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Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate made waves by claiming the Best Urban Car Under $30,000 category in the 2025 Drive Car of the Year Awards. More than just a budget-friendly option, it stands out for its versatility, comfort, and technology – qualities that prove invaluable on any suburban-to-city commute.
To demonstrate how seamlessly this compact SUV can handle urban exploration, Jess took it from Parramatta, a bustling hub of Western Sydney, all the way to Sydney Harbour, with stops at hidden gems along the Parramatta River. By the journey’s end, it was clear why the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate now wears the crown in its class.
From its earliest moments, this drive showcased precisely what makes the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate so intriguing.
Jess began in Parramatta Park, a serene green space tucked among the skyscrapers and busy streets of what is often dubbed Sydney’s 'second CBD'.
Long before European settlers gave this area its modern name, the land was home to the Burramattagal people, part of the Darug nation. The word 'Parramatta' itself is believed to stem from a local term meaning 'where the eels lie down', reflecting the area’s deep connection to the water and its ecosystem.
Although Parramatta Park offers walking trails, fishing spots, and birdwatching areas, it also sits close to the city’s core commercial and retail centres – a contrast that highlights the mixed-use appeal of Parramatta. For someone looking to combine convenience, natural beauty, and cultural history, the park is hard to beat.
According to Jess, the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate felt right at home there, as its compact size and good outward visibility made navigating side streets or public car parks a breeze. For a small SUV, the cabin is surprisingly roomy and bright, giving it the airy feel of a much larger vehicle.
With Parramatta in the rear-view mirror, Jess then drove toward Homebush, an inner-west suburb approximately 12 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD.
Best known globally for hosting the 2000 Olympic Games, Homebush was once an industrial hotspot that eventually underwent extensive urban renewal. One of its most fascinating landmarks is the Brickpit Ring Walk – an elevated boardwalk circling the remains of a former brick manufacturing site.
Perched 18 metres above a freshwater wetland, visitors can look out over a habitat teeming with bird species and even spot the endangered green and golden bell frog. The stark geometry of the ring walk juxtaposed against the wetlands’ organic shapes speaks to Homebush’s ongoing effort to blend modern urbanism with environmental conservation.
During the Homebush segment of the drive, Jess highlighted one of the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate’s major strengths: its technology suite.
Despite being at a more affordable price point, the SUV doesn’t skimp on modern conveniences. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, streamlining the link between smartphone apps and the car’s infotainment system. Additional niceties, like a 360-degree camera and keyless entry, round out an offering that defies any assumptions that 'budget-friendly' equates to 'bare-bones'.
Notably, the Chery’s wide array of safety features – emergency lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and more – helped Jess feel confident on busy urban roads. In a place like Homebush, where highways, local streets, and foot traffic converge, having advanced driver aids can make the difference between a frazzling drive and a relaxing one.
From Homebush, Jess continued along the Parramatta River, aiming for some of the quieter spots that dot its shoreline. One standout was Cabarita Park Beach, a lesser-known slice of waterfront not far from the main arterial roads.
With shallow waters ideal for families, it serves as a calmer alternative to Sydney’s famed coastal beaches such as Bondi or Manly. Access is straightforward whether arriving by ferry or car, so it’s no wonder that on weekends you’ll find kids splashing around while parents seek a laid-back afternoon under the shade.
This stop illustrated how easily the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate can toggle between straightforward urban commuting and leisurely outings, its compact SUV form factor fitting just as well in a beachside lot as it does in downtown parking.
Eventually, the drive wound past the Inner West’s beloved Bay Run, a seven-kilometre circuit hugging the shoreline from Canada Bay around Iron Cove Bridge.
Jess, an avid runner, took advantage of the track on a surprisingly hot day, finding solace in the lapping water and the shared energy of fellow exercisers.
While not directly tied to the car itself, this Bay Run interlude crystallised one of the SUV’s strongest advantages: it’s flexible enough to handle everything from active lifestyles to grocery runs, no matter if the stops include scenic overlooks or dense commercial districts.
Bringing together these varied experiences was a final stop at Balmain East, in the shadow of Sydney’s iconic harbour.
Jess parked at The Fenwick, a historic sandstone building once used as a tugboat store and now a chic café and gallery.
In many ways, The Fenwick encapsulates the allure of Sydney’s waterfront: its stunning vantage point across the harbour pairs with warm hospitality, weaving history and modern amenity together. One look across the water from The Fenwick’s windows reminds locals and visitors alike why Sydney Harbour is so renowned worldwide.
It was here that Jess met with transport historian John Darroch, whose knowledge of Sydney’s ferries runs deep. Over coffee, he explained how ferries evolved from simple rowboats and steam-powered vessels to the efficient diesel-electric models gliding across the harbour today.
In earlier eras, steam ferries employed ship keepers to stoke fires overnight so the vessels would have fresh steam for the next morning’s trips. Each mechanical progression shaped the city’s commerce and daily life in turn. Darroch’s recollections helped paint a vivid picture of how people travelled between Parramatta and Sydney long before roads and cars like the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate were around.
Listening to the layered history of those waterways, Jess found new appreciation for the city’s maritime past, and the simplicity of stepping off the ferry at Circular Quay or Balmain East suddenly felt imbued with centuries of tradition. Even though the modern skyline and advanced automotive technology might seem far removed from the steam-powered days of yore, the spirit of exploration and convenience remains the same.
As Jess concluded the drive, the final reflections on Chery’s Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate emerged naturally. After covering just 25 kilometres from one CBD to another, she had discovered under-the-radar beaches, scenic lookouts, and architectural curiosities – not to mention immersing herself in the city’s ferry heritage along the way.
The Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate proved its worth as a balanced, easy-to-handle vehicle, outfitted with enough features to make city commutes less of a chore and more of an opportunity to explore. For first-time car buyers who need top-tier safety features or families seeking a budget-friendly solution with room for kids and luggage, this compact SUV fits the bill.
Judges for the Drive Car of the Year Awards praised it for its value, technology, and versatility – three qualities that became abundantly clear on this day trip.
Whether creeping through city traffic, cruising at moderate speeds on busy thoroughfares, or searching for a quiet riverside retreat, the Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate never felt out of place. With strong safety credentials, a decent turbocharged engine, and user-friendly infotainment, it merges some of the best attributes of higher-priced SUVs at a fraction of the cost.
Such a combination – affordability, practicality, and a dash of surprise-and-delight features – explains why the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Ultimate has already found favour in Australia.
If the brand’s sales momentum continues, the Tiggo nameplate may become a more common sight on Sydney’s streets, whether the driver is off to discover a new running trail or simply commuting between home and the office.
One thing is certain: as Jess’s drive showed, Chery’s reintroduction to the Australian market is more than just a nod to cheaper price tags. It’s also a statement that you can do a lot with a little, seeing more of the city while spending less. And sometimes, that’s exactly what modern urban explorers want.
