A hatchback makes more practical sense but Filipinos still prefer a sedan. This is why the Vios is more popular than the Yaris, and the City hatchback is a niche car compared to the City sedan.
Things are pretty much the same when it comes to hybrids. You’ll see the streets with the Toyota Ativ or the BYD Seal 5, but not much of the MG3 HEV. That could change with Chery’s new crossover.
The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV tried to simply things. It’s a right sized crossover for the young professional or small family, with all the bells and whistles you would need. But it’s not a walk in the park for this cutesy crossover, as I later found out. Still, 1,200 km of range for P 1,198,000 is an enticing offer.
A quick look at the Tiggo Cross HEV and it seems like a cute city roundabout. However, little things undermine its appeal. For example, the wheels look like plastic because of its design that hops on the ‘aero’ trend. Then there’s no fog light but a DRL instead of where it's supposed to be. But the most annoying thing is at the back once you open the tailgate.
Chery did not indicate a number for the cargo space with the rear seats up. From what I can see it’s more than enough for daily use and weekend getaways. What complicated things is this bump for the hybrid system’s battery. It makes fitting large objects here at the back tricky since it would affect how your items would rest. As someone who travels with guitars and amps regularly, this bump sometimes forced me to fold down a seat just to accommodate my gear - something that would be unnecessary if the cargo area is flat.
Moving on, the second row has ample space across all concerns. It’s just that things fell one vent short. There’s an armrest that’s cushioned well and has cupholders, but there’s only a single air vent behind the center console. Below that is a single USB Type A charging port. I guess they had to make do with things to chase the price point.
They made it up in the front section with its modernization. There’s a sunroof up top that lights up the sleek dashboard below. It’s dominated by faux leather and brushed aluminum pieces making for a nice eye candy.
I like how this Tiggo Cross is just an improved version of its former self. The layout is the same, just made digital. The instrument cluster is now a panoramic screen while the climate control is touch based. Not the most responsive thing but gets the job done especially since it’s a dual-zone affair at this price point.
Tech has surely been prioritized in the Tiggo Cross HEV. Apart from what you can see on the cabin like the screens, touch buttons, and the 50-watt wireless charger, it also boasts of 14 Advanced Driver Assist features that are obviously too many to mention.
My favorite without a doubt is the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function. Crawling in traffic has never been easier at this price point. What I didn’t like is the Lane Keeping System wanting to be coupled with the Cruise Control all the time. If you want that guidance but you prefer manually cruising on the highway, tough luck because it won’t activate. You’ll get the warning beeps instead.
You also can’t have aid from the steering mode. It has comfort and sport but it only changes the responsiveness of steering and not its firmness. That means you can still change lanes with just your pinky which is dangerous at higher speeds.
Overall driving dynamics is also very vanilla. Good or bad, it depends on where you’re coming from. If you’ve been in better cars for sure you won’t like driving the Tiggo Cross. But if you’re coming from something basic, or this will be your first car, you’ll dig the comfort of the pedals, lightness of the steering wheel, and the decent ride comfort.
You’ll also be glad that the Tiggo Cross HEV isn’t a promise breaker. I got 22 km/L in the city with December traffic, and 32 km/L on the highway. Stellar figures for a small crossover with a small hybrid system. I can forgive that little bump in the cargo area now.
The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV won’t entice you with superlatives. Instead, it gets you with little hints of brilliance. It’s very efficient, has an adequate cabin, and packed with features like Adaptive Cruise Control and Dual-Zone Climate Control, unseen in its price point. It might raise an eyebrow or two if you’re coming from a segment higher, but those who are upgrading from a basic roundabout or getting this as their first car will find it charming.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
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