Well, well, well. It seems Chery isn’t content with just having a popular small SUV; now they’ve gone and given it a dose of electrification. Fresh off a victory lap where the petrol-powered Tiggo 4 scooped up awards like they were free samples at Costco, the brand has just pulled the covers off the Tiggo 4 Hybrid in Australia (NZ TBC), and the headline act is its price tag.
Let’s be clear, the small SUV segment is a brutal, bare-knuckle brawl for market share, and Chery has been landing some serious punches. The original Tiggo 4 was named the best-selling small SUV in July 2025 and has won a cabinet full of trophies, including Wheels’ ‘Best Small SUV – Best Value’ and Drive’s ‘Best Urban Car Under $30K’ for 2025. Now, it seems Chery is aiming for a knockout blow by introducing what it calls “Australia’s cheapest hybrid SUV”.
More Torque Than You Can Shake a Stick At
So, what’s under the bonnet? It’s a “series-parallel” hybrid system, which sounds very clever, but the fun part is in the numbers. You get a modest 1.5-litre petrol engine producing a gentle 71kW and 120Nm of torque. But wait, there’s more! Paired with it is a gutsy electric motor that throws down a hefty 150kW and a stump-pulling 310Nm of torque. It seems the petrol engine is mostly there for moral support while the electric motor does all the grunt work, delivering seamless performance for city runs and weekend jaunts with a combined fuel economy of just 5.4L/100km.
As Chery Australia’s COO, Lucas Harris, puts it, “Customers want more for less and we aim to meet these demands”. It’s a simple philosophy, but a potent one.
The Tiggo 4 Hybrid comes in two flavours: the value-packed Urban and the slightly more fancy Ultimate.
The entry-level Urban kicks things off. Standard kit includes 17-inch alloys, a full suite of driver-assist systems, seven airbags, and not one, but two 10.25-inch screens for your instruments and media. It also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the “Hello Chery” voice command system for when you can’t be bothered to press a button.
The Ultimate grade adds a bit of sparkle. This upgrade gets you a sunroof, heated synthetic leather seats, a premium steering wheel, and red brake callipers for that sporty look. You also get a 360-degree camera, a better 6-speaker sound system, selectable ambient lighting for setting the mood, and a wireless charging pad for your phone.
It’s clear Chery is gunning for the value-conscious buyer who still wants all the modern toys. The package is backed by a comprehensive seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, with seven years of capped-price servicing and roadside assistance to sweeten the deal.
