At long last, the Chery Tiggo Cross has been officially launched in Malaysia. This comes following two previews – first at this year’s Malaysia Autoshow and a second time near the end of June. Safe to say the arrival of the between-A-and-B-segment SUV has been heralded for some time, as it was one of three SUVs confirmed for our market back in October 2022 when Chery announced its return to Malaysia.
The Tiggo Cross can trace its roots to the Tiggo 5x, which first launched in China in 2017. This model (renamed to the Tiggo 4 for export markets) got its first facelift in 2019, with the second facelift introduced in 2019 (the ‘Pro’ moniker was added) – this was the car shown here over two years ago. The third facelift, which is currently for export markets, was revealed in 2024, and that’s the one being launched today.
The Tiggo Cross goes on sale as a locally-assembled (CKD) offering that comes in two variants, starting with the 1.5 Turbo that is priced at RM88,800 on-the-road without insurance. Your other option is the 1.5 Hybrid CSH at RM99,800, with ‘CSH’ standing ‘Chery Super Hybrid’.
In terms of powertrains, the Turbo features a 1.5 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine making 147 PS and 210 Nm of torque, with drive going to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission to enable a 0-100 km/h time of 10.3 seconds in Sport mode (other options are Eco and Normal).
As for the Hybrid, its powertrain (also FWD) is based around a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine serving up 102 PS and 125 Nm. This is mated to Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that has two integrated electric motors rated at 204 PS and 310 Nm.
It is a series-parallel hybrid system with five states, including EV (running on electricity only), Tandem (engine acts as a generator while the electric motor drives the wheels), Parallel (both the engine and electric motor working together), Direct Engine (engine directly drives the wheels at speeds above 80 km/h) and Energy Recovery (regenerative braking and coasting to charge the battery).
A 1.8-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery placed beneath the boot floor is linked to the electric motors and reduces the Hybrid variant’s boot space to 350 litres. The Turbo offers 380 litres of boot space, although both variants share the same 51-litre fuel tank. Claimed fuel consumption (undisclosed standard) is 6.3 l/100 km for the Turbo and 5.4 l/100 km for the Hybrid, the latter hybrid with a kerb weight of 1,565 kg versus the Turbo’s 1,468 kg.
The Tiggo Cross is also offered in different powertrain configurations from ours in other markets. For example, Indonesia gets a 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine (116 PS and 138 Nm) and a CVT, while Australia gets the same turbo and hybrid options as us, but the former is equipped with a CVT instead of a DCT.
The Tiggo Cross measures 4,318 mm long, 1,830 mm wide, 1,670 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,610 mm, which makes it slightly smaller overall than a Omoda 5 and about the size of a Proton X50. Given the specs, dimensions and asking prices, the Tiggo Cross looks to attract cross-shoppers who have set a sub-RM100k budget for a new car.
It’s worth pointing out that the Hybrid variant of the Tiggo Cross at RM99,800 is now Malaysia’s cheapest hybrid car, considerably undercutting the Honda City 1.5L e:HEV RS that goes for RM111,900. We know one’s an SUV and the other’s a sedan, so an apples to apples comparison is the Nissan Kicks e-Power VL at RM113,800, which is now the second cheapest hybrid SUV you can buy here.
As we reported previously, the Tiggo Cross we’re getting is the latest 2024 facelift, which is different from the Tiggo 4 Pro (the model’s previous name) shown to us back in October 2022. Key changes from the pre-facelift model include a larger front grille with a black insert and surrounding trim, reshaped headlamps, full-width taillights and an overhauled interior that with conjoined screens on the dashboard.
Standard equipment for both variants includes LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, red brake callipers, roof rails, a rear spoiler, faux leather seat upholstery, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, a 15W wireless charging pad, keyless entry and start, a powered driver’s seat, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, a 540-degree camera and six speakers.
The Turbo variant gets 18-inch wheels, six airbags and an ADAS suite that includes lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, auto high beam, lane departure prevention, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.
Curiously, the Hybrid variant receives smaller 17-inch wheels, but it has seven airbags and its ADAS suite is expanded to include functions like door opening warning, rear collision warning, rear cross traffic braking, lane change assist, emergency lane keeping, multi-collision brake, traffic jam assist, lane centring assist and speed limit assist. The Hybrid is also differentiated from the Turbo on inside with its gloss black-finished steering wheel buttons and ‘CHERY’ lettering on the steering wheel hub.
The Tiggo Cross comes with a seven-year, 150,000-km manufacturer warranty, with the Hybrid variant gaining an additional eight-year, 160,000-km warranty for its battery, motors and hybrid control unit. Both variants come with seven years of free towing service and are offered in four colours, albeit with a slight difference.
Carbon Black, Phantom Grey and Khaki White are available for both variants, but the Turbo can be had in an exclusive Blood Stone Red, while the Hybrid’s variant-specific hue is Moonlight Silver. Chery Malaysia is offering an early bird package to buyers which includes two years of free service – this is for the first 2,000 customers until September 30, 2025.
Given everything you now know about the Tiggo Cross, what do you think of it? Is it a good buy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
2025 Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 Hybrid CSH
2025 Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 Turbo
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