When the Tiggo 7 Pro came out two years ago, Filipinos could not get enough of it — and it was easy to tell. Just look at how many units there are on the road.
In the middle of 2023, Chery upped the ante when it brought in its (mild) hybrid counterpart. After reviewing its conventional predecessor a couple of years ago, I was excited to see the improvements (if any) and how it challenges competitors in the segment.
While the ‘Life In Motion’ body is nothing to write home about, the ‘Sunshine Galaxy’ grille is still as eye-catching as ever. The diamond mesh and the shiny rectangular elements combined look elegant — like jewels floating in a pattern — from small pieces at the top that get bigger as they flow down. The slim LED headlamps are called ‘Tiger Eyes’ with a multi-cavity reflective matrix. It still has fog lamps, roof rails, thin cladding, and a silver accent, but new 18-inch alloy wheels, exclusive to the hybrid variant. A light bar separates the LED taillights at the rear, a spoiler with a high-mount stop lamp, and a power tailgate.
The cabin still has the same minimalist chic look. It has slim features seen with the vents, toggle switches, and even the climate controls on the glossy panel. The styling of the soft-touch dashboard, coupled with a thin silver accent, makes the cockpit feel wide and spacious, which creates a relaxed atmosphere for passengers.
In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital LCD instrument panel. It would have been great to use except for the acronyms that most drivers would have to Google to figure out, like DTE (distance to empty), AFE (average fuel economy), and IFC (instant fuel consumption). Chery needs to update these with newer icons and better terminology.
Amenities include a 10.25-inch touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink), six speakers, an electronic parking brake, an auto-hold function, a wireless charging pad, two USB ports here, and a 12-volt outlet, and a roomy storage area. It has a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel and contoured leather seats with ample bolstering and visible double stitching.
Look up and see the sky or the stars through the 1.13 square meter panoramic sunroof. I liked the ambient interior lighting. It even lets you choose between seven customizable colors.
Seats have less bolstering in the second row, but it has rear air vents. The cargo area has 475 liters of storage space, but fold the second-row seatbacks to increase and to haul long items.
I have two items on my cabin wishlist — a sexier and more ergonomic electric shift lever and an infotainment system graphic user interface from the 21st century, because this one still looks like it came from Windows 98. Wireless CarPlay in the next update would also be better.
Its 1.5-liter turbo engine has a 48-volt belt-starter generator, which gives this vehicle hybrid technology. It makes slightly more than the regular Tiggo 7 Pro at 156-HP and 230-Nm of torque. Drive goes to the front wheels via a CVT.
Because it sports a mild hybrid system, it feels livelier and more responsive than a full hybrid. A chunk of the torque comes in quickly, so you don’t have to breach the 2,000 RPM mark to overtake or merge on SLEX under normal conditions, which is good for fuel economy. It is fast and is no slouch on the road, even when I was conservative with my throttle use. I got 23 km/l on the highway, while city traffic returned 8.1 km/l.
Safety is one of this car’s best qualities. It has a 360-degree HD camera that offers a 2D, 3D, front and rear broad view. Signal to make a turn and the animation will show the space you’re turning into and a miniature version of the car relative to the space you are in. It also acts as a reverse monitor.
What is impressive is the performance of the Macpherson strut and multilink independent rear suspension. It is gentle on humps and carefully catches the weight of the vehicle as it drops in potholes. I don’t know if Chery upgraded the insulation materials of the Tiggo 7 Pro because noise, vibration, and harshness dampening are excellent.
Handling is surprisingly sporty. Engineers dialed in just the right amount of weight to provide steering feedback, which makes the drive engaging.
For P1.350 million, this crossover SUV brings a lot to your garage — the styling, all this tech, including the mild hybrid system, spacious high-tech cabin, and functionality. To top it off, it is a fun drive. Chery should increase fuel efficiency further in the next version because its numbers, as they stand, do not stand out yet. A few tweaks in a cabin will also go a long way in making some of its features more user-friendly.
If you like how the Tiggo 7 Pro looked before, you will love this one even more because the drive has improved while becoming more efficient.