A hybrid SUV that may actually go the gap: Chery Tiggo 7 is a Chinese automobile that may tick the bins for households in Britain
Last summer, This is Money exclusively broke the news that Chery – China’s largest car exporter – was bringing its own brand of cars to the UK.
A few months on, we are the very first to test drive all three new models set to hit Britain’s roads. But we’ve done so in its home country of China, covering hundreds of miles in its Tiggo 7 CSH (Chery Super Hybrid), 8 CSH and 9 CSH SUVs.
And it’s the 7 that will be the foundation of its assault on the UK market from 2026, with the super hybrid offering impressive EV-only range that can keep going for up to 750 miles with the support of its supplementary petrol engine.
This drivetrain technology has already seen Chery’s sub brands, Omoda and Jaecoo, become incredibly popular in Britain in the last 12 months. As has the impressive luxury and gadgets they offer for such reasonable prices.
As the 7 is the entry point to Chery and the only the only five-seat in the SUV series so far, it’s the model we paid particular attention to while driving in China.
So, here’s what Freda Lewis-Stempel thought of the family car that aims to tick as many boxes for customers as possible.
The Chery Tiggo 7 is the entry point to the Chery brand in the UK. For around £30k how many boxes does it tick and how does it compare to its 8 and 9 siblings?
Interior: Do you get a premium interior for an affordable price?
In the Tiggo 7 CSH, Chery has put any hard plastics out of sight, there are soft-touch materials left, right, centre, and the panoramic roof creates a light and expansive feeling inside.
It looks and feels premium. If you’ve seen or driven a new MG recently, the HS for instance, then this is a good benchmark for the Tiggo’s interior comfort and style.
The 7 seems to be taking cues from Mercedes – especially in the shape and style of the infotainment system.
The Tiggo 7 has the cheapest interior of Chery’s Tiggo SUVs and yet feels nicely premium – especially for the price point
Compare to the 8: Tech is up to Tesla’s level with a 15.6-inch landscape infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display in the 8 and 9
The dual 12.3-inch HD LCD display and driver instrument cluster is very similar to the A-Class screen, and it looks like a very good copy of Mercedes’ digital setup.
The graphics are sharp, but it can lag a bit, and sometimes it seems unable to detect the swiping action needed.
But overall it’s a solid system and Chery’s placed enough shortcuts on the screen that you don’t have to faff trying to turn off safety assists or select the entertainment you want. Or you can use the voice control function, which works adequately.
It also comes with wireless smartphone charging and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, depending on your device.
The screens are accompanied by physical buttons for air conditioning adjustments, which makes this SUV the most suitable of the three Tiggos for those partial to an analogue experience.
How do 8 and 9 build on this? The 8 and 9 builds on this with more spacious, a more premium feel and sharper tech. They both have a 15.6-inch landscape infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. In the 9 especially, materials step up a notch to vegan leather with heated, cooled and massage functions.
The boot isn’t huge on the 7 CSH, just 484 litres while the petrol-only 7 gets 565 litres
Practicality: Will the Tiggo 7 deliver what you want?
The 7 fits five with plenty of knee room and headroom, and the flat floor helps increase legroom. Even the panoramic sunroof doesn’t detract from headroom.
The boot lets the side down slightly with just 484 litres to offer in the Super Hybrid, 23 litres less than the MG HS, while the petrol-only 7 gets 565 litres. There is handy underfloor storage for cables.
How do 8 and 9 build on this? Unlike the 7, the Tiggo 8 and 9 are seven-seaters and have sliding second rows for maximum practicality.
The 8 has a 117-litre boot with all three rows in use while the 9 has a 300-litre boot if all seats are in use.
You’ll be perfectly happy going the miles in this SUV, you just won’t be ecstatic. But the 745-mile total range and 56 miles of EV range are the selling point
Driving: Is the Tiggo 7 a hybrid SUV that’s good to drive or just fuel efficient?
The 7 CSH is the least refined out of the three, and the most basic to drive.
But the selling point of this car is the hybrid system that pairs a 1.5-litre petrol with an e-motor and 18.4 kWh battery to give you 201bhp. There’s 56 miles of electric running and a total range of 745 miles.
Visibility isn’t great out for the rear window, but there’s a camera to help you out, and the rest of the town driving experience is cushioned, quiet and power easily accessible.
It comes with an extensive suite of ADAS features too, and for the most part the warning bongs and booms aren’t too annoying!
On faster stretches of large roads, it is a bit light weight and floaty, but otherwise a pleasant and smooth drive.
Overall, like its 8 and 9 siblings it delivers great long-distance practicality and easy driving. You’ll be perfectly happy going the miles in this SUV, you just won’t be ecstatic.
The Chery Tiggo 7 CSH pairs a 1.5-litre petrol with an e-motor and 18.4 kWh battery to give you 201bhp
On faster stretches of large roads, the 7 is a bit light weight and floaty, but otherwise a pleasant and smooth drive
How do 8 and 9 build on this? With more polish and improved range. Especially for large families, the 9 SHS seven-seater gives you a 650-mile combined range, an 87-mile EV only range and quotes a 470-mile fuel consumption figure.
This is more than enough for most people to do if not all their weekly errands on EV-only range, then at least most of them.
The Tiggo 7 costs £24,995 and the 7 CSH costs £29,995. At the other end the 9 costs just over £43k
Pricing: How inexpensive is the Tiggo 7? And how does cost compare to its bigger siblings?
The Tiggo 7 costs £24,995 and the 8 costs £28,545. The 7 CSH and the 8 CSH are £29,995 and £33,545 respectively.
For all of these versions add £3k to these prices and this is how much you’ll pay for the higher Summit trim instead of the base Aspire trim in each case.
The 9 CSH only comes in the Summit trim and costs £43,105.
For Tiggo 7 comparison, the MG HS starts from £26,245 and goes up to £28,745. The Kia Sportage costs from £30,935.
The MG HS also stands as a rival for the Tiggo 8, but the Peugeot 5008 is also a good comparison, and it costs from £37,220.
The Kia Sorento costs £42,725, and the Hyundai Santa Fe seven-seater will set you back £49,090.
The 7 (left) anchors Chery’s SUV range as a promising overall option for families on a budget. But Freda Lewis-Stempel says the 8 (right) might be the sweet spot due to its 7-seater practicality
Cars and Motoring Verdict: Is the Tiggo 7 a hybrid SUV that families should seriously consider?
The 7 CSH cements Chery as a Chinese brand that will offer an SUV for the family-focused, cost-conscious buyer with its new SUV, so Chery has done a solid job in its first outing under its own moniker.
The 7 CSH is affordable and has one of the best interiors for the price on the market.
You’re not going to be disappointed if you buy it or feel you want your money back, simply because you should be making some solid savings thanks to its long range.
But I’d suggest to people to look at getting the 8, even if they don’t need seven seats. It’s around the same price and yet it is a step up in terms of quality and space – the sweet spot of the Tiggo range really.
CARS & MOTORING: ON TEST
