Test drive Chery Tigo: Does it make sense to buy a Chinese crossover
Content
Many motorists face a choice: whether to buy a Chinese car. On the one hand, everyone understands: a car from China belongs to the category of low-cost transport. And sometimes the price is really tempting. And the flip side of the coin is the problems that this choice is fraught with.
Like outside
It is generally accepted that cars of Chinese origin are a clone of some brand. Most often, this is really an exact copy, only with a different name. For example, the chery tigo looks a bit like a Toyota Rav-4.
To date, the SUV from Wuhu already has the eighth series. Each of them received slightly modified body elements and an internal layout. Thanks to this, the manufacturer provides the buyer with a large selection. But for the restyled version, the Chinese will take an order of magnitude more expensive.
Moreover, in the family of cherry tiggo there are also "copyright" cars. For example, the fifth generation is “cut out” by designers from Europe, and is not a replica of any SUV. For a buyer of relatively modest income, the car will be a good alternative to the military classics of the Soviet automobile industry.
By and large, the car is an urban “horse”. Thanks to large windows, modest dimensions and a minimum turning radius, the car can be called convenient for active traffic.
Like inside
Regarding the interior, each model looks decent. Build quality at a high level. The gaps are even. Salon is quite ergonomic. And in most cases it is more spacious than the original, from which the picture is "copied". All controls are located in suitable places on the console.
A big plus of all generations of Chery Tiggo is the complete set of additional options. For a large touch panel, or heated seats and steering wheel, Japanese counterparts will take a high price. But the Chinese crossover is "stuffed" with the functions necessary for a comfortable trip. At the same time, a new handsome man in full combat "uniforms" will cost at the price of a basic SUV of the American car industry, or the same Japanese. Or even cheaper.
How to ride
For Ukrainian roads, a crossover is a great option. The car has increased cross-country ability in comparison with sedans with low clearance. But do not be zealous in the pits. Chery Tiggo will not last long in intense shaking.
The Chinese manufacturer equipped the car with a standard two-liter aspirated with a capacity of 136 horsepower. Transmission - in two versions. This is either a CVT or a five-speed manual.
Despite the sufficient number of horses for a small SUV, the car cannot be called nimble. Acceleration is gaining sluggishly, as for such power. On the one hand, this is not bad, but sometimes overtakes during overtaking.
What problems can arise with Chery Tigo?
No matter how touted Chery Tiggo dealers, or users, the Chinese remain Chinese. The acquisition of this car is the same as playing Russian Roulette. One gets to a better build, and the other - vice versa.
The budget of the car is due to the quality of the materials from which the parts are made. If you buy a crossover at a car dealership, you can not worry about breakdowns for a while. In the case of acquiring a model in the secondary market, it would be worth paying attention to anti-corrosion treatment.
Plastic elements begin to creak and rattle strongly over the years. It is especially important to be one hundred percent sure that the car did not get into an accident. The quality of the frame and frame is not at a high level. It is easy to deform.
Alternative for the same money
At the price of an analogue of cherry, there is no tiggo, neither for car dealers, nor in the secondary market. If the motorist is not ready to take risks, buying a Chinese car will have to pay extra for a better SUV. Or you have to choose another car from the available amount. But in this case, the car will be much older.
For that kind of money, you can buy a used, but confident Niva. Another option instead of Tiggo is the Niva-Chevrolet, or UAZ Patriot. For driving on country roads and on the road - cars are much more reliable than the Chinese.
As an alternative, you can pick up a car from Japan, or an American. But for modest means they will be beaten, or already "at death." They will also need to be spent on money to make them ride.
Summing up
In general, the Chery Tigo family fits perfectly into the category of an inexpensive family car. A five-door body with a roomy trunk and a good interior is a great option for trips to work and on vacation.
Like all vehicles, this crossover has several disadvantages. But with careful diagnosis, they are quickly detected. The most important thing is not to buy a car after an accident. Even if the former owner claims that there was nothing serious.
