All-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT: affordable, capable

Chery Auto Philippines launched the all-new Tiggo 2 Pro at this year’s Philippine International Motor Show. The compact crossover is touted as a stylish mover, but we at Zigwheels Philippines believe that it has more to offer. 

The author had the chance to try it for under a week and here are my thoughts after spending some time behind the wheel of the nameplate’s continuously variable transmission (CVT)-equipped model. 

Decent looks 

The all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT appears to have been designed with plenty of sporty cues. 

At the fore, the crossover dons a checkered flag-style front grille, whose pattern extends to its sleek daytime running lights. Two light clusters — which flank the grillework — combine the halogen projector headlamps and the turn signals. 

To its sides are sport utility vehicle-like appointments, which come in the form of black wheel arches (whose finish might not be everyone’s cup of tea), black side sill garnishes, and satin silver roof rails. 

It has body-colored side mirrors (with repeaters), body-tone door handles, and rides on a set of 16-inch gunmetal finish alloy wheels. 

At the back, the all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT gets a roof-mounted spoiler with an integrated brake lamp, combination taillamps, a decent-sized rear glass, a hydraulically-assisted tailgate, a beefy bumper, and a set of reflectors. 

As mentioned earlier, Chery appears to have packed the Tiggo 2 Pro CVT with plenty of sporty-looking appointments, which is common on most Chinese crossovers. 

Sure, the somewhat large wheels and the fen the carmaker used on the fender flares might put off some car buyers, but its height and apparent ground clearance are what struck me the most.

From a distance, the all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT stands tall. And because it clears the ground by 185 millimeters, shallow potholes, speed bumps, and those often uneven concrete stops at parking lots should not be a problem. 

I also liked that the company slapped the crossover with 205/55 series tires, which are chunky enough to save you from accidental gutter scrapes and help absorb road imperfections. 

Sleek interior 

Stepping inside the all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT, one is greeted with seats covered with leatherette and fabric upholstery. They have decent bolstering and would make occupants comfortable in both short and long drives. 

A similar type of material is applied to the multi-functional steering wheel, the gear shifter boot, the center armrest, some portions of the door panels, and the rear bench. On that note, all passengers get the same level of comfort wherever they may be sitting. 

Taking center stage is the 10.25-inch infotainment display, which is capable of connecting to various smartphones via Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Connection is seamless, unlike other units that may leave you scratching your head or performing inconvenient troubleshooting steps. It is also housed in a sleek case. 

The infotainment unit is complemented by an instrument panel that combines both analog and digital gauges. I have no qualms about the analog meters as the implementation of the dials makes them look like digital meters. 

I also loved the tactile controls for the air conditioning unit, which are found just right below the vents. They are easy to understand and allow quick and easy tweaking of the car’s cabin temperature without requiring the driver to take his or her focus off the road. 

There are also some thoughtful storage options such as the wallet and card holder above the smartphone tray, these hooks that allow the driver and the rear passengers to hang light belongings, and small pockets that can accommodate relatively small items. 

Overall, the interior of the all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT has just the right amount of features, which is good as it does not confuse drivers — especially the new ones, who will most likely be purchasing the model. 

Some appointments like a sunroof or a pull-down rear armrest may be missing, but they do not limit the crossover’s capabilities or its passenger’s comfort and convenience. And for its price — which we will get to in a few — that maybe asking too much. 

Capable engine

Under the all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT’s hood is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine mated — as you might have guessed it — to a CVT. 

On paper, it makes 111 horsepower with 138 Newton-meters of torque. The CVT has nine gears and shifts smoothly with little to no jolting in between gear changes. Power production is evenly distributed between the rev range, so drivers will get the same amount of “oomph” whether they are crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic during the rush hour or when speeding through the expressways. 

Safety 

Chery also gave the all-new Tiggo 2 Pro CVT with a decent amount of safety technologies. We have listed these features below: 

• Anti-lock braking 
• Electronic stability control 
• Reverse camera with dynamic guidelines 
• Brake assist 
• Hill hold control 
• Rear parking sensors 
• Hill descent control 
• Cruise control
• ISOFIX tethers 
• Electronic brake-force distribution 

Final thoughts 

The all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT has more to offer than just sporty looks. To me, it can be a capable daily driver whether it will be put to use as a personal commuter or a ride for daily errands. 

The all-new Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT is available in two variants (manual and CVT) and is bears the below price tags: 

Chery Tiggo 2 Pro M/T	P708,000
Chery Tiggo 2 Pro CVT	P818,000

 

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