Chery confirms Australian release of Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 Pro SUVs

Chery has confirmed its small SUV will be followed by a pair of larger vehicles in the third quarter of 2023.

Following the Omoda 5’s recent Australian release, Chery has said the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 Pro will come from the brand’s older ‘Tiggo’ line of vehicles – which have been on sale in South Africa, South America, and South East Asia since 2020.

Although the release of a ute was rumoured initially, Chery declined to comment on the possibilities of commercial vehicles to rival the GWM Cannon ute.

Petrol-only power is the flavour of the moment, but plug-in hybrid options may become available down the track – depending on demand.

Ergo, they should be looking for a more seamless introduction than the Omoda 5, after the dealer network and Australian public have learned a little more about the Chery name.

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What is the Tiggo 7 Pro?

The Tiggo 7 is larger than the Omoda 5, measuring 4.5 metres long, and would compete in the medium SUV category locally. It’s based on a previous generation ‘T1X’ platform that also underpins its larger Tiggo 8 sibling.

It was initially launched in 2020 and is the second global generation. Under the bonnet is the same 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine found in the Omoda 5, and it sends grunt to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with nine stepped ratios.

A power tailgate, 10.25-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, touch HVAC controls, leatherette upholstery, and a “spacious, agile trunk” that promises 475L of cargo capacity all feature.

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Exact safety systems are hard to pin down, but Chery promises adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and six airbags.

Expect Australian pricing starting in the mid-high $30K region for an entry-grade model, potentially climbing into the low $40K area. It’ll have to be priced sharply to compete with the popular Chinese-built MG HS and Haval H6 or be an excellent drive to rival the established Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5.

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What about the Tiggo 8 Pro?

The three-row Tiggo 8 is 222 millimetres longer (4.72 metres) and offers three rows of seating as well as more luxurious tan-coloured upholstery.

It’s built from the same T1X platform as the Tiggo 7, but the AWD Tiggo 8 uses a larger 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder that promises a bit more grunt – 147kW/290Nm – and is allied with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In China, Chery offers the Tiggo 8 Pro E+ plug-in hybrid – which boasts 100 kilometres of EV-only driving range, 1L/100km fuel consumption, and a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.0 seconds.

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With five seats in place, the larger Tiggo 8 boasts a 1179L boot, though no figure is claimed with seven seats in action. It’s also fitted with the same safety features as the smaller Tiggo 7.

With Tiggo 8, Chery has a unique opportunity. MG and Haval don’t currently offer a direct rival (though that might change with the introduction of Dargo).

That means if the Tiggo 8 can land with a price in the $50K region, it could be a tempting option next to established names’ base models, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, and Kia Sorento.

The Tiggo pair is expected in Australia in the third quarter of this year, with pricing, models and specific timing yet to be confirmed.