Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
The Chery Tiggo 7 and 8 Pro models represent affordable luxury in a sleek package. That’s the easy way to describe these SUVs and they’re even way more impressive than that. No surprise then that the Tiggo 8 Pro was a finalist in the Midsize category of the 2023 Car of the Year competition and won the People’s Choice Award.
Enquire about the Pro MaxWe headed to MyRide Chery Hermanus and got to grips with the SUVs with the goal to figure out what’s different between the duo.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro exude sophistication and presence
The two models looked quite similar via a quick glance, but we dug a little deeper and noticed different grille designs, headlights and motifs.
We don’t often say this, but the styling of both these SUVs is refreshing and they definitely stand out amongst the bevy of models on sale.
Aside from the styling differences between both models, the Tiggo 8 Pro adds two extra seats to become a fully-fledged seven-seater. Those extra two pews come in handy when the grandparents or the kids’ friends tag along for a road trip.
It’s good to see Chery has fitted air vents and a USB port in the second row of seats on both models. One brilliant safety feature we need to highlight is blind-spot detection in the Executive model. It’s a great example of Chery’s focus on safety for all passengers.
From the driver’s point of view the Tiggo 8 Pro’s cabin has soft-touch materials in areas that matter most. We lauded the cushioning on the headrests for how comfortable they felt.
The digital instrument clusters on both models display clear graphics and the centrally-mounted screen is intuitive to use.
The Tiggo 8 Pro even has a 360-degree camera that provides a bird’s eye view of the SUV’s surroundings. Both models have ample room and large boots, sufficient to pack a family’s weekend away, luggage and then some.
What do they feel like to drive?
Hermanus is a beautiful place to drive both SUVs, it has winding roads where we were able to stretch the legs of these turbocharged Cherys. Behind the wheel of the Tiggo 7 Pro we noticed how pleasant the CVT was at swapping gears. The 108kW and 210Nm from the 1.5-litre engine did a solid job of getting the job done in a spirited manner, particularly when Sport mode was selected.
Thankfully there is an ECO mode that reduces the fuel consumption to a claimed 6.8-litres per 100km.
We set our sights on a new path in the Overberg for our time with the Tiggo 8 Pro. Being the flagship model and featuring extra seats it is fitted with a larger 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Maximum power is 145kW and 290Nm. It also employs a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for faster and smoother shifts. Another great point is the Tiggo 8 Pro’s towing capacity of 750kg unbraked and 1500kg braked.
Overall both models are overwhelmingly premium in their look and feel. The drive, refinement and features at the price point offer an uncompromised package.
Throw in the comprehensive service plan of 5-year or 60 000 km and an engine warranty that is automatically extended to 10 years / 1 000 000km if you maintain ownership and it’s hard not to put both models at the top of the pile.
