Chery Tiggo3 2016 Review

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The Chery Tiggo3, a vehicle with conservative sales figures in the UAE, is a Chinese crossover that rivals the likes of the Brilliance V5, Changan CS 35, and the Renault Duster. The Chinese offering, which was launched in 2013, focuses on simplicity and affordability, omitting any sort of luxury in the bargain.

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Exterior

The countenance of the 2016 Chery Tiggo3, is composed of sleek headlamps which complement the protruding hexagonal grille, LED Daytime Running Lights, and softly-defined contours which highlight the chrome embellished fog lamp housings and trapezoidal lower grille.

The derriere, though a blatant copy of the second-gen Toyota RAV4, is well designed and emanates the aura of a small, capable off-roader. The 215/60 R17 wheels, are an appropriate fit for the wheel wells and blend in well with the 4,420mm length, 1,760mm width, and 1,670mm height of the vehicle.

Interior

The cabin, a plastic haven, combines grey and beige hues to contrast the silver trim which encircles the door handles, center console, and A/C vents. The red stitching and manual gear shifter, reveal the Tiggo3’s sporting pretensions, but aren’t enough to distract from the distinct lack of quality.

On the other hand, the large windscreen, sizeable side mirrors and broad windows, eliminate blind spots to a great degree and allow for phenomenal visibility all around. With a wheelbase of 2,510mm - just a smidgen short of the Renault Duster’s 2,673mm wheelbase - the Tiggo3 offers enough space to transport four adults in comfort.

Safety & Features

Equipped with front wheel ventilated disc brakes and rear wheel solid disc brakes, the Tiggo3 provides linear brake force distribution, fast heat dissipation and stable braking on the whole. Combined with ABS and EBD, it ensures readiness, should there be an emergency stop.

On the technological front, the Chery Tiggo3 is fitted with a truly impressive amount of equipment for its price point. A sunroof, cruise control, parking sensors and steering audio controls can all be found, albeit, each with their own quirks. The latter, for instance, jumps from a deafening silence to a blaring volume 13 in a single tap of the “+” arrow.

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Drive

Though the Chinese crossover flaunts 190mm of ground clearance, and approach and departure angles of 28 and 29 degrees respectively, it is hindered by its atrocious CVT transmission and Front-Wheel-Drive layout.

Churning out 136 horsepower at 5,750 RPM and 182 Nm of torque at 4,500 RPM from its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the 2016 Tiggo3 applauds heavy acceleration with heaps of engine drone and minimal forward momentum.

While the steering is extremely precise and the independent suspension which falls on the stiffer side of the spectrum offers immense amounts of grip, it is the dawdling CVT transmission with 7 makeshift points that comes in the way of a rather enjoyable drive… once up to speed, of course. 

Portrayed as an affordable, fuel efficient offering, the Chery Tiggo3 2016 is anything but. Taking constant swigs from its 55-liter fuel tank, the ever-changing fuel economy display varies from figures as low as 4.2 L / 100 km, right up to 17 L / 100 km. An explainable difference, especially as the underpowered engine is always working overtime to get up and get going.

Verdict

Bearing a price tag of AED 45,900, the Chery Tiggo3 is the most affordable offering amongst all its rivals. At a time when vehicles are built with such precision and perfection, the imperfections of the Chery Tiggo3 are an entertaining welcome change. The sloppily fitted gear shift and handbrake lever, remind us to be patient and gentle, so as not to yank them out of place. Thus, in a way, it could be said that the Tiggo3 is one of the very few automobiles with a lesson to learn from. 

Pros:

Phenomenal A/C system blows out an ice-storm in seconds

USB connectivity

Cons:

Severely lacks quality

Daytime Running Lights cease to function when the handbrake is engaged

Unpleasant sound of the poor door locking mechanism

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