Chery

Very affordable compact crossover from Chery, promising much value.

Generous spec through the trim grades, with even the lower grade trims featuring six airbags, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment and wireless charging. But it needs better seat padding for long-distance driving comfort.

The 1.5 turbopetrol engine has a mild 108kW peak power output, and despite its size, Tiggo 4 Cross is much heavier than expected. Which means highway overtaking performance isn’t rapid, and fuel consumption is heavy.

Hybrid version can’t be plugged-in. But the small battery does boost performance, with a 150kW total system output when you need to overtake slower traffic with confidence.

The Tiggo 4 Cross offers a decent 380 litres of packing space, and the rear seats fold completely flat if you need a larger load area. You don’t get a full-size spare wheel, though.

Best buy is the mid-range Comfort. Higher-trim Tiggo 4 Cross versions have a lot of annoying driver-assistance tech that just causes frustration in South African driving reality.

Mid-sized SUV from Chery with a very clean exterior design and some impressive plug-in hybrid powertrains.

Despite the SUV design, it has limited potential as a gravel-travel vehicle with only 154mm of ground clearance.

Clean design and an airy cabin showcase Chery’s best design intentions. The cabin is roomy and airy, but even on the premium-grade models, the seats lack cushion-tilt adjustment. Luggage capacity is decent at 565-litres, but you don’t get a full size spare wheel.

The infotainment touchscreen's graphic quality is outstanding, but the UX isn’t always particularly intuitive. And the haptic infotainment/climate controls are deeply annoying to use.  

Bizarrely, on the Tiggo 7 PHEV, the infotainment and climate control keep running, even when you’ve parked and exited the vehicle. Only shutting-down when you lock the vehicle.

Powertrain options are generous, but the 1.5- and 1.6 turbopetrol engines are heavy on fuel. All versions could do with improved steering feel.

The 1.5T CSH PHEV is an excellent option for EV-curious buyers. With 265kW of total system power, 90km of real-world EV driving range, and 900km of real-world total range with the 51-litre petrol tank.

These CSH PHEVs are also the only all-wheel-drive Tiggo 7s, and by far the ones to have. With terrific highway overtaking performance for the price.