2021 Chery Tiggo 5X Review | Philkotse Philippines

Subcompact crossovers are thriving in the Philippine market since they offer a spacious and versatile cargo area. They also come with a higher ground clearance compared to sedans, which makes them more suitable to drive through road imperfections. With that, there are a lot of subcompact crossovers offered in the local market today, and one of which is the Chery Tiggo 5X.  

The Tiggo 5X is among the wide selection of crossover vehicles sold by Chery Auto Philippines. In fact, Chery PH has two car models that compete in the said segment. Aside from the Tiggo 5x, Chery is also offering the Tiggo 2, which is the entry-level crossover in the car brand’s local model lineup.

The Tiggo 5X, on the other hand, is the more premium subcompact crossover from Chery. So, what can the Tiggo 5X offer? Does it have what it takes to hold its ground in the tightly contested subcompact crossover segment in the Philippines? To know the answer to that, we took the top-spec 2021 Tiggo 5X Luxury variant for an extensive review.

The Chery Tiggo 5X comes with a commanding stance, which helps give the vehicle a stand-out look. When viewed from the front, you’ll notice that the Tiggo 5x is like the smaller version of the Tiggo 8 – similar headlights, grille, bumper, and daytime running lights. Simply put, the Tiggo 5X is the mini-me version of the Tiggo 8.

2021 Chery Tiggo 5X

This subcompact crossover is fitted with automatic projector halogen headlights, which is expected considering the Tiggo 5X’s price point. It also has a blacked-out grille that comes with a fish scale-like accent while the angular bumper is integrated with LED daytime running lights instead of fog lamps. Chery also placed a skid plate garnish on the Tiggo 5X for that added rugged appeal. 

It comes with distinctive character lines

The side profile of the Tiggo 5X has a touch of a Euro car vibe due to the distinctive character lines. It also seems to take a bit of design inspiration from Audi’s Q-line crossovers due to the Tiggo 5X’s roofline and the extended rear bumper. The vehicle is also equipped with power-folding side mirrors with indicator light, roof rails, and black cladding. Capping off the design is a set of 17-inch alloy wheels that look simple but complements the whole side profile of the vehicle.  

The LED taillights gives the vehicle a confident look

The rear comes with design details that give the Tiggo 5X a confident demeanor. I specifically like the design of the LED taillights that come with a wraparound finish with subtle blacked-out trims. The taillights also have a seamless finish thanks to the chrome bar that extends from end to end. The Tiggo 5X is also fitted with a tailgate-mounted spoiler with third brake light, a shark fin antenna, a reverse camera, parking sensors, and a silver skid garnish. It also has an angular bumper that’s bulging outward, creating a bulldog face-like silhouette.

The Chery Tiggo 5X comes with a black interior theme along with a straightforward layout. It looks simple at first glance but the Tiggo 5X’s cabin comes with features and materials that give you the feeling of getting more than what you paid for.

The Tiggo 5X comes with a straightforward dashboard

To put things in perspective, it’s expected to see the abundant use of hard plastic materials for cars that fall under the subcompact crossover segment to bring down the price as much as possible. Surprisingly, that’s not the case inside the Tiggo 5X. It comes with soft-touch materials on top of the dashboard, on the door panels, and on the center glove box, which is a plus considering the Tiggo 5X’s price point. 

It also has a sunroof

This subcompact crossover also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted buttons for audio, phone, and cruise control. Chery also equipped the Tiggo 5X with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, leather seats, a sunroof, and a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and QD Link for Android. 

Piano black accents can also be seen throughout the center console. A unique design detail I noticed inside the Tiggo 5X is the placement of the engine push start button that can be found near the gear lever. Another thing is that one of the aircon vents is placed on top of the infotainment touchscreen.

Rear seats can accommodate a maximum of three individuals

At the back, the Tiggo 5X has enough room for up to three individuals. For maximum comfort though, two average-sized Filipino adults fit comfortably, especially during long out-of-town trips. The Tiggo 5X doesn’t come with a center armrest but it has rear aircon vents that can help in cooling down the cabin.

