Chery Tiggo Cross Review

In Malaysia's B-segment SUV market, cost-effectiveness and configuration richness have always been the core factors influencing consumer decisions—especially for young families and first-time car buyers who want ample space without compromising on safety and smart features. The arrival of the 2025 Chery Tiggo Cross Turbo directly addresses this demand: With a 1.5T turbocharged engine, extensive Level 2 driving assistance, and a price under RM90,000, it's hard not to be curious about its actual performance. For this test drive, we focused on its daily practicality, power response, and whether its features truly offer "exceptional value."

At first glance, the Tiggo Cross Turbo's overall design leans youthful without being flamboyant. The front features a large blacked-out grille paired with irregularly shaped LED headlights, with the daytime running lights connected to the grille trim, visually widening its stance. The side profile is simple, with standard 18-inch multi-spoke wheels—its 225/55 R18 tire specifications appear quite generous for the segment. The rear LED tail lights adopt a through-type design, offering decent recognizability when lit, while the silver skid plate under the rear bumper modestly enhances its rugged SUV appeal. Overall, its exterior design is "pleasantly enduring" within the B-segment, with no overly aggressive elements, making it suitable for the aesthetic preferences of most family users.

Stepping inside, the interior style focuses on simplicity and practicality. The dashboard features soft-touch plastics and piano-black trim; while it doesn’t exude much luxury, the build quality is solid. The 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel is connected to a 10.25-inch central display, both of which offer good clarity. The infotainment system supports CarPlay and Android Auto, and its operation smoothness is on par with expectations for this price range. Its standout feature is its configuration: Keyless entry and one-button start come standard, the driver’s seat offers 6-way electric adjustment, while the passenger seat has 4-way manual adjustment. The dual-zone automatic climate control includes rear air vents, allowing rear passengers to cool off quickly in summer. Storage space has been well-considered; the front row includes two cup holders, a central armrest box with wireless charging, and door pockets that can hold large bottles. The trunk offers 380L of standard space, which can expand further with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats—capable of accommodating strollers or camping gear with ease.

The space performance meets the mainstream standards of the B-segment SUV category. With a wheelbase of 2610mm, there’s about two fist-widths of legroom in the rear after adjusting the front seats to a comfortable position, and headroom is sufficient as well. A 175cm passenger can sit comfortably without feeling cramped. The rear's nearly flat floor allows the middle passenger to place their feet comfortably, a feature very family-friendly. The rear also comes equipped with ISOFIX child seat anchors, making it easy to install child safety seats.

As for power, the 1.5T turbocharged engine delivers a maximum output of 147PS and a peak torque of 210N·m, paired with a 6-speed wet dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive. During daily driving, the power response in the low rev range is quite spirited, and the vehicle feels responsive at takeoff, making it easy to follow traffic or overtake in the city. Switching to Sport mode increases throttle sensitivity, with RPMs staying above 2000, resulting in a more direct acceleration feel. However, the gearbox occasionally shows slight hesitation when shifting, particularly at low speeds and during crawling. The official combined fuel consumption is claimed at 6.3L/100km. During our test drive, we observed around 7.5L in congested urban traffic and managed to bring it down to 5.8L with steady highway driving. Overall, fuel consumption performance is average.

In terms of handling, the combination of front MacPherson struts and rear torsion beam suspension is tuned for comfort. When passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension absorbs most of the jolts, and there is no obvious stiffness. When cornering at high speed, the body roll is controlled within a reasonable range. The steering wheel has moderate weight, and the dead zone is not significant, making it very easy for daily driving. The braking performance is good, with linear braking force providing precise control and confidence. As for noise control, tire and wind noise are not noticeable when driving in the city. At high speeds of 120km/h, wind noise is slightly perceptible inside the cabin but remains within acceptable limits and does not affect normal conversation.

Safety features are a major “plus” for the Tiggo Cross Turbo: six airbags (including front and rear curtain airbags), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), and tire pressure monitoring are all standard. It also comes with L2 level driving assistance, including ACC adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane change assist. The 360-degree surround view camera offers high clarity, making it stress-free for new drivers to park without worrying about scrapes. These features, in the same price range (such as the Proton X50 or Honda HR-V), often require upgrades or are only available on higher trim levels. The Tiggo Cross Turbo includes them as standard, showcasing great sincerity.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 Chery Tiggo Cross Turbo are clear: for under 90,000 MYR, you get 1.5T power, a wealth of intelligent safety features, adequate space, and practical interiors. Compared to competitors in the same segment, its configuration levels are almost a “dimensional reduction strike” — particularly with the L2 driving assistance and 360-degree cameras, which are especially friendly for family users and beginners. However, it does have minor drawbacks: low-speed gear shifts can be jerky, and the interior quality is average, but these are within acceptable limits.

If you’re a family user with a budget of 80,000 to 90,000 MYR, looking for an SUV that “has it all” — capable of handling daily commutes, occasional family trips, and without compromise on safety features, the Tiggo Cross Turbo would be a very practical choice. It does not have any particularly obvious shortcomings, and all its features are aimed at “daily practicality,” making it a family car you can “buy with your eyes closed” and not go wrong.