A new Toyota Corolla arrived last August – I vividly remember driving one of the first generation models back in 1967.

A new Toyota Corolla arrived last August &ndash; I vividly remember driving one of the first generation models back in 1967.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873.

Motor Torque with David Berthon

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon. 

For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873 

A weekly show with all the latest information and news in the motoring industry. Hosted by 2GB's very own motoring corespondent David Berthon.&nbsp;
For more engaging content visit the 2GB website, or listen live to 2GB 873&nbsp;

Toyota’s stylish new Corolla breaks the small car mould

Driving Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – available in three 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed
dual clutch automatics – I tested the mid-spec Elite front wheel drive at $39,990
drive-away and the top grade Ultimate all-wheel-drive at $43,990 drive-away –
both stacked with features a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 360 degree
camera, power front seats and 18 smart driver assistance systems – all in a
comfortable roomy five seat cabin with good luggage capacity, better than
average build quality five star safety, a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and low
service costs. But that’s where the good points stop. The drive experience
average at best with noticeable turbo lag, a hesitant transmission and an
underdone suspension tune with inadequate damping and above average fuel
consumption. Chinese cars as a rule simply lack driving finesse – yes, they have
lots of features, in this case 18 smart driver assist elements but they are not
tuned to our market requirements and some features like lane keep assist, driver
attention alert and speed zone recognition simply drive you crazy. Also driving
conditions here are different to crowded Chinese cities – our traffic is faster
moving, and we require better driving dynamics and suspension tune. The Chery
Tiggo 7 Pro SUV offers good value but that’s where the buying equation stops.

Driving Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – available in three 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed dual clutch automatics – I tested the mid-spec Elite front wheel drive at $39,990 drive-away and the top grade Ultimate all-wheel-drive at $43,990 drive-away – both stacked with features a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, 360 degree camera, power front seats and 18 smart driver assistance systems – all in a comfortable roomy five seat cabin with good luggage capacity, better than average build quality five star safety, a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and low service costs. But that’s where the good points stop. The drive experience average at best with noticeable turbo lag, a hesitant transmission and an underdone suspension tune with inadequate damping and above average fuel consumption. Chinese cars as a rule simply lack driving finesse – yes, they have lots of features, in this case 18 smart driver assist elements but they are not tuned to our market requirements and some features like lane keep assist, driver attention alert and speed zone recognition simply drive you crazy. Also driving conditions here are different to crowded Chinese cities – our traffic is faster moving, and we require better driving dynamics and suspension tune. The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV offers good value but that’s where the buying equation stops.

Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – stacked with features but lacking driving finesse.

Driving the new Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV today. Chery’s initial arrival here under
an importer was marred by an asbestos recall and poor safety scores and it
eventually left our market. However, after an absence of eight years it relaunched
late last year as a factory backed franchise with the small Chery Omoda 5 SUV.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and goodness knows where they got that name from, is
marginally bigger to the Omoda 5. Three models – 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed
automatic - the Urban and Elite, both front drive, and in the Ultimate in all-wheel-
drive. In a highly competitive SUV market, all three have already been discounted
- the Urban by $3,000 to $36,990 drive-away, the Elite and Ultimate models
receiving a $2,000 factory bonus - $39,990 and $43,990 drive-away respectively.
The Tiggo Pro 7 achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a
seven-year/ unlimited km warranty, very well supported with low service costs of
$840 over three years. And it’s stacked with 18 active drive assist features and a
load of comfort and convenience equipment – I tested both the front drive Elite
and all-wheel drive Ultimate. Despite their outstanding value the drive experience
simply disappointing. Details next segment.

Driving the new Chery Tiggo 7 Pro SUV today. Chery’s initial arrival here under an importer was marred by an asbestos recall and poor safety scores and it eventually left our market. However, after an absence of eight years it relaunched late last year as a factory backed franchise with the small Chery Omoda 5 SUV. The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and goodness knows where they got that name from, is marginally bigger to the Omoda 5. Three models – 1.6-litre turbo seven-speed automatic - the Urban and Elite, both front drive, and in the Ultimate in all-wheel- drive. In a highly competitive SUV market, all three have already been discounted - the Urban by $3,000 to $36,990 drive-away, the Elite and Ultimate models receiving a $2,000 factory bonus - $39,990 and $43,990 drive-away respectively. The Tiggo Pro 7 achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating and comes with a seven-year/ unlimited km warranty, very well supported with low service costs of $840 over three years. And it’s stacked with 18 active drive assist features and a load of comfort and convenience equipment – I tested both the front drive Elite and all-wheel drive Ultimate. Despite their outstanding value the drive experience simply disappointing. Details next segment.

Chery’s Tiggo 7 Pro SUV – best value in the Urban front drive with $3,000 bonus.

I’m always amazed at the sentiment still shown for Holden despite the General
Motors brand ceasing local manufacture in 2017 and leaving altogether in 2020.
Its easy to forget the Holden brand in 1958 held 50.3 percent of our total car
market. So, it was sad news for Holden fans when the Echuca National Holden
Motor Museum closed its doors for the final time on April 15. Burns and Co.
Auctions are selling off many desirable models and rare Holden parts and
paraphernalia over two days May 18 and 19 – the auction house claiming many
items were rescued from Holden manufacturing plants and dealerships – models
include many famous nameplates FX, FJ, HR, HK Monaro, HQ Sandman, Torana,
HQ GTS Monaro 350 Coupe and Brougham, HSV 90 Statesman plus a very rare HJ
Statesman Coupe.

I’m always amazed at the sentiment still shown for Holden despite the General Motors brand ceasing local manufacture in 2017 and leaving altogether in 2020. Its easy to forget the Holden brand in 1958 held 50.3 percent of our total car market. So, it was sad news for Holden fans when the Echuca National Holden Motor Museum closed its doors for the final time on April 15. Burns and Co. Auctions are selling off many desirable models and rare Holden parts and paraphernalia over two days May 18 and 19 – the auction house claiming many items were rescued from Holden manufacturing plants and dealerships – models include many famous nameplates FX, FJ, HR, HK Monaro, HQ Sandman, Torana, HQ GTS Monaro 350 Coupe and Brougham, HSV 90 Statesman plus a very rare HJ Statesman Coupe.

Toyota’s stylish new Corolla breaks the small car mould

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