Gloves off as Chery Tiggo Cross hybrid shoots for Corolla Cross

Back in January, we reported that the updated Toyota Corolla Cross had weathered 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 already be rolled out in the coming month or two.

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 have 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.