Chery previews 3 SUVs to Indonesia media ahead of public debut - CKD assembly to start in June 2022
CY Foong · Jan 28, 2022 06:00 PM
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Chery Tiggo 4 Pro competes against Hyundai Creta and Honda HR-V
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro competes against Honda CR-V and Wuling Almaz
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro competes against Mazda CX-8 and Toyota Fortuner
Ahead of its public debut at the 2022 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS 2022) which will be held from 17-27 February, Chery has given the Indonesian media a preview of its upcoming line-up which consists of 3 SUV models.
These models are the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. Prices haven’t been announced yet but based on the photos that were provided courtesy of our sister site, AutoFun ID, the units shown are all in right-hand-drive.
Aside from the Tiggo 4 Pro which made its RHD market debut in South Africa, the larger Tiggo models have yet to make their RHD debut. Perhaps Indonesia might be the first market to launch them?
Indonesia’s priority as the first RHD market for the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro might be supported by Chery’s plans to set the archipelago as its Southeast Asian hub. The Anhui-based carmaker is looking not just to open up a plant but to also set up an R&D centre in Indonesia.
Ambitious plans aside, let’s take a closer look at Chery’s trio of SUVs. We’ll begin with the smallest one in its line-up which might be familiar to Malaysians.
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro – The entry-level SUV
The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro was spotted a few times in Malaysia in 2021 but it would eventually make its RHD launch in South Africa where it is covered by an impressive million-km warranty.
While the Tiggo 4 Pro is available with 2 engine options depending on the market – a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre (122 PS/180 Nm) and a turbocharged 1.5-litre (155 PS/230 Nm), it’s the latter that is shown to Indonesian media.
The turbocharged unit is paired to a CVT automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.
The compact B-SUV is packed with plenty of features including a fully-digital instrument cluster, a sunroof, and a floating-style infotainment unit that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Still, there is no mention of advanced safety features on this potential Honda HR-V and Proton X50 rival. The Tiggo 4 Pro comes with your standard set of safety equipment including 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, and BA.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro – The middle child
Next up is the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro which rivals the Honda CR-V and the Wuling Almaz in Indonesia. Seeing how successful the Almaz is in Indonesia, perhaps Chery wanted to bounce on its countryman's popularity. Based on the looks, the Tiggo 7 Pro might feel a bit more premium.
Replace the Chery logo with the four-ringed one...
We can’t help but see a glimpse of an Audi Q5 with the hexagonal grille and chrome trims. The side profile shows a resemblance to yet another SUV; the Proton X70 and its floating roof design.
But the Tiggo 7 Pro is not, by all means, a copycat in terms of design. It’s normal for designers to take inspiration from elsewhere and the Tiggo 7 Pro is distinct enough to stand out from its rivals.
Under the hood, the SUV shares the same powertrain as the Tiggo 4 Pro – a 1.5-litre turbo unit (155 PS/230 Nm), mated to a CVT automatic.
In addition to having similar features as its little brother, the Tiggo 7 Pro comes with a panoramic sunroof, a dual-zone digital climate control, power tailgate, and wireless charging.
Safety-wise, the unit shown to the media comes with your standard passive safety features like 6 airbags but there is no mention of ADAS.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro – The flagship
Finally, we come to the flagship Chery SUV, the Tiggo 8 Pro. It competes against the likes of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner in Indonesia but its features are a lot closer to the Mazda CX-8.
Being the biggest SUV offered, the Tiggo 8 Pro comes with full LED headlights and 18-inch wheels. The 7-seater SUV also presents itself as the luxurious one of the trios by offering two-tone brown and black leather seats as well as Sony-branded speakers.
Powering the Tiggo 8 Pro is a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine that makes 194 PS and 290 Nm. It is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox that drives the front wheels.
Unlike its smaller siblings, the Tiggo 8 Pro shown comes with ADAS which includes adaptive cruise control (ACC) and forward collision warning (FCW) among others.
Despite these SUVs looking ready for launch in the archipelago, PT Chery Motor Indonesia (CMI) has said that these units are merely to gauge the reaction from Indonesians. CMI has made plans for the Indo-spec SUVs to be locally assembled (CKD) in the country by June 2022.
Besides Indonesia, Chery is also planning to make a comeback to Malaysia and Thailand this year.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
