Will the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro upset the X70 facelift and Honda CR-V

When it arrives this year, the Tiggo 7 Pro  will compete with the current favorites.

 With the pending arrival of the Tiggo 7 Pro in Malaysia, there are two immediate rivals right now that should be a little worried. First is the Honda CR-V. A solid performer with a great sales record, however the current CR-V is already seeing too many years of showroom service. Launched in July 2017 and face-lifted in November 2020 with a selling price that starts from RM 143,000, the Honda CR-V is starting to look a little tired and needs an all new model. 

Then there is the fast selling Proton X70 which is a rebadged Geely Auto SUV. Since its launch in December 2018, it has been fast to disrupt both the sedan and also SUV segments with its selling price from RM 99,800. Plagued by late delivery and also after sales issues, its sales momentum is slowing down. This is why Proton and Geely are launching the facelift X70 in a couple of months with a familiar 1.5L turbocharged engine (yes it is the same powertrain used by the X50 and the soon to arrive Proton Exora replacement). 

Also read: Should you wait for the 2023 Proton Exora or not?

This means, the facelift X70 will compete head to head with the Chery Tiggo  7 Pro SUV. The Tiggo 7 Pro will have an all digital driver’s cockpit, voice command, 3 digital screens and all the comfort and safety features to rival the X70 and also CR-V. It is a 5 seater with 475L of cargo space.

Under the hood is a 147 horsepower 1.5L turbocharged engine that delivers 210 Nm of torque mated to a CVT.  The Honda CR-V also uses a 1.5L turbocharged engine and this 4-cylinder delivers 193 horsepower and 243 Nm of torque working with a proven CVT.

Meanwhile, the facelift X70 will carry the same engine as used in the Proton X50. This 1.5L 3-cylinder turbocharged engine has 180 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque working with a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.

So, the X70 facelift is more powerful, but the 3-cylinder engine might be an issue for some Malaysian buyers, plus the dual clutch gearbox which is known for its reliability issues from the early days of VW dual clutch gearbox breakdowns might be another hindrance. 

With Proton’s continued after sales and parts issues, and the above-mentioned powertrain questions for the facelift Proton X70, it would give the Chery Tiggo  7 Pro a good running chance if they deliver the same strong after sales and warranty that their South African customers are enjoying right now. 

In South Africa with a different tax system than Malaysia, this Tiggo  7 Pro sells for about RM115k, we estimate a Malaysian selling price of around RM 135,000 which is in between the CR-V and facelift X70. 

Also read: Proton Saga: Old vs. New; an actual improvement or a sight update