As their name implies, crossovers are an evolution from sedans. These are passenger cars that, while not necessarily created to tackle hard-core off-road driving, are designed to traverse unexpected obstacles that Mother Nature occasionally throws our way.
Knee-deep floods? Fallen trees or poles that force us to drive off the road or on a sidewalk to avoid it? Trash and debris that get washed or blown onto the middle of a street? These obstacles would stop a car dead in its tracks. But an SUV or crossover can still drive on.
It’s why vast numbers of new car buyers, here and abroad, have been gravitating away from sedans in favor of equally easy-to-drive crossovers that have ground clearances as much as four or five inches higher than a sedan. Not only will that extra height allow crossovers to traverse floodwaters with ease and without the water entering the cabin, it also enables the engine to sit higher above the water—which in turn makes the vehicle more capable of crossing flooded stretches without stalling.
A crossover’s high ride height and bigger windows also grant better outward vision—something that can be crucial when driving in heavy rain or fog with limited visibility. And make driving on long road trips that much more pleasurable.
In the Philippines, there is one auto brand that sells only crossovers. It’s Chery and its product range is composed of the subcompact Tiggo 2 and Tiggo 5X, the compact Tiggo 7, and the midsize 7-seater Tiggo 8. These crossovers boast ground clearances as high 210mm and water-wading depths of as much as 600mm, which are even higher than several of its crossover competition.
All Tiggo models are powered by modern 1.5-liter inline-4 fuel-injected DOHC 16-valve Euro 5-compliant gasoline engines (turbocharged for the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8) and mated to manual or automatic transmissions.
All models are made in Chery’s world-class state-of-the-art fully robotized plants in Wuhu, China. All Chery models have contemporary styling and modern comfort, convenience and safety features, while the higher end models boast luxury car features like 10″ UHD touchscreen displays, foot-sensing automatic power tailgates, automatic LED headlamps, LED taillamps, cruise control, Smart Key Entry System, 6-way power-adjustable seats, LCD instrument panel, panoramic sunroof, leather seats, 18″ alloy wheels, and much more.
For safety, Chery automobiles feature six airbags, front and rear radar-based driving aids, and a full suite of electronic driver-assist systems including Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control (even on the entry-level Tiggo 2).
The Chery brand sold over 750,000 units worldwide last year, a growth of 11 percent compared to the previous year. Chery has been China’s biggest exporter of passenger cars in the last 16 years and has sold over 7.2 million vehicles in over 80 countries. It is also a leading manufacturer of hybrid and full electric vehicles, not just in China, but in the world.
To emphasize their confidence in the vehicles, Chery Auto Philippines offers an industry-leading 10-Year/1 Million-km Powertrain Warranty on top of a 5-Year General Vehicle Warranty. And to sweeten the purchase, Chery Auto Philippines is offering a 3-year FREE Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) and a 3-Year Roadside Assistance on all Tiggo models.
Equally compelling reasons to buy a Chery is the company’s EC Mobile Home Service, which enables a fully trained and health protocol-compliant service crew to perform maintenance and repairs on any Chery model in the comfort and safety of your own home — much appreciated in this time of pandemic.
Another useful tool in this time of social distancing is the Chery Auto PH App. The new app is available for download on the Google Play Store for Android smartphones, with an iOS version for iPhones to follow soon.
The Chery Auto PH app will function as a digital showroom where customers can check out Chery’s vehicle models and their specs, see the list of all Chery dealerships nationwide, request and schedule a test drive, book an appointment for car maintenance and repair, order spare parts, inquire about specific Chery models, and request for a quotation for the Chery model they are interested in. The Chery Auto PH App also has a rewards program where users earn points for using the app to purchase a vehicle, refer a friend and schedule a service.
Prices for the new models start at P695,000 for the Tiggo 2, P818,000 for the Tiggo 5X, P1,195,000 for the Tiggo 7, and P1,280,000 for the seven-seater Tiggo 8. Easy-own financing promos are available with down payments as low as P15,000 and monthly payments as low as P5,635 (subject to bank approval).
So the next time you’re looking for premium yet value-packed mobility, check out the Chery Tiggo crossovers. They’re the ideal fair- (and foul-) weather friends you’ll ever have for the road.
