2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate Hybrid Review

Three years ago, when Chery re-entered the Australian market, the manufacturer asked me what their biggest hurdle would be. My answer back then was straightforward: it wasn't Australia’s crowded new-car market packed with over 70 brands; nor was it necessarily the time needed to construct a dependable dealer network and aftersales infrastructure to inspire buyer confidence; nor was it adopting a race-to-the-bottom price undercut strategy. Frankly, I believed Chery’s steepest uphill battle upon returning to Australia was how quickly it could reverse the legacy negative impressions left behind when it exited the local market over a decade ago.

In reality, Chery accomplished just that: in only two years, it broke back into the top 10 best-selling automotive brands in the Australian new-car market. Much of that monumental success is owed to its runaway hit—the Chery Tiggo 4 range.

Throughout 2025, the Chery Tiggo 4 recorded 20,149 sales in Australia. Over the first six months of 2026, Chery successfully delivered 13,638 units of the Tiggo 4, crowning it the outright sales champion of Australia’s small SUV category.

What is the powertrain of the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4?

In terms of mechanicals, the petrol-powered Chery Tiggo 4 is motivated by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine outputting 108kW of maximum power and 210Nm of peak torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Official combined fuel economy is rated at 7.4L/100km with CO2 emissions of 168g/km, accepting 91 RON standard unleaded fuel with a 51-litre fuel tank.

Both Tiggo 4 Hybrid variants pair a 71kW/118Nm 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with an electric motor to generate a combined system output of 150kW and 310Nm to the front wheels. Equipped with a 1.83kWh battery, combined fuel consumption drops to 5.4L/100km—significantly more frugal than the pure-petrol variant's 7.3L/100km—delivering an officially claimed driving range of up to 1,000km on a full tank. Furthermore, the Tiggo 4 Hybrid completes the 0–100km/h sprint in 9.4 seconds, shaving 1.2 seconds off the petrol model's time.

During real-world evaluation, the Tiggo 4 Ultimate Hybrid I tested covered nearly 350 kilometres across three days. Roughly 90% of the driving was completed in Sydney metropolitan traffic, interspersed with occasional stints on 100km/h intercity freeways, yielding a tested combined fuel consumption of 4.8L/100km. I don't consider myself a sedate driver, and I drove in Sport mode for more than half the test. Achieving this real-world efficiency and comfortably beating the official laboratory fuel rating (5.2L/100km) is genuinely satisfying.

How does the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid look from the outside?

Visually, the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid adopts a composed, upright, and squared-off aesthetic. It avoids the rakish, sloping fastback roofline and aggressively polarizing styling seen on its slightly larger stablemate, the Chery C5. In fact, from certain angles, it can easily be mistaken for the larger Tiggo 7.

Compact, sharp LED headlight clusters and full-width LED tail-lights lend it a touch of class-above sophistication. The bodywork is generously accented with high-gloss black inserts and discreet chrome trim elements, successfully banishing the cheap budget feel typical of vehicles at this price point.

Vehicle Dimensions

In terms of exterior paint selections, the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid series is offered in Martian Red, alongside premium options requiring a $500 surcharge: Lunar White, Star Silver, Space Black, and Mercurial Grey.

How is the interior of the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid?

Consistent with virtually all modern Chinese automotive offerings, the Tiggo 4 creates an immediate first impression that feels thoroughly deserving of its $30,000 AUD price bracket the moment you swing the door open. While several Japanese rivals offer little more than scratchy plastics at this price tier, the Tiggo 4's extensive use of high-gloss displays and soft-touch synthetic leather panels with contrast stitching cultivates an upscale ambiance that punches above its weight.

From the stitched, soft-padded upper dashboard fascia to the padded interior door pulls complete with genuine stitching, this Chery sits far above the austerity of bare-bones entry-level runabouts. Furthermore, the satin metallic finish on the interior door handles adds notable tactile and visual appeal.

However, the extensive swath of piano black trim spanning the centre console feels like an expedient design shortcut. On one hand, glossy piano black blends cleanly with the secondary climate display without looking disjointed; on the other hand, it reflects cost considerations given the ubiquity of piano black trim. Swapping that high-gloss plastic out for open-pore simulated timber grain would elevate the cabin's premium maturity significantly.

Climate controls are not crammed into the primary infotainment screen, but are instead housed within a dedicated tertiary display—an arrangement rarely seen in a $30,000 AUD compact SUV, closely echoing dual-screen cockpit setups found on Audi SUVs costing more than twice as much. While temperature adjustments remain touch-based, separating them from the main infotainment screen keeps the primary display clutter-free, and the inclusion of tactile physical rocker switches for temperature adjustment is a massive ergonomic bonus.

