Sometimes when something sounds just too good to be true, it is. Take the Chery Tiggo TXE... Here's a sport recreation vehicle that seriously undercuts competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail and Suzuki Grand Vitara pricewise.
It doesn't look at all bad when placed alongside them; its appearance that won't exactly turn heads but is modern and pleasing. But, as so often in life, reality doesn't live up to promise.
Admittedly, with recession howling like a hungry wolf at the door, price is a big factor and this is where the Tiggo scores. It comes with a R199 900 price tag which is lower than its rivals and many people will probably be happy to live with its shortcomings as it will put them in a spacious recreational vehicle.
As with many other Chinese manufacturers Chery competes on price, with the Tiggo undercutting the market, but there is a price to pay for it in terms of quality.
Although the Tiggo looks neat and functional - both inside and out - the overall build quality reminds one of a two-generations ago Korean car.
The fascia is neat and functional with acres of hard plastic. Cabin space is pretty decent with ample packing space, including bins between the front seats, a smallish glove compartment, door bins, map pockets behind the front seats and some small trays for odds and ends. Unusual for a vehicle costing almost two hundred grand is that it doesn't have a clock. A small omission, but an irritating one.
A sporty roof rack adds to the load capacity, while the boot swallows 827 litres of baggage with the rear seats up and 1935 with them down. The Tiggo has decent head and leg room in the front and in the rear, and despite it only having a reach-adjustable (and not height) steering wheel, provides sound ergonomics for most drivers. Although the seats are adjusted manually we found it a fairly simple task to find a comfortable driving position.
Leather seats, a front-loading CD system and electric windows provide the creature comforts, but the fact that the air conditioning system malfunctioned - by blasting air at your feet and nowhere else - destroyed any feelings of contentment.
We were also surprised to see the centre brake light interior cover pop off when we closed the tail door. So there are some quality issues on the Tiggo. The tailgate swings open sideways which, while providing good access to the load bay, means you can't park with the rear of the vehicle too close to a wall as you need to leave a largish space to open the door.
NOT A GREAT RIDE
As with other such vehicles, the increased ride height provides good visibility, but the two-litre engine provides only 95kW, below that of its competitors, and the result is a sluggish vehicle that struggles to get going, though once it picks up speed it cruises comfortably at the speed limit.
The Tiggo doesn't have great ride quality, being on the bumpy side. This is exacerbated by poor torsional rigidity, with the resulting body flex limiting its ability to slice through the bends.
The auto gearbox only has four speeds and felt quite clunky when changing gears, while the engine becomes very noisy as it builds up revs to the point where it engages the next gear. Although it also has a manual function, it is pointless as it overrides you and changes gears when it wants to anyway. There is also a fair amount of road noise intruding into the cabin from tyres on the road surface and the engine.
The Tiggo has 132mm ground clearance which is enough for most soft roading (think dirt roads with a bit of a 'middle mannetjie') but with its two-wheel drive don't even think of more serious off-roading than that.
Although labelled a recreational vehicle the Tiggo essentially has the characteristic of a small station wagon with bags of space and the added advantage of a high ride height for better visibility.
VERDICT
The Tiggo will appeal to those who seek a recreational vehicle with ample space for passengers and luggage at a price well below that of its competitors. But it doesn't deliver a great driving experience, the engine is lazy, build quality suspect and the ride is jittery.
SPRECIFICATIONS
Engine:
Fuel-injected, transverse inline four displacing 1971cc and producing 95kW at 5500rpm and 178Nm a 4500rpm.
Transmission:
Four-speed auto/manual sequential and front-wheel drive.
Suspension:
Front Macpherson struts, rear trailing arms with coil springs.
Steering:
Power-assisted rack-and-pinion; reach adjustment on steering wheel..
Brakes:
Discs with anti-lock and electronic pressure distribution.
Wheels/Tyres:
16" alloy rims shod with 235/60 radials.
Dimensions/mass:
4285mm , width 1765mm, height 1705mm, mass 1375kg.
Ground clearance:
132mm.
Fuel Tank:
57 litres.
Standard items:
Aircon, power windows and mirrors, sliding roof, central locking, high-level brake light, immobilising transponder, body-coloured bumpers and mirrors, leather upholstery, front-loading CD player.
Crash protection:
Driver and passenger crash bags, anti-lock braking.
Warranty:
Three years or 100 000km; service plan optional.
Fuel consumption:
10.5 litres/100km.
Service intervals:
15 000km.
Price:
R199 900.
Rivals
Hyundai Tucson 2.0 GLS 4x2 Mono, R239 900 (104kW/184Nm).
Kia Sportage 2.0 4x2, R248 995 (104kW/188Nm).
Nissan X-Trail 2.0 4 x 2 XE, R268 300 (102kW/198Nm).