2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid review

Meet the cheapest and smallest brand new full hybrid vehicle for sale in New Zealand: the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid.

Following the success of the turbocharged petrol version, Chery quickly added the Tiggo 4 Hybrid model in two grades to capitalise on the popularity of the small SUVs.

Dubbed as the definition of a street-smart SUV, the Chery Tiggo 4 could arguably be the brand’s best-placed model in these uncertain times. As fuel prices shoot to new highs every week, the promise of a small, safe, economical SUV could be just the ticket, and that’s before we mention pricing.

While you can buy the 1.5-litre petrol Chery Tiggo 4 for as little as $24,990 excluding on-roads, what you see here is the top-spec Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate. It promises to use less fuel, but could it be worth the extra $10,000 over its entry-level petrol-powered base sibling? Let’s find out.

How much does the Chery Tiggo 4 cost?

A turbocharged petrol Tiggo 4 can be had for as little as $24,990 plus on-road costs, while the Tiggo 4 Hybrid range kicks off at $29,990 plus on-road costs. The flagship Hybrid Ultimate model tested here costs $34,990.

What is the Chery Tiggo 4 like on the inside?

Despite the low entry price of the Tiggo 4 Hybrid range, the interior is perhaps the one area where the small SUV impresses the most for its price point.

Where you might expect to find hard plastics like the tops of doorcards, instead you’ll see leather-look surfaces with contrast stitching which initially present as a far more premium experience than you’d expect in this segment.

In fact, the Tiggo 4 interior is much closer to its more premium and pricey Tiggo 7, 8 and 9 siblings than much else in the small SUV category.

Up front the driver and passenger are positioned high in the cabin, giving a commanding view forward. The seats in our Ultimate models are wrapped in faux leather, and the driver seat comes equipped with six-way power adjustment.

The front row appears like a bucket seat on first impression, though you won’t find much in the way of lateral- or under-thigh support, especially for taller drivers over 6-foot. 

However the dual 10.25-inch driver and infotainment displays are a highlight. They are housed within a single unit on the dashboard and the graphics present clearly, though the slow refresh rate can be noticeable. For example, at times the power and speedometer can lag behind what’s actually happening.

The centre console is another problem area. The entire unit is finished in piano black trim. Our test car was beautifully groomed when we picked it up, but by day three, the entire centre console was covered in dust and fingerprints. The same finish is applied to the small gear leaver, which looks nice, but is going to suffer from the same problem. If you’re a neat freak, the Tiggo 4 interior will drive you mad.

There are physical controls to quickly change temperature and fan speed which is nice, although all other air conditioning controls are housed on a glossy digital panel. The large, easy to read temperature and airflow display, although the unit will attract dust and smudges just as fast as the console.

However hidden underneath all the piano black and glossy finish is a handy amount of interior storage, including a shelf under the centre console, door bins and a cubby under the front armrest. There’s two cupholders up front and a small slot to stow your phone, although it’s not deep enough to keep it out of sight.

In the rear, those needing to utilise the second row on a regular basis will be pleasantly surprised. Despite being a small SUV, the Tiggo 4 offers ample space thanks to its tall body. 

I had no issue getting comfy behind the driver seat set to my positions, so carrying two full size adults will not be a problem. Even traveling three-wide won’t be too uncomfortable either thanks to a relatively small hump in the footwell for the middle seat.

Rear row passengers get a single air vent, fold-down centre armrest with cupholders and large bottle holders in the door bins. Of course there are ISOFIX and top-tether points for smaller passengers, too.

In the boot, Chery quotes 470 litres of cargo space with the second row up. Under the boot floor you’ll also find a space-saver spare wheel. Urban models only get a tyre repair kit.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Tiggo 4 Hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and a small battery pack.

While the ‘Hybrid’ label might have you thinking this Tigoo 4 would sip away in the 4.0L/100km range like a Toyota Yaris, our test car never quite managed those figures.

I used the Tiggo 4 just as it was intended with a near-50:50 mix of motorway and urban commuting across the course of our test week and I believe I managed to replicate Chery’s claimed economy of 5.4L/100km relatively easily.

I ‘believe’ because, annoyingly, the economy readout on the driver display only displays a figure from the last 50km of driving. However that number ranged from mid-4s to high-5s throughout the week and only strayed into the 6s for a short period.

This is undoubtedly an improvement over the petrol Tiggo 4 which would indicate 7-9L/100km in similar driving conditions, but it won’t challenge the class-leading Yaris Cross.

