Tiggo takes it to the top

After 400 km of rough riding in the Tiggo, only the
pregnant passenger was squeaking. 

HAVING reported what a nice surprise the Tiggo proved to be on dirt in this very newspaper, Chery went won better and challenged me to 350 km over 12 passes in Mpumalanga in eight hours in Mpumalanga. 

I only managed nine passes, but afore ye judge, bear in mind these passes were laid out by race driver Charl Wilken, who is used to klapping (slapping along at) 200km/h over these deeply rutted and rock-strewn forestry roads in the local rally championships. And I had a pregnant passenger. 

In total there were eight Chery utes racing along, most of them with fellow motoring hacks behind the wheel and
all the cars got through unscathed.   

Seven of the passes were tarmac-surfaced and five were gravel, with the main traffic on the latter roads being huge logging trucks and trailers.  

That our little group of intrepid hacks suffered not even a punctured tyre on the 17-inch alloy wheels says more for the car than for the drivers, for journalists are known to be a little less careful around — all in the interest of telling you what the car is like when pushed.

The Tiggo again impressed me with its poise over rough roads. The suspension soaked up the uneven surfaces and the driven front wheels maintained traction even on loose surfaces. The steering had plenty of feel without giving kick back through the steering wheel when the road surface got really rough. 

The Tiggo weighs well over 1,3 tons with two people and their luggage load, which does mean the 1.6-litre engine (93 kW/160 Nm) will not get in trouble in a corner even gunning it in third gear, but less power also ensure lower consumption. Even more impressive, the cabin remained dust-free despite several kilometres of driving in thick clouds of powder dust behind the extra-long logging trucks.

MD of Chery SA Pedro Pereira said while Chery is still a comparative newcomer to the South African passenger car market, having arrived here in 2008, it has already made an indelible mark locally in several aspects of vehicle performance, including fuel economy, ruggedness and reliability.

It ain't a cheap'nasty

This one will continue to hurt Chery Tiggo sales

Selling for R229 900, Pereira admits the high exchange with China means the Tiggo is no longer the bargain it was in 2011, especially with other high-riding cars at home on dirt roads like the Renault Sandero going from R139k; and the 1,5 Etios Cross selling for R165k, including an almost full tank of petrol.

But Pereira points out the Tiggo is no cheap and nasty car, but a spacious vehicle that is worthy of the difference of up to R20,000 with other competitors. 

“We have again proven the reliability of the Tiggo, with eight cars completing 12 passes in one day without any problems.”

He added the two-wheel drive Chery Tiggo conquered the icy Sani Pass, the rugged mountain pass that is the only link between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho.

• The dirt passes:  

1 Mount Carmel (13,5 km), 

2 Wonderkloof (7,7 km), 

3 Makobulaan (19 km), 

4 Bakenkop (5,5km) 

5 Klipkraal (20 km); 

The tarmac passes 

6 Sudwala (9 km), 

7 Montrose (3,8km), 

8 Masjien Nek (11km), 

9 Long Tom (22.5km), 

10 Koffiehoogte (6km), 

12 Kiepersol (5.5km) and 

13 Bergvlei (9,5km)

(First published in The Weekend Witness on 27 June 2015))