How will the upcoming Chery Tiggo 7 Pro compete against the Proton X70 when it gets released here?
Chery is about to make a big assault on the Malaysian car market with SUVs like the Omoda, Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo 7 Pro all planned for introduction in the next few months. However, we have to note that Chery isn’t the first Chinese car company to try and introduce itself to the Malaysian market with some value-packed vehicles. Haval have been at it for years, but kind of stumbled after the introduction of the H2. Recently, Tan Chong got into the game by introducing GAC too. Of course the real issue is whether Chery can compete against Proton.
Proton not only has the advantage of having products from Geely, but they also have their status as a national carmaker, which translates to advantageous pricing. So we thought we’d compare their upcoming Proton X70 refresh, which is rumoured to bring in the 1.5L 3-cylinder used in the X50 against Chery’s upcoming Tiggo 7 Pro.
To be fair, we don’t know how either of these SUVs will be equipped in Malaysia. We’re also not sure how the new X70 with the 1.5L turbocharged engine will be packaged as the Geely Boyue 1.5L can be paired with the older 6-speed automatic or the 7-speed DCT and sometimes features a mild-hybrid component. We’ll assume that the X70 1.5L will feature the 7-speed DCT but will not have the hybrid element to it.
Both cars come with 1.5L petrol engines, but that’s where the similarities end. The Chery’s motor is a 4-cylinder while Proton makes do with a 3-cylinder. The Proton has Chery beat on power too, with 177PS and 255Nm available versus the Tiggo 7 Pro’s 150PS and 230Nm.
While the Tiggo can flex 9 virtual ratios on its CVT, the Proton’s 7-speed DCT has the advantage of the optional all-wheel drive configuration, which seems to be missing on the Chery. That being said, there’s a chance that Proton will continue to keep the AWD model away from Malaysians.
In terms of dimensions, the Chery and the X70 are essentially matched. The differences are minor and if anything the Proton has a 44mm advantage in length and 7mm advantage in width.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro’s biggest advantage will come in terms of tech and audio. It can be configured with a 10.25″ infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are missing on the Proton X70’s 8″ system. The Chery also comes with 8 Sony speakers where the X70 comes with a Kenwood system. Brand snobbery in Malaysia may win out here even if the Kenwood system proves to be better. The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro also gets a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster which dwarfs the Proton’s 7″ unit.
Besides that, the Chery and the Proton are matched for kit on most fronts. Both can be configured with a panoramic sunroof, both have power adjustable seats, and all the other knickknacks that are expected in the segment. I’ll be down to the warranty package and driving character to really make the case for the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.
