Chery Arrizo 7 Review: A Competitive Mid-Size Sedan

The Chery Arrizo 7 was launched for the first time back in late 2013 as a mid-size sedan. In many countries where it’s currently on sale, the Arrizo 7 stands as the Chinese carmaker’s flagship sedan. The car market is filled with mid-size (or D-segment) sedans, predominantly from Japan, South Korea, or the United States. However, Chinese automobile companies are catching up rapidly and, in some cases, have an edge over their more established counterparts. In certain markets, such as the United Arab Emirates, some car buyers still view many Chinese-origin carmakers with skepticism, though that perception may soon change.

Chery has about half a dozen models currently sold in the UAE, among which the Arrizo 7 sits above its lesser siblings, such as the Arrizo 5 and the even cheaper Arrizo 3. The outgoing iteration of the Arrizo 7 is the facelifted model, typically available only in one version—the entry-level Standard trim. It competes against cars like the Hyundai Accent, Honda City, and Nissan Sunny.

Exterior

The Chery Arrizo 7 may be a regular mid-size sedan, but it is certainly large, measuring 4.652 meters from nose to tail, 1.825 meters in width, 1.483 meters tall at the roof, and a wheelbase stretching to 2.700 meters. However, its total boot capacity isn’t as spacious as one might expect, totaling about 455 liters. The styling isn’t class-leading; despite its facelift, the Arrizo 7 doesn’t come across as the most modern vehicle. Some appealing design aspects include:

• Chery's "eagle-eye" design for the projector headlights
• “U-face” grille with a shiny chrome finish
• Wide lower air intake
• Round fog lamps
• Lower spoiler skirt

The side profile and rear end of the Arrizo 7 are shaped according to the marque’s “HDS technology” combined with their “duck-tail” design. This design allows for a lower coefficient of drag and improves straight-line stability. Stand-out features include:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Bold side contours and character lines
• Sculpted trunk
• Part-LED tail lamps

Interior

One of the most interesting aspects of the Chery Arrizo 7's interior is the spaciousness available for both front and rear occupants. The seats are quite comfortable, and the design upfront is decent for its price point. However, the cabin contains many low-rent scratchy plastics, and wind and engine noise become apparent as speed increases. Chery has added additional insulation materials to keep the cabin of the Arrizo 7 as quiet as possible.

In terms of equipment, the Arrizo 7 includes:

• Keyless entry
• Leather seats
• Leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel
• Automatic climate control with rear vents
• Cruise control
• Four-speaker audio system with Bluetooth, AUX, and USB support
• 7-inch touchscreen head unit
• Parking sensors with a rearview camera
• ABS with EBD and brake assist
• Hill assist
• Electronic stability control
• Dual front airbags

Engine and Performance

Under the hood of the Arrizo 7 is a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 125hp and 160Nm of torque, all sent to the front through a CVT gearbox. Consequently, the Arrizo 7 takes 12.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h and has a top speed of 180 km/h.

Verdict

In the UAE, the Chery Arrizo 7 is only sold in the Standard variant, priced at AED 41,000. This pricing makes it more affordable than some of its closest and better-established rivals.