2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Urban Review

Chery had a go at selling cars here a decade ago. That episode was best forgotten but the new line-up is more promising. The Tiggo 4 leads the way on value but does it have genuine appeal?

More bad news arrived this month for the established Asian car brands, with the Chery Tiggo 4
now on the road in New Zealand. While Chery has been here before, its first coming is best forgotten. But it appears that the Chinese maker has come a long way since those bad old days, if the Tiggo 4 is anything to go by.

This little SUV has been making waves over the ditch since going on sale there last year. It has picked up numerous awards from media outlets in the value category. And it’s not hard to see why. The entry-level Tiggo 4 Urban kicks things off here for just $24,990 (plus ORCs) and a quick perusal of its specification sheet is revealing.  

It has walk-away auto locking, an alarm, parking sensors front and rear, a reverse camera and 17 ADAS features, including active cruise. This Urban model may have cloth trim and manually adjusted seats but it has dual 10-inch displays, CarPlay and wireless Android Auto along with dual zone A/C and a leather-bound steering wheel. There is a limited colour palette (just four) and anything other than red is dubbed premium paint (a.k.a. a cost extra). But otherwise, it doesn’t feel like a real stripper. There’s no sat nav, but that’s something the $70k Cupra Terramar V tested this month also lacks. About the only thing we thought was an odd omission was interior lighting for the second row. 

That however is one of the upgrades you get when opting for the Ultimate. For its $29,990 price, Chery upgrades the alloys to 18s, you get a surround view camera, seats in fake cow with heaters and power adjustment (driver’s side at least), some ambient lighting, a charge pad and sunroof. 

It’s got turbo power 

Powering the Tiggo 4
is a 1.5 turbopetrol mustering 108kW while the more useful figure is the handy 210Nm it makes at 1750-4000rpm. This is sent via CVT to the front wheels. Fuel consumption is not a strong point, though it does get away with drinking 91 octane. The official figure is 7.4L/100km while our around town numbers were in the low tens. Those are more usual for a medium SUV. On a cruise control-guided trip from Auckland to Hamiltion and back, the Tiggo 4 returned 7.5.
For comparison, the ASX is rated at 8.5L/100km, the Mahindra X03 at 6.5L/100km. Chery has a Tiggo 4 hybrid coming if economy is important, with a 5.4L/100km fuel use figure, though entry price starts at $32,990.   

Big enough?

At 4.3m long and 1.8m wide, this Tiggo 4 is all but the same size as the Mitsubishi ASX. That’s been trucking along here for some time now, but with prices starting at $27,990, it’s a model that features in the top sellers as buyers look for value in these cost-conscious times. But its spec sheet is not as impressive as the newcomer’s.

The Tiggo 4 is all fairly conventional inside, and in operation too. A mix of buttons and touchpoints get things done fuss-free, while there’s a voice controller too. The screens give the cabin a modern vibe and, while there are hard plastics about, the touch points (save for the edge of the console) are soft and lined. Okay, some of those plastics look and feel a bit budget, the headlining and floor coverings as well, but you have to keep that price tag in mind. 

There’s okay adjustment at the seat (which is comfy) and though the wheel moves for both height and reach, it could extend out further for taller drivers. Outward vision is sound but the resolution of the backing camera image is grainy. 

While not quite as family friendly as a proper medium-SUV, the Tiggo 4
is doable for the whanau. Head and legroom in the rear is commendable for its size, entry good too. And you’ll find a flattish floor for mid-row feet, a charge point and air vents.

In the boot, some load length has been sacrificed for that rear legroom, but there’s enough on offer for the groceries or a few shrubs. But golfers will be needing to fold the rear seat (split 60/40), converted by way of levers next to the headrests. It’s not a flat area either, but you do get a spare wheel under the floor, albeit a space saver.   

Go okay?

This Tiggo 4 suits its Urban tag. It’s right-sized for the city, being easy to park and commute in. The CVT has a decent launch feel, and responds quickly to the need for added go. Thanks to the turbo bolstering the torque, this feels sufficiently quick though, as mentioned, fuel use is on the high side. The ride is good, outward vision too. 

The steering is one aspect that needs rethinking. It is overly light, even for city running. The steering column could be constructed of overcooked spaghetti, such is the response at highway speeds; you’re often making multiple adjustments to stay on your intended line, such is the lack of sensation. Hitching things up a notch in Sport mode (accompanied by an “it is in Sport mode” announcement), we couldn’t detect much of a difference from the default Eco setting. Apart from the CVT, that seemed to get a bit livelier. But steering aside, this gets along okay. The ride is passable, it didn’t crash into the big bumps, though the roll control could be improved upon. When things get too hot, the ESP snuffs it quickly before it gets out of line. While a panic stop is done rather calmly, the pedal feel is a little too spongy under foot. There’s enough go for an overtake, but pick your moment for sure. Things don’t get too noisy either in terms of tyre roar or engine wail, though the 1.5 does get a bit more vocal past 3000rpm. 

The ADAS systems in Chinese sourced machines can be more of an annoyance than an aid but the Tiggo 4’s arsenal of functions actually does an alright job. The driver monitor does as intended, calling you out with a discreet ding when you do look away, but it could give you a little more slack. There’s a speed limit recognition but no bonging when you do exceed it, and there are far worse offenders when it comes to lane keeping as well (but you might feel the need to switch that off too). There is an assisted drive mode for the active cruise but best deactivate that. Without it, the cruise does a good job, apart from the size of the gap it leaves. And false alerts were largely non-existent. With seven airbags (including one in between the front passengers), Tiggo 4 has a five-star ANCAP rating, something the ASX doesn’t (its rating having expired in 2022). 

A value contender then? 

Yes, certainly. For those after an affordable motor in 2025, this is definitely worth a look. It’s backed by Chery’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, has a seven-year capped price servicing scheme and up to seven years of roadside assistance as well. So far Chery has 10 dealers on board, though only one Christchurch dealer for the South Island.  

Chery Tiggo 4 Urban
$24,990  /  7.4L/100km  /  168g/km
0-100 km/h 9.56s
80-120 km/h 7.40s (208m)
100-0 km/h 37.98m
Speedo error  97 at an indicated 100km/h
Ambient cabin noise  72.8dB@100km/h
Engine  1498cc / IL4 / T / EFI
Max power  108kW@5500rpm
Max torque  210Nm@1750-4000rpm
Drivetrain  CVT / FWD
Front suspension  Mac strut / swaybar
Rear suspension  Torsion beam
Turning circle  10.6m (2.7 turns)
Front brakes  Ventilated discs
Rear brakes  Discs 
Stability systems  ABS, ESP
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK
Tyre size  f/r-215/60R17 
Wheelbase  2610mm
L/W/H  4307 / 1825 / 1660mm
Track f/r-1550mm 
Fuel capacity  51L
Luggage capacity  380-1225L
Tow rating  Not rated to tow
Service intervals  12months / 15,000km
Warranty  7yrs / unlimited km
ANCAP rating   (2024)
Weight (claimed)  1404kg