Chery may target Toyota Kluger with premium Exeed SUV

The Toyota Kluger has a target on its back, with evidence emerging Chinese carmaker Chery may look to bring a large SUV to Australia.

While a leaked company document uncovered recently by Wheels shows Chery is planning a number of small SUVs and a dual-cab ute in the coming years, the company has been busy filing trademark applications for ‘Exeed’ – Chery’s luxury offshoot brand.

As Lexus is to Toyota, Chery has been selling its Exeed models as premium products across China, Russia, and the Middle East – and Australia could be its next hunting ground.

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The Exeed VX may be one option for the brand locally, with the large seven-seat SUV offering similar dimensions to the Kluger, as well as a long list of features as standard.

In overseas markets, the Exeed VX comes with; a leather interior, LED headlights and tail-lights, an ultra-wide high-definition digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen measuring in at 12.3 inches each, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cameras, radar cruise control, 19- or 20-inch wheels, and semi-autonomous parking.

While it’s likely Australia would see a higher level of safety technology at no extra cost, the carmaker offers satellite navigation with live traffic, lane-keep assist, automatic headlights, and traffic sign recognition as optional extras.

Buyers can choose from a seven-seat layout or a recently-introduced five-seater version, all powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with either front- or all-wheel drive.

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The engine is available with either 187kW and 390Nm, or a higher-output 192kW and 400Nm tune – roughly on par with the 218kW and 350Nm produced by the Kluger V6.

The higher-powered Exeed VX, known as the 400T, also gains a larger 65-litre fuel tank.

The company claims it has “brought on board hundreds of competent designers and engineers with profound experiences from BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and other European carmakers,” while boasting about the performance of its Exeed VX in temperatures as high as 55 degrees Celsius and as low as -50˚C.

Chery isn’t the only carmaker going after Toyota, with Chinese rival Haval looking likely to bring the Tank 500 to Australia to challenge the LandCruiser Prado.