Chery Tiggo 4 Pro wins Best Urban Car Under $30K

Australian family budgets are under more pressure than ever, yet over the past few years the list of truly affordable, good-value cars has been getting shorter, not longer.

Value isn’t the only criterion of the Best Urban Car Under $30K category at Drive Car of the Year, but it’s a key pillar of assessment towards finding a car that delivers a fuss-free, easy-to-drive compact experience with a balance of features for the price.

A winner in this category also needs to be easy to drive, affordable to run, and tick all the boxes for comfort and safety – from cabin space to driver technology – customers expect in 2025.

Last year’s winner, the Volkswagen Polo, returns for 2025 and quickly progresses to the finalist stage, offering a city-sized taste of quality European motoring for a price that fits under this category’s $30,000 before on-road costs cap.

Revised category rules that allow small SUVs to compete for a win here bring the new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro into the fray, a high-riding model that packs a full suite of safety technology and a roomy cabin for just $23,990 drive-away in its most affordable form.

The old MG 3 was a hit with Australian consumers, and the new model is a considerable leap forward, with a more modern interior and the option of hybrid power for the first time.

But only one can win.

Drive's pick: Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate from $26,990 drive-away

The Chery Tiggo 4 Pro is proof new cars can be affordable without compromising on equipment and safety.

Few cars in recent years have reset the benchmarks for value in their segment like this Chinese brand’s smallest model, offering a list of equipment for which rivals charge well over $30,000 – in a vehicle priced from $26,990 drive-away in its top-of-the-range Ultimate form.

For that price are treated to a sunroof, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, synthetic leather-look upholstery, heated front seats, a 360-degree camera, 18-inch alloys and dual-zone climate control.

There’s a full list of standard safety equipment too, including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring.

The value extends beyond the purchase, with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty providing peace of mind from what remains a new face in the Australian market – and reasonably-priced servicing that adds up to just over $2000 across five years.

The design and technology inside the cabin write cheques for a much higher price, with high-quality soft-touch materials that would shame some cars 50 per cent dearer, and two bright 10.25-inch screens for infotainment and instrumentation.

Connectivity is covered off with wireless and wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as AM, FM and DAB digital radio, and a voice assistant that can control various aspects of the car with a ‘Hey Chery’ prompt.

Chery has seemingly listened to criticisms of its other models, so there are physical shortcuts for the climate control’s air temperature and fan speed – rather than through the screen only – displayed on a clear, easy-to-read display built into the centre console.

Buyers are not left short-changed on outright metal, either. The Tiggo 4 Pro is only slightly shorter than the winners of this year’s Drive Car of the Year Best Small SUV categories, so there’s plenty of room inside – including space for a 183cm (six-foot) tall adult to sit behind a driver of the same height, and ample interior storage for small items.

The 380-litre boot is about as big as cargo areas get at this price – enough for the weekly shop or a weekend away – and it doesn’t come at the cost of a space-saver wheel under the floor, either.

On the road, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro delivers an easy-going driving experience buyers expect in this segment.

The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (108kW/210Nm) has enough punch for city driving, the suspension is supple over bumps, and the featherlight steering is ideal for tight car parks.

There is room for improvement, though. The Tiggo 4 Pro is not a particularly dynamic car to drive – the steering is a little too light for higher-speed driving, and the throttle response can be touchy at lower speeds – though for most buyers, it will be a good fit.

The advanced safety systems would also benefit from further tuning, particularly the lane centring assistance and driver attention warning, which can be intrusive at times.

Fuel consumption is also on the high side for a city SUV, at 7.3L/100km in lab testing – a figure that is not always possible to meet in the real world. Chery has confirmed a hybrid is due in the coming months, but time will tell whether it will be priced under $30,000.

But no car is perfect, and those weaknesses become easier to forgive when you look at the price – and the sheer level of equipment on offer.

For new-car buyers on a tight budget, few other vehicles can offer as much metal for the money as the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro, backed by a long warranty, well-featured cabin, and comfortable driving behaviour.

That’s why it’s the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Urban Car Under $30K.

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner

Read more about Alex Misoyannis