Tiggo 4 petrol-electric cheaper than tech leader’s choices, but falls behind on running cost.

REBORN Chinese budget brand Chery has made good on intent to undercut hybrid sector giant Toyota on pricing.

Announcement of the Tiggo 4 hybrid being set to come on sale within a fortnight also confirms the model will be cheaper than the least expensive Toyota petrol-electric here.

Chery says the entry-level Urban version of its smallest budget car will start at $32,990 plus on road costs, so $500 below the Toyota Yaris GX hatch. As a small crossover, the Chery more closely resembles the Yaris Cross in body style; that model comes in at $39,490.

The Chery also provisions in an Ultimate form, for $37,990.

The Chinese make’s car has a Toyota-style full-hybrid system, with a 71kW/120Nm 1.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine matched to an electric motor, for a 150kW/310Nm combined output.

Toyota only sits a combined power output, of 85kW, for the 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit common to both GX Yaris and Yaris Cross.

The Toyota appears to be thriftier, with consumptions of just 3.0-litres per 100km for Yaris hatch and 3.6 for Yaris Cross, these outcomes coming from assessment using the WLTP scale. The Tiggo has what is cited as a lab-tested fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres, down from the petrol-only grade’s 7.4L/100km.

It is not clear if the hybrid automatically assumes the non-hybrid Tiggo 4’s has a five star ANCAP score under the latest 2023 to 2025 testing criteria.

Like the preceding full petrol, the Tiggo 4 has a long list of standard features that ranges from dual 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster and multimedia touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a “Hello Chery” voice control system.

The maker says the hybrid powertrain offers seamless performance ideal for both city commutes and weekend escapes.

In provided comment, Chery NZ chief operating officer Lucas Harris said: “Introducing hybrid power to the Tiggo 4 range was a no brainer. Customers want more for less and we aim to meet these demands with all our products.

“The Tiggo 4 Hybrid combines smart design, real-world efficiency and unbeatable value – all in one package.”