It can easily take on two to three gym bags 

The Tiggo 5X comes with enough cargo space even when the second-row seats are up. You can easily fit three gym bags at the back with more room for other items. The cargo space can also take on a week’s supply of groceries, four to five overnight bags, among others. Of note, the second-row backrests can be folded down for additional cargo.

The Chery Tiggo 5X doesn’t fall short when it comes to tech gizmos. It is integrated with features that make it competitive among its segment rivals. Starting with the 9-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with Apple CarPlay that allows seamless phone integration. Apps such as Waze and Spotify are mirrored on the head unit. And oh, the Tiggo 5X also has two USB ports. You also have a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that features crisp images that shows essential vehicle information such as the tire pressure monitoring system, fuel economy, and trip meter.

Seamless phone integration

The projector halogens on the vehicle’s exterior come with an automatic function, meaning it can automatically turn on once the system detects that you’re driving through a dark road. Parking the Tiggo 5X is also made easier and safer thanks to the rear camera. With this feature, you can confidently park the vehicle even in tight spaces. 

It makes parking easier

The Tiggo 5X also has an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, which is one of the features that make this Chery subcompact crossover stand out from its other segment rivals. Another thing that I find surprising is that the Tiggo 5X is equipped with hill descent control, a feature that’s not too common in its class. 

This Chery crossover also comes with standard features you can expect in modern cars such as dual front airbags, electronic stability control, cruise control, push start button, 12-volt accessory outlet, and automatic climate control.

The 2021 Chery Tiggo 5X is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that delivers 114 hp and 141 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

The Tiggo 5X is powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine

The Tiggo 5X’s engine puts out reasonable power but it’s not that notable compared to other subcompact crossovers I’ve driven. The Tiggo 5X’s power delivery is not that bad, I just wish that it has more grunt to make the average drive a bit more exciting. The throttle response is okay but the acceleration is a bit delayed, which gives the impression that the Tiggo 5X is a vehicle that’s ideal for relaxed or laid-back driving. 

The Tiggo 5X is ideal for laid-back driving

With that in mind, you should plan your overtakes especially when you’re driving on the open highway for good measure. Good thing, though, the Tiggo 5X comes with a manual mode that could help you get the power you need when you need to pass slower vehicles. 

The Tiggo 5X puts out 114 hp and 141 Nm of torque

In terms of ride comfort, the suspension leans a little on the firm side but it can absorb impact within reason. You can expect an overall comfortable ride when you stroll around the city. It also comes with a light steering wheel, which is beneficial in reducing driver fatigue when you drive along the urban jungle on a daily basis. On the open highway, the Tiggo 5X is stable but the light steering feel requires a pinch of effort to keep the vehicle centered within the lane.

I was able to get a fuel economy of 10 km/l while driving the Tiggo 5X around the city at an average speed of 40 km/h. On the open highway, I was able to yield 13 km/l while driving at an average speed of 90 km/h.
 

2021 Chery Tiggo 5X

The 2021 Chery Tiggo 5X Luxury variant is priced at Php 970,000. It comes with a 10-year engine warranty, 5-year general vehicle warranty, 3-year free preventive maintenance service, and 3-year free roadside assistance.

The Tiggo 5X’s aggressive and assertive exterior design is one of its strongest assets. But if you ask me, the main selling point of this vehicle lies within the interior cabin. The Tiggo 5X Luxury variant is integrated with materials and tech features that make it stand out from its segment rivals. The presence of soft-touch surfaces in the cabin gives you a more premium feel as compared to its segment rivals. The built quality is also notable, which shows that Chery has come a long way when it comes to the overall design of its vehicles. I just wish that it comes with a livelier gasoline engine. But considering all of its features, the Tiggo 5X is asserting itself in the local subcompact crossover game.