The front seating position is set somewhat high. While it yields exceptional forward visibility, drivers like myself who prefer a hunkered-down driving posture will wish the seat could drop another notch or two lower. The flagship Ultimate trim comes fitted with integrated synthetic leather sports seats, with six-way power adjustment for the driver. Aided by a tilt-and-telescopic four-way adjustable steering column, the driving position works reasonably well for drivers of average build.

However, for a broader, middle-aged frame, the front seat cushion lacks under-thigh support, and frustratingly—as is common in many Chinese vehicles—you cannot tilt the base cushion angle to compensate. Furthermore, the front passenger seat lacks height adjustment, leaving the passenger perched high on an upright perch; this, combined with limited height travel on the B-pillar seatbelt anchors, makes it apparent that the Tiggo 4's cabin packaging prioritises slimmer occupants who favour an elevated commanding view.

Perched atop the dashboard is a dual 10.25-inch connected display arrangement encompassing the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. The user interface graphics are legible, but the visual styling, touch response, and display refresh rates feel somewhat sluggish. While everything functions as intended, the slightly hesitant input latency dilutes the premium ambiance the rest of the cabin works hard to cultivate.

My first major criticism centers on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Within roughly 10 minutes of starting up, auto-pairing, and setting off, your connection reliably cuts out completely—whether provoked by a sudden cellular blackspot, passing an overhead tollway gantry camera, or purely out of unpredictable digital spite. Reconnection attempts fail, displaying error messages such as "Wi-Fi Adapter Reset". After experiencing this repeatedly, I scoured online forums for remedies, only to discover there is no native fix short of buying an aftermarket external Wi-Fi dongle, which many Tiggo 4 owners have resorted to in order to stabilise smartphone mirroring.

The second major frustration concerns equipment allocation: while the flagship Tiggo 4 Hybrid adds an opening sunroof, I would have gladly traded that glass roof for a power tailgate. The absence of an electric tailgate across the entire range—even on the top-tier Ultimate—abruptly shatters the upscale illusion the Tiggo 4 otherwise projects.

Everyday storage is well resolved, offering plenty of nooks and crannies to tuck away loose items: an open lower storage tier under the centre console, sizable door bins that swallow full-sized drink bottles, and a useful bin under the front centre armrest. The cupholders are positioned well but are slightly narrow, forcing oversized insulated flasks into the door pockets. The lower bridge compartment incorporates a 15W wireless phone charging pad with a non-slip rubber mat, though its tucked-away location makes it remarkably easy to forget your phone when leaving the car.

In the rear, the Tiggo 4's tall, traditional SUV silhouette pays dividends with expansive headroom and a relatively flat footwell floor. However, the seating comfort remains a mixed bag: the seat base cushion is mounted low, legroom is merely average against segment rivals, and the upright seatback angle can induce fatigue on longer journeys. Rear passengers share a single, non-directional air vent, an aging USB-A port, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders—a sparse setup that could easily spark arguments among kids over who gets the cool air or who gets to charge their tablet.

Finally, looking into the luggage area, Chery advertises a floor-to-ceiling cargo capacity of 470 litres, though usable capacity to the cargo blind measures 380 litres. For a compact SUV, this is a thoroughly practical and generous boot.

What is the ownership and warranty coverage for the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid?

Chery backs the 2026 Tiggo 4 range with:

• 7-year, unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty
• 8-year, unlimited-kilometre traction battery warranty
• 7 years of roadside assistance
• Service intervals: 12 months or 15,000km
• Capped-price servicing averaging $299 AUD per annual service over the first 5 years

How safe is the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid?

In terms of safety assistance, the Chery Tiggo 4 holds a maximum five-star ANCAP crash rating, with standard active safety technology across the range comprising:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic jam assist
• Integrated cruise assist
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot detection
• Lane keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver monitoring system
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Seven airbags
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera

Stepping up to the Ultimate trim adds a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

Which 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 variant should you choose?

2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Urban Hybrid standard equipment includes:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic LED headlights
• Full-width LED tail-lights
• Rear fog lights
• Rain-sensing automatic wipers
• Acoustic windscreen glass
• Heated exterior side mirrors
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio
• Intelligent voice control system
• Six-speaker audio system
• Walk-away automatic door locking
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Rear-seat air conditioning vent
• Front USB-A and USB-C ports
• Rear USB-A port
• Front 12V power outlet
• Front LED map reading lights
• Luggage compartment boot lamp
• Cloth seat upholstery
• Six-way manual driver's seat
• Four-way manual front passenger seat

2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate Hybrid upgrades (in addition to Urban):

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Power glass sunroof with sunblind
• One-touch express power windows all round
• 15W wireless smartphone charger
• Multi-colour ambient interior lighting
• Rear LED reading lights
• Synthetic leather seat upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat

What is the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid like to drive?

