, as you don't want a vehicle that is underpowered on a mountain pass, nor do you need a car that is consuming unnecessary fuel due to it having a performance engine.

Below we list the engine, drivetrain and performance figures of the entry-level variants of each of the Chery models on offer currently to find out if they fit the bill. 

	Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 1.5 Urban	Chery Tiggo 7 Pro 1.5T Distinction	Chery Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6TGDI 290T Distinction
Engine	1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol	1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder, petrol	1.6-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder, petrol
Transmission	5-speed manual	5-step CVT	7-speed, dual-clutch, automatic
Power	83 kW	108 kW	145 kW
Torque	138 Nm	210 Nm	290 Nm
0-100 km/h	11.5s	N/A	8.9s
Top Speed	180 km/h	N/A	190 km/h
Fuel Consumption	7.0 L / 100 km	6.8 L / 100 km	7.0 L / 100 km
CO2 Emission	167 g/km	168 g/km	165 g/km

*This table was created with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za and was correct at the time of writing the article. Note that figures can change at any time and without notice.

Verdict

Chery most certainly has returned with a strong product strategy that appeals to most South Africans, not only those looking for a family vehicle. The Chinese automaker also inspires confidence in the durability of their vehicles by offering a 5-year / 150 000 km warranty on the vehicle and a 10-year / 1 000 000 km engine warranty for the first owner. 

In terms of safety, most of the standard equipment in all the models will prove ample for most families. However, if you are considering a Tiggo 4 Pro, we recommend a slightly higher specified model to see the inclusion of more airbags. For space, all three models should comfortably accommodate a family, especially the Tiggo 8 Pro with its seven-seat configuration.

While all three models come with well-matched engines in terms of performance, the claimed fuel consumption figures are slightly lower than what you can expect in real-world driving scenarios and might impact your pockets at the fuel pumps. However, considering the size of the vehicles and the durability of the engines, the current Chery line-up remains appealing.

Chery has really introduced some good value-for-money offerings with a good promise of reliability. All the models also seem to tick most boxes for individuals looking to purchase their next family vehicle and, as such, we can conclude that Chery is indeed good for families.