DISCLOSURE: Chery Auto Philippines kindly lent me a 2023 Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid for eight days. It arrived with a full tank of fuel and loaded RFID cards.

Hybrid vehicles are on the rise in the Philippine market, with more and more automakers bringing in electrified models to get a piece of this increasingly lucrative pie.

Chery Auto Philippines is riding on this trend by introducing the Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid. It is the most affordable “hybrid” the automaker has in its lineup that offers you a slew of features, turbocharged power and fuel efficiency. 

However, not all hybrids are made equal. The new 5x Pro Hybrid is only classified as a mild-hybrid vehicle as it does not come with electric-only capabilities or driving range.

It also means that, for now, the little crossover isn’t coding-exempt just yet. That said, is the Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid still worth it? Let's find out.

Tame and safe styling

On the outside, the Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid looks tame, doing away with aggressive body lines.

The crossover is generally sleek, with a massive grille at the front and large LED headlights flanking its sides. It gives off a subtle premium look, which I like as it gives it a more timeless design than its aggressive rivals.

Moving to the side, there isn’t much to talk about besides its smooth body lines and 18-inch alloy wheels. However, the car has body cladding, giving it a slightly more challenging look. 

But I have to note that the unit we had on loan had some quality control issues, as some of the side accents weren’t correctly aligned.

At the back, it's more of a hit-or-miss design. While the front is stylish and sleek, the rear is abrupt and awkward in how it is arranged.

Regardless, you get LED lighting elements, a reverse camera and reversing sensors. 

Simple and clean

The cabin of the Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid is simple and clean, just the way I like it.

It does carry a layered dashboard design with a red accent that stretches the length of it. It's a nice touch to add a sporty feel to the vehicle, complemented by the comfortable leather seats.

Like the dashboard, the front seats also get red accents as a subtle nod that there is more than meets the eye with this mild-hybrid crossover. 

The technology inside the cabin is decent, as you get two digital displays: one for the instrument cluster and the other for your infotainment system.

Like many other vehicles, the 5x Pro Hybrid comes with Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto, which are musts for modern cars. The vehicle controls are easy to use and everything is within arm's reach. 

However, the crossover has one quirk with its climate control system, which has two sets of temperature controls despite only having single-zone capabilities. It means that the front passenger can adjust the temperature controls of the vehicle, even if you don’t want them to. 

Aside from this, the climate controls take too long to disappear from the infotainment system, which can be a hassle as you have to press a small button to revert it to the home screen. It can also be dangerous as you must take your eyes off the road. 

Turbo power with mild-hybrid tech

Under the hood, the Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 150 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a CVT. It is delivered smoothly for the 5x Pro Hybrid and doesn’t lack torque and acceleration. 

But in terms of fuel economy, despite the car being a “hybrid,” it could only deliver around 8 to 12 km/l in the city and around 12 to 18 km/l on the highway. These are decent figures, but not as high as we expected from a “hybrid” vehicle.

Nonetheless, it's quick for a car of its size and has excellent handling characteristics. The vehicle delivers a smooth drive and is balanced when taking corners quickly, offering predictable rotation.

It also handles the road imperfections of the Philippines very well despite its prominent alloy wheels.

Verdict

Overall, the Chery Tiggo 5x Pro Hyrid is an excellent turbocharged crossover.

It offers decent features, such as lane keep assist and standard cruise control, which makes long-haul trips a breeze. However, it needs to improve its fuel economy to truly live up to its branding as a hybrid vehicle.

But the Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid, despite its quirky looks, is quick on its feet and is surprisingly agile. Chery Auto Philippines may want to highlight these aspects of the car in future iterations, as the chassis is potent and the motor can deliver power. 

Priced at Php 1,140,000, the Tiggo 5x Pro Hybrid is a steal for what it offers. Its feature set beats most of its rivals out of the water and its power is close to that of its other Chinese competitors, pushing around 170 horsepower.

Overall, it's a great package with great potential in the Philippine market if marketed correctly. 

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