Latest news with #CorollaCrossHEV
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Chery Tiggo Cross hybrid serious threat to Toyota Corolla Cross
Chery takes on Toyota's star performer in terms of price, performance and fuel economy. We predicted that the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) was going to be a disruptor, based only on the car's on-paper credentials. The caution was because the normal Tiggo Cross minus hybrid did not receive a favourable review from the Citizen Motoring team. The throttle calibration was woeful, the DCT gearbox jerky and the brakes were non-existent. Besides the car's better price, that put it above VW's T-Cross in the pecking order, there was no way one could recommend this model derivative in good faith. This negative sentiment has been comprehensively undone after spending some time behind the wheel of the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV. It's like the two cars came out of different factories. It's so much smoother and more refined than the normal Cross. And this one now also has the firepower to gun down the big dog, the top-selling Toyota Corolla Cross HEV. ALSO READ: Hybrid Chery Tiggo Cross declares war on Toyota Corolla Cross Big undercut in price Coming in at R469 900 for the top-of-the-range Elite spec, the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is comfortably better priced than the Corolla Cross HEV in XR spec at R545 200. A R75 300 difference in sticker price within this budget-sensitive part of the segment is a massive win in favour of this Chinese offering. A value-for-money offering Chery is backing up by offering their Tiggo Cross HEV with a five-year/150 000km warranty, 10-year/unlimited mileage (for first owner) battery warranty and five-year/60 000km service plan. The Toyota Corolla Cross HEV is offered with a shorter three-year/100 000km warranty and eight-year warranty on the battery. But the Toyota comes with a substantially longer, six-services/90 000 m service plan. And funny first owner small print stuff. The next big talking point is without a doubt the performance of the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV. When you first read that the car comes with 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that develops a mere 71kW of power and 118Nm of torque, you would think it is dead in the water. But you need to read a bit further and then the picture changes dramatically. The addition of a battery powered electric motor, shoots the claimed numbers up to 150kW and 310Nm. The Chery Tiggo Cross HEV means business. Picture: Mark Jones Almost too good to be true, right? Are the Chinese taking a chance in overstating their numbers here? Can a small 1.83kWh battery make this much of a difference? Chery Tiggo Cross HEV packs a punch The Corolla Cross HEV has a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated mill that Toyota rate at 72kW. With electrical assistance, the numbers only marginally increase to 90kW while the torque stays quoted at 142Nm. Don't ask me why. It's just how they do it. ALSO READ: PODCAST: Chery Tiggo Cross takes fight to Toyota Corolla Cross Now, all I can tell you is that I don't know what is inside of that Chery battery, but the Tiggo Cross HEV destroys the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV in a sprint and everyday driveability. The Tiggo is over four seconds quicker to 100km/h and hits the national limit a full seven seconds earlier. Even more decisive is the 12-second gap when the cars accelerate from 60km/h all the way to 140km/h. They are honestly not in the same league when it comes to aspect of the road test. One anomaly, and there are always some when road testing Chinese cars, the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV would not go over 150km/h. I couldn't find a claimed top speed anywhere, so you are going to have to accept that doing top speed runs is not in your future. And that you will be on the speed limiter in less than 500m of road anyway. Kind of bizarre, but who needs more from a car like this? The Tiggo Cross features two digital screens. Picture: Mark Jones Fuel consumption on par with Toyota Where they are very much in the same league though is when it comes to fuel consumption. We got a figure of 5.4 litres per 100km when we spent a few months in the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV. And I managed the exact same number in the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV. My wife on the other hand came home and bragged that her day spent in Sandton traffic saw this number drop as low as 4.7 litres per 100km. Either way, both these cars offer exceptional fuel economy, with the Chery's bigger 50-litre tank to the 36-litre tank of the Toyota, allowing you to go a lot further between refills with the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV. Is the Tiggo Cross HEV perfect? Of course not. The steering is ridiculously light. The car also had a few rattles right off the bat and it just didn't feel as solid as the Corolla Cross HEV. Will you regret your decision in a few years' time? Who knows. Probably more importantly right now, does your wife care for all this? No. Why? Because at the price point and with the performance on tap, the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is impossible to ignore. Chery Tiggo Cross HEV road test results
New Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
UMW Toyota delivers 7,932 vehicles in April
KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) delivered 7,932 vehicles in April 2025, maintaining its strong sales momentum and pushing its year-to-date total to 27,876 units. The company said the continued growth reflects the strong relationship it shares with Malaysians, built on a foundation of trust, quality, and a mutual commitment to progress through mobility. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) said its dedication to sustainability and innovation will be on full display at the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2025, where it plans to unveil its latest advancements in hybrid electrified mobility. Attendees can look forward to an impressive showcase featuring Toyota's newest hybrid models, including the Vellfire HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, Camry HEV, and the cutting-edge Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). "More than just a product showcase, this exhibit reflects Toyota's belief in offering practical, accessible pathways to sustainable mobility for every Malaysian. "This is part of Toyota's broader Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, which considers emissions from production to recycling, not just what comes out of the tailpipe," it said. UMWT president Ravindran K said the company remains focused on its Multipathway strategy, aiming to provide a wide selection of electrified vehicles that enable Malaysians to make eco-friendly choices while still enjoying top-tier quality, safety, and driving performance. "At UMW Toyota Motor, our mission extends beyond delivering vehicles—it is about driving meaningful progress through sustainable mobility solutions," he added.
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Gloves off as Chery Tiggo Cross hybrid shoots for Corolla Cross
Toyota will have a fight on its hands when Chinese carmaker rolls out its new energy crossover SUV. Back in January, we reported that the updated Toyota Corolla Cross have managed to weather the Chinese storm. That is all about to change with the imminent introduction of the Chery Tiggo Cross hybrid (HEV). Attending the Shanghai Auto Show as a guest of Chinese carmaker Chery last month, The Citizen Motoring has learned that the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is heading to South Africa and could be rolled out in the coming month or two already. Key to the Corolla Cross' runaway sales since making its debut at the end of 2021 has been its hybrid derivatives. The demand for the dual source powertrain exceeded Toyota's initial expectations and the HEV quickly became the best-selling local new energy vehicle. By some margin too. ALSO READ: Corolla Cross HEV takes the sting out of all the hybrid lingo Price war can erupt One of the reasons the Corolla Cross HEV became an attractive option is because of its very reasonable pricing. When it was first introduced, Toyota indicated that it incentivises around R30 000 of the HEV derivatives' retail price 'in anticipation of future government support'. While they are still waiting on government to finalise its policy on new energy vehicles, the pricing of the updated Corolla Cross HEV is still incentivised, but now 'around half' of what it was before. The entry-level Corolla Cross HEV is the Xs priced at R494 400, with the Xr priced at R545 200. The big news around the arrival of the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV is that it is likely to significantly undercut Toyota's pricing. It has been rumoured that the starting price of the hybrid crossover SUV is likely to be 'around R480 000'. But special launch pricing might even see the Tiggo Cross HEV come in at under R450 000. The Tiggo Cross current top derivative, the Elite, costs R449 900. ALSO READ: Chery Tiggo Cross has enough going for it to make up for its flaws Chery Tiggo Cross HEV feels solid The final specifications of the Chery TIggo Cross HEV has not been announced yet. But it will be powered by Chery's familiar 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine hooked up to an electric motor and battery. Similar to the Corolla Cross, it will be a self-charging hybrid. This means it does not have to be plugged in. The Citizen Motoring had the chance to sample the Chery hybrid on a slalom course in Wuhu, China last month. As you'd expect, the hybrid system transitions seamlessly between electric and hybrid or engine power. And the throttle calibration, our pet hate with any Chinese car, also seemed decent. The Chery Tiggo Cross is currently offered with one engine derivative. The 1.5-litre blown petrol mill which produces 108kW of power and 210Nm of torque. The Toyota Corolla Cross is available in 103kW/172Nm 1.8-litre naturally aspirated guise and in the 90kW/142Nm HEV. The latter combines the 1.8-litre mill with an electric motor and battery pack.
