Driving Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – available in three 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed dual clutch automatics – I tested the mid-spec Elite front wheel drive at $39,990 drive-away and the top grade Ultimate all-wheel-drive at $43,990 drive-away – both stacked with features a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 360 degree camera, power front seats and 18 smart driver assistance systems – all in a comfortable roomy five seat cabin with good luggage capacity, better than average build quality five star safety, a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and low service costs. But that’s where the good points stop. The drive experience average at best with noticeable turbo lag, a hesitant transmission and an underdone suspension tune with inadequate damping and above average fuel consumption. Chinese cars as a rule simply lack driving finesse – yes, they have lots of features, in this case 18 smart driver assist elements but they are not tuned to our market requirements and some features like lane keep assist, driver attention alert and speed zone recognition simply drive you crazy. Also driving conditions here are different to crowded Chinese cities – our traffic is faster moving, and we require better driving dynamics and suspension tune. The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV offers good value but that’s where the buying equation stops.

Download this podcast here