Chery Tiggo 2 1.5 A/T – CAR REVIEW

To be honest, Chery Auto Philippines has a special place in the hearts of us in AutoPH. The first ever media test drive unit lent to us was the Chery Tiggo 8 back in June this year. The Tiggo 8 is Chery Auto Philippines’ flagship crossover in the market. After that, we reviewed the smaller Tiggo 7, and just a few weeks ago, the Tiggo 5X. Now we have with us the entry-level into the Tiggo lineup of crossovers and the Chery brand in the local market, the 2020 Chery Tiggo 2.

Given that Chery really is a bit special to us, we still have to make our reviews completely honest and objective. The abovementioned Tiggo models were almost perfect with some improvements that could be done which were mostly minor.

With pricing at the same range with subcompact hatchbacks, what could my opinion on the Chery Tiggo 2 be like considering that we tested its larger, pricier, and more equipped siblings first? 

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Exterior

The Chery Tiggo 2’s exterior looks don’t scream entry-level in any way at all. Starting with the two-tone exterior color which is a combination of light blue with a blacked-out roof, giving this little crossover a more attractive look. The front fascia is simple, a bit plain but it has its own identity different from other models in the Chery lineup and it does look a bit aggressive. Halogen projector headlights are standard with an LED park light, as well as LED daytime running lights on the bumper. The black cladding and silver faux skid plate give it a more rugged look.

Looking at the Tiggo 2 from the side shows an even more rugged look with the large black plastic cladding on the wheel arches and doors. The 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels look small but that’s because of the large wheel wells and the higher ground clearance. They actually look really nice and fit the look of the car really well. By the way, the wheels are shared with the Chery Arrizo EV sedan.

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The rear end is a bit different from the front and sides. While the front fascia and side profile look more angular, the rear is more on the curvy side. It does look a bit wall-eyed as the taillights are chunky and mounted on the corners, this may not be to everyone’s liking but it’s okay. The lights themselves are LED combinations which is great, plus the lighting signature looks good at night.

Interior

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Moving inside, the Chery Tiggo 2 gets a rather dark cabin. The dashboard design is to my liking but the materials are mostly, if not all hard-touch plastics. I’m not complaining though as this is a crossover for less than Php 800k. Most of it is well-built anyway and Chery was nice enough to kill the monotony by adding some faux carbon fiber on the dashboard. Much appreciated.

The seats are wrapped in a combination of leather and fabric with contrasting orange stitching and patterns which look sporty. The fabric material does feel good but is more on the durable side. The front seats are also comfortable and have adequate side bolstering to keep you in place. The center console is more on the bland side and only houses the gate-type shifter, two small cupholders, and the standard parking brake lever.

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The steering wheel is different from other Chery models. What does come as a pleasant surprise is that it’s wrapped in leather which is great for its price. I was expecting a polyurethane material which you can still find in vehicles priced over Php 1-million. The instrument cluster is similar to the one found in the larger Chery Tiggo 7 though it lacks the larger digital information display screen. The Tiggo 2 only gets the usual display which is okay since it’s legible enough and still provides all the information you need.

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Over at the rear seats, it’s still a comfortable place to be in. Legroom is a bit limited and at 5’7” I found my knees almost touching the seat in front. Materials in the back are carried-over from the front. The rear seats are only for sitting though as you don’t get any toys like rear A/C vents or even a center armrest. 

Storage

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Storage is surprisingly good on the Chery Tiggo 2. Opening the tailgate will reveal around 420 liters of cargo space which is actually excellent. While you can load lots of items here, you will have to lift them higher as there is a rather large load lip which is almost a foot higher compared to the cargo floor. This means loading and unloading heavier items like luggage or boxes will be more difficult. In case you want to hide your items, the Tiggo 2 also gets a removable cargo cover in the cargo area which will keep your items safe from prying eyes.

Technology and Safety

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Given that this is a crossover priced at below Php 800k, I didn’t expect the Tiggo 2 to come with any special tech features. It does come loaded in terms of infotainment as it gets an 8-inch touchscreen as standard when you buy the automatic version. This system also features Apple CarPlay which is great because not many vehicles in its price range have such feature. The system is easy to use and understand. The resolution is good for the most part but can be a little bit more HD. I would rather use CarPlay always though so it’s no big deal. A reverse camera is also standard which comes with guidance lines and parking sensors, very helpful in tight parking. 