Chery does not explicitly detail the internal mechanical layout of its Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), but from behind the wheel, it operates very much like an e-CVT. Unlike Toyota's hybrid setup, while Chery's system may not match the benchmark efficiency of the Japanese giant, its powertrain relies heavily on its electric motor for direct propulsion.

Whether the combustion engine is running or dormant, the robust 150kW and 310Nm output from the electric motor acts as the primary source of motivation; the petrol engine ignites largely to generate electricity and top up the battery pack.

The immediate low-end torque from the electric motor neatly cures the off-the-line turbo lag that blights the petrol-only model. Where the petrol variant can feel jerky or elastic off the mark if you lean into the throttle, the hybrid glides away with creamy smoothness, delivering an initial take-off that feels gentle and relaxed. The suspension breathes over rough surface imperfections nicely, striking a pleasing compromise between a compliant compression stroke and composed rebound control.

The crowning virtue of this hybrid powertrain is its eagerness to run in pure EV mode at lower speeds, making it serenely quiet in dense urban traffic. Up until roughly 75km/h, the electric motor shoulders almost all driving duties whenever conditions permit, giving the Tiggo 4 Hybrid the unmistakable refined demeanor of a pure battery-electric vehicle across metropolitan roads.

At open-road cruising speeds, the powertrain management logic automatically adjusts: the petrol engine either clutches in to drive the front wheels directly, or operates in range-extender series mode to feed electricity to the traction motor. The welcome news is that transitions between these operational states are exceptionally seamless, passing by virtually unnoticed by the driver.

Steering feedback is far from textured, but even in its lightest calibration setting, the rack maintains reassuring on-centre weighting that avoids feeling flighty at speed or clumsy when twirling into tight parking spaces. The Tiggo 4 Hybrid feels light on its feet and eager to change direction; slicing through narrow inner-city Sydney laneways, its nimble dynamics make light work of tight suburban quarters despite its upright SUV profile.

In higher-speed dynamic composure, however, the chassis leaves room for polish. The dampers are calibrated heavily toward low-speed urban suppleness, which translates to floaty secondary rebound movements over highway undulations.

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) suppression is respectable around town, reaffirming that the Tiggo 4 Hybrid's natural habitat is the city. While cruising on smooth motorways is adequately refined, coarse-chip bitumen throws significant tyre roar and suspension thrum into the passenger cabin.

Additionally, the electronic gear selector can occasionally test your patience: shifting cleanly between Park and Drive requires stomping the brake pedal all the way to the carpet. A casual, lighter brake press often leaves the transmission stuck in Neutral, which quickly becomes stressful when executing quick three-point turns.

Finally, Chery’s active safety assistance software remains an inconsistent performer. Adaptive cruise control functions smoothly, and the 360-degree camera on the Ultimate trim is undeniably helpful. However, as observed on other Chery models, the lane centring assist lacks precision—frequently applying abrupt, aggressive steering tugs that pull the car toward the driver’s side lane marking. Toggling lane centring off upon starting the vehicle yields a far more relaxed driving experience.

The cabin also suffers from an assortment of mystery alert chimes that sound without accompanying visual warning icons on the dash. Combined with a hyperactive driver monitoring camera that scolds you for distraction at the slightest glance away, these digital software calibrations clearly need further fine-tuning.

How much does the 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid cost?

Official drive-away pricing for the Chery Tiggo 4 range in Australia is listed below:  

• 2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Urban: $23,990  
• 2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate: $26,990
• 2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Urban Hybrid: $29,990
• 2025 Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate Hybrid: $32,990

2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Review: Final Verdict

After spending a few days behind the wheel of the Tiggo 4 Hybrid, I found myself engaged in a fierce internal debate weighing it against the petrol Tiggo 4 I tested previously. From a return-on-investment standpoint, the hybrid carries a $6,000 AUD price premium over an identically equipped Ultimate petrol model. If your annual mileage exceeds 20,000 kilometres, choose the hybrid: you will recoup that price premium at the fuel pump in under 4.5 years. But if you drive less—clocking around 10,000 kilometres annually—the cheaper petrol model remains the more financially sensible pick.

There is also a third route: if you aren't fussed by a glass sunroof, heated seats, synthetic leather upholstery, or a power-adjustable driver's seat, the undisputed sweet spot of the entire Tiggo 4 lineup is the entry-level Urban Hybrid.

As Chery’s smallest SUV offering in Australia, the Tiggo 4 serves as the sharpest embodiment of the brand’s core strengths. It delivers benchmark standard equipment and perceived cabin quality for the money, offering an almost unbelievable "maximum features on a modest budget" value proposition. In fact, I would argue its holistic product execution feels more balanced than an entry-level GWM Haval Jolion.

It is accessible to buy, smart to look at, packed with kit, and remarkably economical to run. Chery’s generous seven-year warranty and capped-price servicing schedule provide the peace of mind needed when taking a punt on this compelling challenger brand.