The Tiggo 4 has a small 1.8kWh battery back and I get the feeling if that size was doubled, it would result in a meaningful drop to fuel economy. Perhaps even enough to drop into the 4s.

How does the Chery Tiggo 4 drive?

The Chery Tiggo 4 is no performance car but the 150kW and 310Nm outputs from the electric motor provide far more punch than you’d expect.

The engine is paired to a one-speed ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission’, something Chery reps couldn’t break down or explain to me fully when I picked up the car. But based on our time behind the wheel, it feels like the brand’s own version of an e-CVT. Don’t despair, together the engine and transmission are well calibrated, mainly as it favours relying on the electric motor most of the time.

The petrol engine will cut in and out primarily to keep the battery topped up, but the electric motor will always be there to deliver drive.

The instant torque it provides off the line makes it far smoother than the petrol-only version, it’s faster too without suffering from any turbolag that the cheaper Tiggo 4 can suffer from. Hybrid models are only 90kg heavier as well, so it is the more responsive version as well as being much more refined and quieter around town.

On the motorway, the petrol engine can become more pronounced. Sometimes it seems to come back online in a panic, firing up and revving quickly which can be heard and felt with some vibrations coming from the engine bay.

One area that needs more attention is the steering. Both the feel and accuracy of the wheel off centre can be far too vague at low and high speeds. The chassis does a good job of offering a neutral balance between comfort and handling, but accuracy through the steering rack is seldom found.

This becomes a bigger issue in the corners when the body begins to roll, something to be expected in this class and pricepoint. It never feels wayward, although being able to turn in accurately at corner entry would make hitting the exit smoothly far easier without the need for a mid-corner correction.

The driver assistance systems are also a mixed bag. The adaptive cruise control works as expected and the 360-degree surround cameras are a handy and luxury extra at this price point. 

However, I was never able to fully trust the semi-autonomous highway assist. To be fair, it does work as advertised but it simply isn’t as accurate or smooth enough to use on the daily. Once activated, it can sometimes tug at the wheel aggressively while also preferring to hug the centre line a bit too close for comfort at times. This can be fixed by turning off the lance centring assist.

The driver's attention monitor is also very eager to remind you to keep your eyes on the road, even when changing A/C or cycling menus for under 3 seconds. There are also audible bings and bongs that chime in without any message showing up on the dash. I assumed most of these were safety related, but without any information, it can be a bit unnerving to hear warning sounds going off without any clue as to what’s going on.

What do you get?

2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Urban equipment highlights:

• Reflector automatic LED headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 17-inch alloy wheels in 215/60 R17 tyres
• Tyre repair kit
• Eco/Sport drive modes
• Electronic parking brake with auto hold
• Heated, power-adjustable exterior mirrors
• Proximity entry with push-button start
• Remote start
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Voice assistant
• 4-speaker sound system
• Cloth upholstery
• 60:40 split/fold rear seats
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Front-row LED interior lighting
• Front USB-A, USB-C outlets (1 each)
• 1 x rear USB-A outlet
• Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents

Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate adds:

• 360-degree camera
• Space-saver spare wheel
• Power sunroof with sunshade
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Remote opening/closing of windows
• 6-speaker sound system
• Leatherette upholstery
• 6-way power driver’s seat
• incl. 4-way power lumbar
• Heated front seats
• ‘Premium’ steering wheel
• Second-row LED interior lighting
• Colour-adjustable ambient lighting
• 15W wireless phone charger

CarExpert’s take on the Chery Tiggo 4

For me, the newly-introduced Tiggo 4 Hybrid is now the pick of the range. However, I think the entry-level Urban is the one to go for.

You’re going to miss out on leatherette seats, sunroof and heated seats, but the purchase price slots in under $30k before on-roads and you’ll have an extra $5,000 in your back pocket to sit on instead. The one feature that could tempt me into the top-spec Ultimate would be the 360-degree camera, although is that feature really needed in a small SUV?

The Hybrid delivers real-world financial benefits over the petrol model, and while 2-3 litre savings per 100km may not be as much as expected, the added refinement and smoothness of an electric motor deliver a far more enjoyable daily driving experience. 

This Chery 4 Hybrid is also arguably the best demonstration of the company’s strengths. It offers a modern powertrain, ample space, high levels of safety kit, value for money and an extensive seven-year mechanical warranty, eight-years for the battery - both warranties are unlimited.

For a do-it-all family car, there isn’t much in the new car market that can compete at a sub $30k price point.