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The climate controls are just your standard kind and are very straightforward. No issues here as everything is well labeled and in the right location. It also comes with cruise control, well or course just the regular kind. This is of course another big plus and will make driving on the highway a lot more relaxing. To add, all four windows are one-touch automatic down which is unheard of in its price range.

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The Chery Tiggo 2 is surprisingly loaded with safety features. Standard are dual front airbags, Anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability program, emergency brake assist, brake override system, brake assist system, hill descent control, hill start assist, traction control, emergency signal system, and ISOFIX childseat anchor points. That’s a lot for its price.

Engine

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All Chery Tiggo models in the Philippines are powered by 1.5-liter engines and the Tiggo 2 is no different. It’s not turbocharged like on the Tiggo 5X. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine produces a modest 106 horsepower and 135 Nm of torque. It is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and power is sent to the front wheels. The numbers may seem a bit small but as with everything, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Driving and Comfort

Once you start the Tiggo 2’s engine, it surprisingly has a lot of vibrations. More than what I would like which does really make it feel more like a subcompact hatchback which is okay considering the price again. Once you get moving, it also feels like that but many hatchbacks do drive well and the Tiggo 2 is decent in that regard. Acceleration is decent and the vibrations do go away when you start moving. It’s not fast but I was surprised to feel the throttle’s excellent response. This could be because the powertrain’s 135 Nm of torque does come in at a rather early 2,750 RPM which really helps a lot. The 4-speed automatic transmission is also surprisingly smooth. You will definitely hear the engine and the shifting while accelerating but it’s very smooth. Maybe a CVT would do wonders for the noise levels coming from the engine though.

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In terms of actual power, the Tiggo 2 is again decent. For normal acceleration inside the city, it will do well and will feel like any other car in its price range. Going up inclines though is when you’ll start to feel that it wants more power. It does have a sport mode which can be used at a push of a button. The driving mode button is just a bit hard to reach as it’s located low near the steering column. I also did notice that sport mode was always on as soon as I started the engine. Quite different as most people will want to start in eco mode. Anyway, the sport mode does help a lot especially in inclines though it may still need more power.

Steering feel is decent. It’s on the heavier side but is still very smooth. I don’t think this is electric power steering and the spec-sheet does say that it’s hydraulic power steering so the guys at Chery Auto Philippines might want to confirm this with me. Ride quality is also decent, bumps will be felt but not harsh in any way. NVH insulation is one area the Tiggo 2 could improve in a large way. As I mentioned earlier, lots of engine noise find their way into the cabin together with a lot of vibration. Road noise is okay but can get loud on rougher surfaces. The different noises could be the reason why I feel like I’m driving a subcompact hatchback instead of a crossover.

By the way, The horn? I hate it. I don’t know if it’s broken or if it’s really like that but it sounds like a clown horn or those musical horns you can buy in Grand Theft Auto V. Pretty useless on Metro Manila roads if you ask me.

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In terms of fuel economy, the Chery Tiggo 2 surprises again. Inside the city in a mix of light and heavy, with a bit of standstill traffic, this Tiggo returns around 8-10 km/l. On the highway we can expect around 13-15 km/l which is good considering that the 1.5 engine may feel underpowered at times.

Overall, the Chery Tiggo 2 is a decent drive. Probably perfect for bringing you between point A and B comfortably. The driving experience could be improved but is acceptable.

Conclusion

One of the possible main-selling points of this Chery is the warranty. Chery offers what they call the 10/5/3 Warran3s. This means that buyers of any Chery vehicles will be able to take advantage of a 10-year or 1-million kilometer powertrain warranty, a 5-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty, and 3-years of free preventive maintenance servicing. Now that’s one thing the Tiggo 2 has that other rivals don’t.

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Priced at just Php 770,000, the Chery Tiggo 2 is priced just a little bit more than small subcompact hatchbacks like the Toyota Wigo and Honda Brio. It’s cheaper than larger ones like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris. Can it compete with them? I think yes. The Chery Tiggo 2 is not perfect. There are a lot of things that can and need to be improved but it balances out by packing some tech and a lot of safety features.

It may not be the fastest nor the most spacious, but considering its price, it’s safe to say that this subcompact crossover is a worthy, affordable, and stylish upgrade over your common hatchback. 

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