We like
Outstanding value for money; impressive energy efficiency and driving range; well-finished throughout; spacious and ultra-quiet cabin; generous equipment levels and aftersales support

Room for improvement
Convoluted HMI and menu system; inconsistent brake pedal feel; minor ADAS niggles; complicated cruise control interface; steering wants for greater involvement

Overview

 

CHERY has added to its mid-sized Tiggo 7 range this week with the all-new ‘CSH’ or Chery Super Hybrid.

 

This plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the already-available petrol model represents exceptional value for money, with a starting price of just $39,990 driveaway, and offers an incredible combined (electric and petrol) driving range of up to 1200km.

 

Available in two variants – Urban and Ultimate (from $43,990 d/a) – the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid arrives generously equipped and with a highly evolved plug-in hybrid driveline combining a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor to deliver 150kW/310Nm to the front wheels.

 

Transmission duties are handled by a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) offering stepless power delivery and selection between pure electric, series, parallel, and energy recovery modes.

 

Chery says the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid can travel up to 93km (NEDC) on electric power alone, drawing power from am 18.3kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. Charging may be carried out at a rate of up to 40kW (DC) allowing a 30-80 per cent top-up in just 20 minutes. Home (240-volt AC) charging is also available, though no charging time is specified for this option.

 

In entry format, the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban arrives well-equipped with standard inclusions such as 18-inch alloy wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, acoustic windscreen glass, LED lighting all-round, dual 12.3-inch instrumentation and infotainment screens, six-speaker sound, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone climate control, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and more.

 

The flagship Ultimate adds a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, driver seat memory function, LED ambient cabin lighting, external puddle lights, rear privacy glass, 360-degree camera system, 50-watt wireless phone charger, and an eight-speaker Sony premium sound system.

 

A comprehensive array of active and passive safety features is fitted as standard across the range including front, front side and centre, driver knee and side curtain airbags, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, driver monitoring, lane keeping assistance, top-tether and ISOFIX child-seat restraints, and many more.

 

The Chery Tiggo 7 scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in petrol form.

 

Chery backs the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty including roadside assistance and capped-price servicing for the duration. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) with total service pricing for the seven-year period tallying $3174.15.

 

Driving Impressions

 

As a rival to the likes of same-segment PHEV contenders like the BYD Sealion 6 (from $48,990), GWM Haval H6 GT (from $55,990), Jaecoo J7 (from $47,990), MG HS (from 49,690), Mitsubishi Outlander (from $57,290), and Peugeot 3008 (from $82,915), the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid offers outstanding value for money.

 

Not only is it well-finished throughout, but it is also spacious and ultra-quiet with generous equipment levels and aftersales support, making many in the segment feel far too expensive for what they really offer.

 

At less than $40,000 on the road there is nothing that can match the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid in terms of value for money. The perceived level of quality from inside the cabin is outstanding, with sensible ergonomics, an excellent view of the road ahead, and supportive seating in both the first and second rows.

 

Amenity levels are likewise well covered with available wireless and USB charging, decent console and glovebox stowage, cup and bottle holders front and rear, and a take-away hook beside the glovebox. Cargo space for the PHEV variant is not listed but should be close to that of the petrol at 356 litres.

 

While the steering wheel controls and infotainment interface are more complicated than we’d like, the all-important HVAC controls remain quite easy to access and are also operable via voice commands (like many of the vehicle’s ancillary controls). That said, you do need to dive quite deep to access power controls and safety settings, which can be a distraction in and of itself.

 

On the road, the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid offers linear acceleration and decent ride quality with reasonable body control until pushed closer to its limits. Here, the additional weight of the battery and electric motors is clear, though we doubt many family buyers will venture into an ‘enthusiastic’ driving style.

 

Steering weight and assistance is reasonable, though the tiller is arguably ‘light on’ for feel. If you’ve sampled a Tiguan or RAV4 in the past, the Tiggo 7 might feel over-assisted. If you haven’t, you’ll probably think it’s fine. That said, the level of assistance plays dividends in tight manoeuvring and when parking, which given the Tiggo 7 is designed for the school run, should prove beneficial for most.

 

Sadly, we couldn’t say the same for the brake pedal stroke. The pedal is inconsistent, changing with the engine mode to feel progressive when operating in all-electric mode, to erratic when using a combination of petrol and electric power. It’s a small thing, but one we reckon others will observe too. Thankfully it is a condition to which you quickly acclimatise.

 

On test and travelling mostly on well-marked motorways and country roads, we found the ADAS technologies to be quite well calibrated. The lane keeping assistance is a little uptight, and the driver monitoring annoying. But given the price of the vehicle we found the systems far better than most of the competitors listed above – which makes you wonder just how hard it can be to get this right.

 

Our 300km drive in the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid saw the electric range depleted after 73km, the petrol engine and regenerative braking helping maintain a 20 per cent state of charge (and at times higher) thereafter to offer a combined fuel consumption figure of 4.8 litres per 100km.

 

If you’re disciplined in charging your vehicle – and drive less than 70km per day – you’ll likely rarely use the petrol engine, but it’s great to know it’s there when you need to travel further.

 

While the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid may not be the most involving Medium SUV to drive, it is certainly quiet and calming. The range is excellent and the finish hard to fault – and the value for money equation outstanding. For $40K there is nothing that will come close to offering the same level of efficiency and space as is demonstrated here.

 

Be sure to add this one to your list if you’re shopping the segment, you won’t be disappointed.