We like
Incredible value; genuine seven-seat capacity; generous standard equipment levels; fluid driveline; exceptional range; well-calibrated ADAS and chassis settings; hushed cabin

Room for improvement
Third row access a little awkward; no ISOFIX or top-tether mounts in third seating row; somewhat convoluted HMI and menu system; steering a touch light for our tastes

Overview

 

GENUINE seven-seat capacity and plug-in hybrid technology is a combination that is pretty hard to come by in an Australian market, especially if you’re shopping on a budget.

 

Fortunately, Chery has managed to hit both marks with a sterling level of success, pricing its Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid (PHEV) from $45,990 driveaway – a bargain whichever way you choose to look at it.

 

Moreover, the vehicle is actually a worthwhile ownership proposition, and not just another entrant that appears to tick all the boxes while delivering the wherewithal of a dying pack mule.

 

The large SUV segment contender vies against rivals including the Kia Sorento PHEV (from $84,660) and Mazda CX-80 (from $75,250), both of which add considerably to the upfront purchase price for family buyers.

 

Available in entry Urban and flagship Ultimate grades, the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid offers up to 1200km of combined driving range courtesy of a 105kW/215Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 150kW/310Nm single electric motor.

 

Power is channelled to the front wheels via a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that provides what Chery says is stepless delivery and the availability of four driving modes – pure electric, series, parallel, and energy recovery.

 

The combination offers up to 95km (NEDC) of pure electric driving at speeds up to 120km/h, the on-board 18.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery back able to be recharged via a domestic outlet, or from 30-80 per cent in 20 minutes via a 40kW DC fast charger.

 

Combined cycle fuel consumption is listed at 1.3 litres per 100km on 95RON or higher premium unleaded.

 

As is the case with almost all seven-seat SUVs on the market, the Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is suspended by a Macpherson strut front / multi-link rear arrangement and is halted by four-wheel disc brakes. Kerb weight is listed at 1884kg allowing a payload of up to 701kg.

 

Towing capacity isn’t much higher at just 750kg.

 

For the Urban variant, equipment highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, acoustic windscreen glass, dual-zone climate control, LED ambient cabin lighting, LED external lighting, keyless entry and ignition, power retractable door handles, puddle lighting, rain-sensing wipers, a six-way powered driver’s seat, synthetic leather upholstery, and a 50-watt wireless device charging pad.

 

Connectivity highlights include a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment array, a 10-speaker sound system, AM/FM/DAB+ radio reception, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth telephony, intelligent voice command system, and 360-degree camera technology.

 

The Ultimate variant (from $49,990 d/a) adds driver headrest speakers, heated and ventilated front seats, head-up display, illuminated front sill plates, a panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide functionality and a powered sunshade, a powered tailgate, rear privacy glass, and a six-way powered driver’s seat with massage and memory features.

 

On the safety side, the Chery Tiggo 8 is well endowed with nine airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, driver monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, lane keeping and assist technology, rear cross-traffic alert, ISOFIX and top-tether child-seat restraints (second row only) and much more.

 

The petrol-powered model receives a five-star ANCAP safety rating, which is expected to be applied to the PHEV down the track.

 

Cargo space for the seven-seater is listed at 117 litres (VDA) when all seats are erected, 479 litres with five seats in place, and 739 litres with two seats in place.

 

Paint options include Aurora Green, Azure Blue, Bamboo Grey, Lunar White, and Space Black.

 

As is the case with all Chery passenger vehicles in Australia, the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that includes 24/7 roadside assistance and capped-price servicing.

 

Driving Impressions

 

Saving more than $30,000 on the price of a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV is akin to winning the lottery.

 

The $45K asking price of the Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid represents tremendous value, allowing family buyers not only the opportunity to buy new – and therefore safer and more reliable – but also to step into the new energy vehicle space, potentially for the first time.

 

Being a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid offers massive savings at the pump – and if you’re disciplined enough, you may seldom see the petrol station at all.

 

And this isn’t one of those deals where fuel use shoots through the roof once the battery is depleted. Even operating on petrol power alone we struggled to get the vehicle to use more than 5.8 litres per 100km. That’s exceptional for a seven-seat SUV, particularly one that is as well-finished and generously equipped as the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid.

 

Picking over the vehicle at its recent launch in the Hunter Valley we were pleased to find a very high-quality level of fit and finish both inside and out. Ergonomics are sensible, and seating comfort excellent. The ride is also very comfortable and exceptionally quiet, something we can’t say for many contenders in the segment.

 

For a big seven-seater the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid also offers a good view out – which in our opinion is important when you’re transporting your most precious cargo. Add in a terrific 360-degree camera system across the range and we reckon Chery has just about nailed the brief when it comes to seeing around the car.

 

There is plenty of space inside the cabin, too. The first and second rows feature air vents, charging outlets, and cup holders galore, with the middle row adding ISOFIX and top-tether child-seat anchorages for the little ones.

 

That said, those all-important fixtures are absent from the third row, which is also somewhat tricky to access. The mechanism takes a little muscle to operate, and the ‘40’ side of the 60:40 seating split faces the road side, meaning you’ll need to move baby seats and all if loading the kids in from the kerb side.

 

Once you’re sitting in the third row, there’s actually a decent amount of room. As a 175cm adult I fit comfortably behind the second row with knee and headroom to spare. That’s a pretty good deal considering how compromised third-row space can be.

 

Like the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid tested last month, the ‘8’ offers plenty in the way of connectivity and safety tech (see above), most of which is accessed via the central touchscreen.

 

It’s a system that is more complicated than we feel is necessary, with many ancillary settings located two, three, or four pages deep. Perhaps it’s something you’d become accustomed to, but there are definitely manufacturers that do this better.

 

On the road, the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid offers linear acceleration with no discernible ‘jolt’ between petrol and electric power. The driveline is smooth and exceptionally quiet with adequate power for most scenarios.

 

While we did sample the vehicle with only two adults on board, we reckon there’s enough power and torque to handle a full complement of passengers but would encourage you to try this for yourself before signing on the dotted line.

 

Body control is well suited to the vehicle’s application and the handling surprisingly decent. The ride is not greatly upset by lumps and bumps, the 19-inch wheel and tyre combination working well to smooth out pockmarked road surfaces and other imperfections.

 

We found the steering weight and assistance levels reasonable, though some may find the tiller a little ‘light on’ for feel. That said, the system is acceptable in terms of both its progression and straight-line stability, which proved beneficial on the longer motorway drives experienced on launch.

 

Interestingly (and in quite some contrast to that of the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid), is the progression of the brake pedal stroke. There is more consistency here despite the models being mechanically similar.

 

We found the weighting and assistance of the braking action congruous with the pressure applied, irrespective of the operating state of the driveline. While buyers are unlikely to shop a ‘7’ against an ‘8’, it is a definite win for the latter, and one we hope Chery will take the time to investigate and engineer into the former.

 

After a few hundred kilometres at the helm of the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid we are pleased to say we enjoyed the experience. Being quiet, efficient, and comfortable is a combination few in this class are able to combine.

 

Consider then the price tag here, and the Chery offering stands alone.