Chery is one of the newer brands in Australia, and if you haven't driven one before, it's natural to wonder: are they actually reliable? Is the build quality there? What's it like to live with day to day?
These are fair questions — and they deserve honest answers. Here's what you need to know before hiring a Chery Tiggo in Melbourne.
Who is Chery?
Chery Automobile Co. is China's largest independently-owned automotive manufacturer. Founded in 1997 in Wuhu, China, Chery has sold over 11 million vehicles globally and exports to more than 80 countries. It is not a start-up or a budget brand rushing to market — it's an established manufacturer with genuine engineering depth.
Chery launched its Australian operations in 2022 with the Tiggo range of SUVs. The Australian lineup focuses on the Tiggo 4 Pro (compact SUV) and the Tiggo 7 Pro (mid-size SUV), both of which sit in Australia's most competitive and well-scrutinised vehicle segments.
ANCAP safety ratings
Safety is often the first question for Australian buyers, and Chery has performed well.
- Chery Tiggo 7 Pro: 5-star ANCAP rating (2023). Tested under the latest ANCAP protocols, which include updated criteria for occupant protection, vulnerable road user safety, and safety assist systems. A 5-star result in 2023 is a strong outcome.
- Chery Tiggo 4 Pro: 5-star ANCAP rating for vehicles built from November 2024 onwards. This is an important distinction — earlier builds received a lower rating under revised testing criteria. All Tiggo 4 Pro vehicles in the current 888 Car Hire fleet are from qualifying builds.
Both Tiggos qualify for UberX in Australia — a practical signal of their safety credentials.
What are they like to drive?
### Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
The Tiggo 4 Pro is a compact SUV in the same segment as the Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-3 and MG ZS. It seats five, is easy to park in city environments, and gets around 7–8L/100km in mixed driving.
Inside, it punches above its price point. A 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, digital instrument cluster and a quality interior finish are standard. CarExpert's review noted the Tiggo 4 Pro "offers a lot for the money" and praised its interior presentation.
The drive quality is smooth for urban and suburban use. It's not sporty — it's practical, comfortable, and well-suited to the kind of moderate-pace driving most renters and ride-share drivers are doing.
### Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
Step up to the Tiggo 7 Pro and you get a genuinely mid-size SUV — longer wheelbase, more rear legroom, and a 360-degree camera system that makes parking in tight Melbourne streets easy.
The Tiggo 7 Pro features a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and a more premium interior feel than the 4 Pro. CarsGuide noted it "impresses with its feature count" and highlighted the 360-degree cameras as a standout inclusion at the price point.
For ride-share, the Tiggo 7 Pro is particularly good: passengers have genuine space, the interior feels well above entry-level, and the 360-camera takes the stress out of tight inner-city parking.
Is Chery reliable? What the early evidence shows
Chery has been in Australia for approximately three years — not long enough for a deep pool of long-term reliability data. However, early indicators are positive:
Powertrain components are proven. Both Tiggos use a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to a CVT or dual-clutch transmission — technology that is well-understood and widely deployed across the industry. Chery is not experimenting with unproven mechanical configurations.
7-year/unlimited km warranty. Chery Australia offers a 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty on all new vehicles. This is among the strongest warranty offers in the Australian market and reflects confidence in the product. It also provides renters and drivers with meaningful peace of mind — any manufacturing defect is covered for the full ownership period.
Growing dealer network. Chery has established a dealer network across Australian capital cities, including Melbourne. Spare parts availability — a genuine concern for any emerging brand — is addressed through this network.
Early customer reviews are solid. Reviews on CarExpert, CarsGuide and owner forums are broadly positive, with owners citing good value, impressive feature sets, and no major reliability issues in the first 12–24 months of ownership.
How does Chery compare to MG?
Both Chery and MG are Chinese brands offering good value, modern SUVs with strong safety ratings. The comparison is natural.
- MG (owned by SAIC Motor) has been in Australia longer and has a larger established owner base. The MG HS is arguably the benchmark for value in the mid-size SUV segment.
- Chery is newer to Australia but brings a more recent product range with competitive ANCAP results. The Tiggo 7 Pro's 2023 ANCAP rating is more recent than many competitors.
For renters, the practical differences are minor. Both brands offer new vehicles, comprehensive insurance, and UberX-eligible 5-star safety ratings. The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro is slightly more spacious than the MG HS; the Tiggo 4 Pro is more compact and better for city driving.
For renters and ride-share drivers specifically
When you hire a Chery Tiggo from 888 Car Hire, you're getting:
- A new or near-new vehicle with full service history
- Comprehensive insurance
- A 5-star ANCAP rating (UberX eligible)
- The backing of a 7-year manufacturer warranty
- A vehicle that passengers consistently find comfortable and modern
The reliability question, for a hire vehicle, is managed at the operator level — vehicles are maintained to schedule, and any issues are handled by us, not you.