Chery

It’s too early to tell whether or not Chery’s SUV lineup will hold up to the rough and tumble of Australian road conditions, which requires sample dates stretching out a minimum of five, ideally ten years to get an idea of overall brand quality, reliability and the quality of materials used.

In its home market of China, Chery is the third-largest automaker which would suggest that the company is well-established and has a solid reputation for its vehicles produced.

Chery was founded in 1997 and is currently owned by the Chinese government, with the state-owned automotive company remaining the third-largest currently in operation. In 2023, Chery manufactured and delivered just under 1.9 million vehicles and is currently expanding its global footprint.

After a relatively short stint selling passenger vehicles in the mid 2010s, Chery re-entered the local market in 2023 and is currently selling models like the Omoda, Omoda GT, Tiggo 7 Pro and the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, with its SUV lineup positioned across the compact, midsize and the large SUV segment.

Chery’s entry-level Omoda 5 comes powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque, while a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is also available, producing 145kW of power and 290Nm of torque. The Chery Tiggo 7 midsize SUV comes powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit producing 137kW of power and 275Nm of torque, while the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 180kW of power and 375Nm of torque.

It’s too early to tell whether or not Chery’s vehicle lineup is reliable in harsh Australian conditions, with accurate reliability ratings requiring quite a long period of time to assess engine reliability, the quality of materials used and the overall fit and finish of the bodywork and interior. Having said that, so far, the Chery brand has received average vehicle reliability ratings from owners that range from 3.2 stars out of 5, or 6.7 on a scale of a possible 10, positioning it slightly above the midpoint for reliability.

Since their introduction, the Chery Omoda 5 compact SUV has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, while the later Chery Tiggo 7 Pro midsize SUV has also received a five-star ANCAP safety rating, meaning they have met ANCAP’s benchmarks under the updated test protocols and represent a safe SUV package. The larger Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is currently unrated by ANCAP.