Chery has launched the Tiggo 7 Pro in South Africa. The C-segment SUV slots in between the Tiggo 4 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro and is available in Distinctive and Executive variants. Under the bonnet of the South African spec Tiggo 7 Pro is a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. The Chery-developed Acteco unit makes 147 PS at 5,500 rpm and 210 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT with nine virtual ratios. Elsewhere, the midsize SUV is also available with a 1.6 litre turbo with 197 PS and 290 Nm, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. There’s also a 48-volt mild hybrid version of the 1.5L engine.
Underpinned by Chery’s T1X platform, the
Tiggo 7 Pro is 4,500 mm long and has a 2,670 mm wheelbase. That’s the size of
fellow Chinese SUV Geely Boyue/Proton X70, which is 4,519 mm long and has the
same 2,670 mm wheelbase length. The five-seater’s boot holds 475 litres, or up
to 1,500 litres with split folding back seats down. The Tiggo 7 Pro looks
handsome, if a little generic. No shortage of
contemporary design cues, including a hexagon grille with “galaxy-inspired
geometric matrix diamond” mesh, slim LED headlamps and T-shaped LED daytime
running light and fog light housings. The blacked-out D-pillars and window kink
look like those on the X70, but below that is a prominent shoulder line crease
and another one that extends from the rear lights into the rear doors. Speaking
of rear lights, the Tiggo 7 Pro gets an in-trend full-width LED light bar with
a Chery script logo. This logo style is used by Porsche, Proton and most
recently, Lexus. The wheels are 18-inch alloys, and top variants get red brake
calipers.
Like
in the Tiggo 8 Pro, there are three screens, including a 7.0-inch digital
instrument panel and a 10.25-inch infotainment one with Apple CarPlay, Android
Auto and a reverse camera. Below this sits a flush monochrome screen for the
dual-zone air con (with N95 air filtering), which integrates touch panel
buttons and a few physical switches. The seats – six-way powered for the
driver, plus a four-way powered front passenger one in the Executive – are
covered in black synthetic leather with contrast stitching. As you’d expect
from a Chinese SUV, voice command is standard. With this, one can call out the
climate control, one-touch electric windows and the panoramic sunroof of the
Executive variant. Wireless charging and selectable LED ambient lighting are
also standard.
The Tiggo 7 Pro has a full five-star
Chinese New Car Assessment Programme (C-NCAP) safety rating. All variants have
ABS/EBD/BA, ESP, hill start assist, hill descent control, blind spot detection
and rear cross traffic alert. The Executive variant adds on driver assist kit
(lane departure warning, front collision warning, autonomous emergency
braking), a 360-degree around-view monitor and extra airbags to make it six in
total.
Last but not least is the jaw-dropping bit
in the headline, the one million km warranty. That 10-year or 1m km warranty is
for the engine, while the general mechanical warranty is a more conventional
five-year/150,000 km package. Chery South Africa also provides a
five-year/60,000 km service plan and five-year unlimited mileage roadside
assistance. The Tiggo 7 Pro is priced at
409,900 rand for the Distinctive variant and 444,900 rand for the top
Executive.