Totally LIT: Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT review

· The South African

Meet the Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT, a new entry-level variant to the South African compact crossover segment. Price at just R279 900 for the five-speed manual, and R309 900 for the two-pedal CVT we have here, the updated pricing structure will certainly grab your attention. This represents a second-coming for the Chinese marque to the South African new-car market. And it is being met with a chorus of approval for both its quality and cost effectiveness.

The cheap and dynamically indifferent offerings from China when it first entered the market over a decade ago are consigned firmly to the memory banks by the new Chery Tiggo 1.5 LiT. Firstly, by any standards, this is a good-looking car. And after spending a couple of days behind the wheel in a variety of every-day conditions, the feeling is one of surprise at just how enjoyable and sorted this entry-level offering is.

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CHERY TIGGO CROSS 1.5 LIT

Nicely finished and well nailed together, it’s a brilliant place to spend time, especially for just R309 900. Image: Ray Leathern

Appearance-wise, it has to be said, China’s largest exporter of motor vehicles, has pretty much nailed it. Even for a base-model, the Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT is very striking, thanks to its bold hexagonal, patterned grille and front and rear light clusters that give the car a modern but look. The rest of the profile has a somewhat upright profile, punctuated by chunky flanks and stylish rear lines. Previously, we’d only been exposed to the top-of-the-range turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol models. So, we were intrigued to sample the naturally aspirated petrol with its ‘nine-step’ CVT that simulates conventional auto gear changes. This 1.5-litre ICE produces 83 kW and 170 Nm of torque driving the front wheels only.

Climbing aboard, we were struck by the array of quality soft-touch finishes in what is the very cheapest point of entry into the range. Chery has integrated the 10.25-inch touchscreen, tellingly, even to this entry-level model, minus some of the nice-to-haves on the digital display cluster ahead of the driver. Mobile phone compatibility is a feature on all the Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT models, as are audio and cruise controls on the steering wheel. You also get a rear-view parking camera, four airbags and traction control with ABS for safety, so perfect to fight on South Africa’s hostile roads.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? 

The bold hexagonal grille makes the front end look much wider than it really is. Nice trick that. Image: Ray Leathern

Nevertheless, the big question is how does the Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT behave every day? The straight answer is, quite impressively. For a car weighing over 1 250 kg, the 1.5-litre engine gets things underway with a fair amount of zest … and some noise. However, thanks to the nine ‘steps’ in the CVT transmission, you can keep the revs below raucous level when accelerating. Genuinely, we’ll admit we thought it was a conventional automatic at first, that’s how will it simulates shifts. A slight lift on the pedal sees the CVT cone-and-belt device reactive quickly. And ‘upshifts’ are quite smart, dropping the revs accordingly.

The ride quality on this Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT is impressive, too. Even with a solid rear axle and torsion beam setup, it handles poor tarmac surfaces extremely well, with commendable wheel-movement control. The steering initially feels very overpowered at parking speeds, but this tightens up nicely on the move, and it is easy to place accurately on the road. Overall, the feeling in the cabin is one of solidity and usable space. With the seat adjusted for my nearly 2.0-metre frame, there was still plenty of leg room behind for rear passengers. Although we do gripe that the front seats are one piece from the hip up and don’t have a removable headrest. As for the boot, it is quite generously sized, 380 litres with the rear seats up, folding down via the 60/40 split to a total cargo capacity of 1 125 litres.

CHERY TIGGO CROSS 1.5 LIT VERDICT

Some nice styling details around the rear haunches break up the monotony of yet another compact crossover. Image: Ray Leathern

Finally, fuel consumption on the Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 LiT. This is an important factor as we grapple with global fuel-price insecurity. The claimed/combined figure is 7.3 l/100 km from the manufacturer. However, depending on how you drive it, we saw real-world returns closer to 8.5 l/100 km. And we’ll note that the car’s range calculator was totally schizophrenic. Each morning it started with an impossibly ambitious number like 700 km plus off the meagre 51-litre tank. And it would rise and fall wildly based on prevailing conditions from there.

Nevertheless, we’re quite fond of the Chinese firm’s new entry-level offering. And we can totally see why the Chery Group has established itself as the number two passenger vehicle group in South Africa, surpassing both Suzuki and the Volkswagen Group in July 2026. For most South Africans, when it comes time to sign on the dotted line and buy, you cannot what’s in front of you at this price.

THE FIGURES

  • Engine: 1 499 cc, four-cylinder petrol
  • Power: 83 kW @ 6 000 rpm, 170 Nm @ 4 000 rpm
  • Performance: 0-100km/h 12 sec (estimated)
  • Economy: 7.3 l/100 km (claimed) / 8.5 l/100 km (tested)
  • Transmission: 9-step CVT
  • Price: R309 900

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