Even though a hatchback makes more practical sense, the Philippines is still pretty much a sedan country. This is why the Vios is more popular than the Yaris, and the City hatchback is a niche car compared to the City sedan.
When it comes to hybrids, it’s the same thing in the attainable side of the segment. You’ll see the streets with the Toyota Ativ or the BYD Seal 5. That could change with Chery’s new crossover. While hybrid sedans are already in that price point, there’s only one hybrid in the crossover side, which is the MG3. The Toyota Raize and Kia Sonet are still purely ICE.
The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV simplifies things for everyone. It’s a right-sized crossover for the young professional or small family, with all the bells and whistles you would need. But it’s not a walk in the park for this cutesy crossover, as I later found out. Still, 1,200 km of range for PHP 1,198,000 is an enticing offer.
At a glance, the Tiggo Cross HEV seems like a cute city roundabout. However, little things undermine its appeal. For example, there are no fog lights but a DRL where they’re supposed to be. Then there’s the thing at the back, when you open the tailgate. Cargo space is more than enough for daily use and weekend getaways. What complicates things is this bump for the hybrid system’s battery. It makes fitting large objects tricky since it affects how your items would rest. As someone who travels with guitars and amps regularly, this bump sometimes forced me to fold down a seat just to accommodate my gear—something that would be unnecessary if the cargo area is flat.
The second row has ample space across all concerns. There’s an armrest that’s cushioned well and has cupholders, but there’s only a single air vent behind the center console. Below that is a single USB-A charging port. There’s a sunroof that lights up the sleek dashboard below. It’s dominated by faux leather and brushed aluminum pieces making for nice eye candy.
I like how this Tiggo Cross is just an improved version of its former self. The layout is the same, just made digital. The instrument cluster is now a panoramic screen while the climate control is touch-based. Not the most responsive thing but gets the job done especially since it’s a dual-zone affair at this price point.
Tech has surely been prioritized in the Tiggo Cross HEV. Apart from what you can see on the cabin like the screens, touch buttons, and the 50W wireless charger, it also boasts of 14 Advanced Driver Assist features.
My favorite without a doubt is the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function. Crawling in traffic has never been easier at this price point.
The steering has Comfort and Sport modes but it only changes the responsiveness and not the firmness.
Overall driving dynamics is very vanilla. If you’re coming from something basic, or if the Tiggo Cross HEV will be your first car, you’ll dig the comfort of the pedals, the lightness of the steering wheel, and the decent ride comfort.
You’ll also be glad that the Tiggo Cross HEV isn’t a promise-breaker. I got 22 km/l in the city with December traffic, and 32 km/l on the highway. Stellar figures for a small crossover with a small hybrid system. I can forgive that little bump in the cargo area now.
The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV won’t entice you with superlatives. Instead, it gets you with little hints of brilliance. It’s very efficient, has an adequate cabin, but has features unseen in its price point especially at the tech side. It might raise an eyebrow or two if you’re coming from a segment higher, but those who are upgrading from a basic roundabout or getting this as their first car will easily find its charm.
