2022 Chery Tiggo 2 Pro

Rarely are facelifts comprehensive. These mid-cycle upgrades are often a nip-and-tuck affair with minor improvements like redesigned headlamps, reshaped bumpers, a new touchscreen, etc.

It was slightly unusual with the Tiggo 2 (Tiggo 3x in other countries). Instead of updating the existing model, Chery decided to turn it into a new variant by adding the word Pro after the nameplate, hence, Tiggo 2 Pro. It was introduced in November last year.

The general body shape remains the same. It is compact and tall with a noticeably high ground clearance of 186 mm; higher than most in its segment. Its striking profile features are the rising character line and rocker panel. These are sharp and very distinct compared to the ones found on its rivals. 

Chery bestows upon it the ‘Sunshine Galaxy’ grille. It’s not as expansive as what's on the Tiggo 7 Pro, but it could have been. Nevertheless, the implementation is smooth and is a good match for the slim LED daytime running lamps. The halogen headlamps are a few inches below it, framed in black glossy trim.

Compared to the smooth façade, the rear features a very angular surface. It is pretty evident with the shape of the tailgate, the wraparound taillights, the bumper, and even the spoiler.

Like most subcompact crossovers, it shows its sporty side with roof rails, black cladding wrapped around the bottom part of the body, and a rear underbody garnish.

I have no complaints about its looks. While it is not exactly a standout design, its presence is hard to ignore. A big part of the reason is the ready-to-pound stance and this really cool Laser Yellow color acting like an eye magnet.

With a body this size, I half expected a smaller keyfob, but not for the Tiggo 2 Pro. This thing is as big as what the Tiggo 7 Pro has, but at least it is pretty high-tech. Unlike some of its competitors, this model already offers smart entry. Having the keyfob lets you unlock the doors by simply pushing a button on the handle.

Plenty of China-made crossovers make the mistake of overdesigning the cockpit to the driver’s neck. That is not the case here. The dashboard height is kept low for a commanding view of the road. It is also refreshing to see the nine-inch touchscreen positioned lower than usual and is not along the line of sight.

The lines on the dashboard are sharp similar to the rear of the vehicle. A glossy panel underscores the infotainment system, the start-stop button, the hazard lights switch, and the aircon. It gets leather on the seats, the flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel, and the door panels. There is a generous storage space in front of the gear shifter to stow devices while connected to the USB port. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and QD Link for Android come standard.

Assuming it has a cramped interior would be a mistake. The smart layout creates more front legroom and higher visibility. The trunk takes in 420 liters of cargo but can be more if the 60/40 split-fold rear seats come down.

I like the cabin’s vibe. It feels cozy and homey without the crazy number of buttons seen in other cars, and yet, it manages to offer modern apps and connectivity solutions.

All Tiggo 2s have the same engine, but the Pro squeezes out extra juice to the tune of 108 horsepower and 140 Nm of torque from the 1.5-liter gas engine. It feels a little rough, especially upon ignition, and is a little loud for a small displacement engine, but I like that it is much more responsive than others in the same category. It could go beyond 110 km/h, but it is most comfortable between 80-90 km/h.

Acceleration is brisk, and I like the engine notes it makes as it goes faster. The curb weight is 1.260 tons, but steering feedback is very light. Its compact size makes it an easy drive during rush hour traffic, and I love how it still feels small even on narrow, winding parking driveways.

The continuously variable transmission is not as smooth, and there were a few times it confused an upshift with a downshift. It did manage the output well enough to provide an exciting ride while still keeping consumption at an average of 11.7 km/l on mixed driving conditions.

Noise, vibration, and harshness levels must improve as well. It was high enough to interfere with music from the four speakers. Seat comfort is good as these are bolstered enough to provide a secure fit.

The Tiggo 2 Pro is but a two-year-old model, so there will be a lot of growing up to do. It is young but focused, and with a price of P818,000, it knows its target market. This facelift definitely deserves to be a standalone variant, I just wish Chery Auto PH brings in the unit with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engine.