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At first glance, you may think this is the second generation of the Toyota RAV4 but the similarity is only in the rear quarters and the rest of the vehicle is actually Chery’s own design. It’s the Tiggo or T11, a SUV said to have been developed with the help of Lotus Engineering and Mitsubishi Automotive Engineering, and it’s now in Alado Automobile’s showrooms in Malaysia with a pricetag of RM80,292 – and that’s with RM2,263 of insurance premium included. The Tiggo is one of the earlier products developed by Chery, one of the fastest-growing carmakers in China.
 | Rear quarters of Tiggo have some similarity to the second generation of Toyota RAV4 (right) | |
Size-wise, it is just a tiny bit larger than the RAV4 (55 mm longer, 21 mm longer wheelbase and 30 mm wider) and has a 1971 cc Mitsubishi-based 4-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet. The DOHC 16-valve engine develops 95 kW (129 bhp) at 5500 rpm and 180 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. 2.0-litre versions come only with a 5-speed manual transmission while a 2.4-litre (not presently imported by Alado) has an automatic transmission.
 |  | 1971 cc petrol engine is based on a Mitsubishi unit | Trailing arm rear suspension has double wishbone location | |
Part of the reason why the Tiggo can be priced so low is probably due to it having only 2-wheel drive (front wheels). This is not unusual as a number of models (including the RAV4) also have 2WD variants in certain markets. So far, though, the only 2WD SUV available here is the Hyundai Tucson. It is understood that other companies in Malaysia are also exploring the possibility of offering 2WD versions of the SUVs as they can be a bit cheaper. After all, many people want the looks rather than the 4WD capability
Like the other small SUVs, the Tiggo has a monocoque bodyshell which offers good rigidity for ride comfort and handling. Its suspension consists of independent MacPherson struts in front and trailing arms at the rear, the latter a simple arrangement with double wishbone location. Steering is by a rack and pinion system with power assistance. The cabin has a nice spacious feel with a well laid out dashboard. A closer look at the details will reveal that Chery has some way to go in presentation but it’s still a creditable start. Storage spaces are plentiful and the audio system includes a CD player. The front seats have heating elements in them though it’s unlikely that heated seats will be required here! The Tiggo can accommodate five adults on two rows of seats and the second row can be folded against the front seats to lengthen the cargo area. Split seats provided a degree of flexibility so it is still possible for one person to sit behind while carry long items. Incidentally, the rear door is side-hinged, which is actually more convenient than a top-hinged door.
Though there are some doubts of the crash safety of vehicles from China, it is obvious that as they are to be sold in more and more countries, the Chinese carmakers will have to ensure that their vehicles meet required standards, especially if they are to be sold in the USA. In this respect, the Tiggo seems to have the basic elements of a safe vehicle such as impact beams in doors and dual front airbags as well as ABS + EBD. Collision safety is something which we’ll have to wait and see when an independent organisation like EuroNCAP conducts crash tests on the Tiggo. The Chery QQ and A160 sedan haven’t made much of an impact among Malaysians so far but the Tiggo, with its good looks and very attractive pricetag (one of the cheapest 2-litre models available), could well be the model that gives Chery more presence on the road… and as more are seen by motorists, there would be a tendency for interest to grow.
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