Buying a car from a relatively new brand is always a gamble. After more than 12 months with the Chery T4 Pro Elite SE — the one chosen over a VW T-Cross — the verdict is clear: it's a luxury-stacked bargain with a thirsty engine and a few software rough edges that haven't broken the deal.
Engine and Gearbox: Better Than Expected
The 1.5L turbocharged engine (108 kW / 210 Nm) feels genuinely punchy for a B-segment crossover. What makes it click is the CVT — and this isn't your typical rubber-band transmission. It behaves more like a dual-clutch: responsive, smooth, and it actually feels like it knows which ratio to be in. Pulling away from traffic lights, you feel the torque hit early and cleanly.
The one early scare: right after delivery, the engine bay was smoking. Turned out to be residual fluid burning off during the run-in — not a fault. Some owners report it, others don't. After that, zero engine issues across 12+ months.
Tech That Works, Once It Wakes Up
The T4 Pro is loaded with features, but they need a minute. Jump in cold and drive straight off, and the Chery personal assistant will announce that things "aren't working as expected." The fix? Use the remote start. By the time you reach the car, the systems are awake and everything works.
The AVM (Around View Monitor) is the standout feature — especially useful in tight urban streets and narrow car parks. Image quality is sharp even at night, and it helpfully shows whether you're about to clip a curb. The only annoyance: it sometimes cuts out mid-parking manoeuvre when you still need it. A firmware update should sort this.
On the downside, Android Auto occasionally throws a warning message about "too many inputs" roughly 10 minutes into a drive. Disconnecting and reconnecting clears it, but it's the kind of quirk that erodes confidence in an otherwise solid system.
Quick Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L Turbocharged |
| Power | 108 kW / 210 Nm |
| Gearbox | CVT |
| Warranty | 10-year / 1 million km engine (original owner) |
| Fuel (real-world) | 12–13L/100km early; ~11L/100km post-service |
Interior: Built to Last — Even With Two Beagles
Twelve months in, and the Elite SE cabin feels as solid as day one. No rattles, no trim creaks, and the soft leather has survived two muddy beagles in the back without a scar. That's a genuine endorsement for a brand that was long questioned on build quality. One minor gripe: a brake light bulb needed replacing within 18 months — not a crisis, but worth noting on a car in this price bracket.
Fuel Economy: The One Unticked Box
Here's the honest bit: the T4 Pro drinks. For the first year, it consistently pulled 12–13L/100km. After the first service (which includes a break-in oil drain and refill at 5,000 km — Chery covers this), it settled to around 10.9–11L/100km. Better, but still thirsty compared to rivals. If fuel efficiency is a top priority, this is the deal-breaker. For everyone else, it's the cost of all those features at this price point.
The Verdict
The Chery T4 Pro punches well above its class. The dealer experience was genuinely impressive — staff who knew the product, greeted by name, no waiting-room nonsense. For urban driving, the AVM alone justifies the spec upgrade. The software quirks feel solvable; the fuel bill does not.
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a feature-packed, solid daily driver and can live with 11L/100km. Who should look elsewhere: Buyers where fuel economy is non-negotiable.
This article was created with AI help. If you want to watch the original video, please visit the link below.