Big changes coming for future Chery products could be led by Tiggo 4 replacement, new hybrid powertrains

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Chery Australia has confirmed another facelift for its Tiggo 4 small SUV by the end of 2026 —  but these initial changes are likely to be less-than skin deep. 

“You’ll see a facelift this year”, Chery Chief Operating Officer Lucas Harris revealed to Chasing Cars. Though he clarified it’s a model year update, likely limited to visual changes.

Later, though, there will be an all-new small SUV to replace the Tiggo 4, sounding like it will launch in Australia by 2027. 

Discussion of a Tiggo 4 facelift and subsequent replacement comes in the wake of acknowledgements from Chery that its product faced a type of culture shock when transitioning from the smooth roads of China to the fast-driving, pot-holed reality of Australia. 

Harris explained that Chery engineers from China “couldn’t understand” Australian road and driving conditions, particularly their ever-changing road surfaces, un-repaired potholes, and faster-than-China speed limits. 

“[They] couldn’t believe it,” he said, “It’s just beyond comprehension… ‘Why is the road not uniform?’” He said.

While unconfirmed, there is a possibility that Tiggo 4’s facelift will consist of European suspension tweaks, adjustments to the steering calibration, and even tweaks to the braking system, following recent remarks from Chery executives. 

Equally, though, these big changes may be reserved for a next-generation car —The current Tiggo 4 we know launched overseas in 2017 as the Tiggo 5X, making it nine years old. 

Chery Chief Engineer for International Programs Peter Matkin admitted the Tiggo 4 is out of its depth in Australian conditions. 

“Part of [Chery’s] business model was to sell the Chinese-market specification internationally, only changing it for regulation,” he explained, “but now for this market, we’re changing, with a list of requirements to make sure we can meet the [required] capability.”

“[For future product], we’re modifying anti-roll bars, springs, dampers, bush ratings… we’re re-tuning the steering, and changing brake-pad material, sometimes upsizing the discs.”

Chasing Cars has criticised the current Chery Tiggo 4 for its driving dynamics, steering and refinement. 

Soon to follow the Tiggo 4 updates will be two plug-in hybrid drivetrains — expected to debut in 2027 — which Chery says will fill two broad segments, both benchmarked with a combined range target “exceeding 2000km.”

First will be a plug-in hybrid, four-cylinder drivetrain producing 160kW and 275Nm. The drivetrain, codenamed ‘DHT 160’ will be ‘suitable for vehicles between 1.5 and 2.0 tonnes.’

Second is a larger 260kW/330Nm ‘DHT 230’ drivetrain suited ‘for vehicles above two tonnes.’ That platform is also expected to be a four-cylinder. 

Both inbound plug-in drivetrains are tipped to feature larger 18.46kWh LFP batteries compatible with up to 1200V charging architecture. Chery says its new ‘DHT’ platforms will be both 268-percent more energy dense and 30-percent lighter. 

Chery has already ruled out the use of either platform in its new small SUV, as with its soon-to-launch ‘KP31’ ute concept, expected to go into production in this year’s fourth quarter.