Year after year, new car buyers chasing an affordable seven-seat SUV flock to the tried and tested Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Chinese challenger Chery is out to change that with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, although the latest addition to the mainstream SUV market has flown under the radar so far.
Just 226 examples were sold in August, and the Outlander (2188 sales in August) remains one of Australia’s most popular cars.
The Chery has a lot to offer though, with a brawny turbocharged engine, premium interior finishes, and more tech than you can poke a stick at.
That’s especially true of the flagship Ultimate AWD, and you’ll still get change from $50,000.
So, does the Tiggo 8 Pro Max deserve better? And should you buy one?
How much does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max cost?
Pricing for the Tiggo 8 Pro Max starts at $41,990 drive-away and tops out at $47,990 drive-away for the flagship Ultimate, as tested here.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban FWD | $41,990 |
| 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite FWD | $43,990 |
| 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate AWD | $47,990 |
To see how the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max like on the inside?
Chery has previously taken inspiration from the luxury brands with its sleek, shiny interiors, and the cabin of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is no different.
Packaged like a stretched out Tiggo 7 Pro, the cabin of the Tiggo 8 Pro is spacious and our example was fitted with the optional dual-tone black/brown interior.
Aside from the interior colour option (other variants come in black), the Ultimate also gains a 10-speaker sound system, fragrance system, and a panoramic sunroof. Each addition elevates the space, building on the premium-ish feel.
Even in base specification, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is well appointed. All variants come with leatherette door card and dash trims which are soft to the touch, while materials resembling wood and aluminium also feature heavily.
Just because the interior looks expensive doesn’t mean that it is, but you have to go out of your way to find hard plastics.
Showroom appeal is there in spades and that’s enough in itself to generate sales at this price point. It’s not like the appeal disappears when you get behind the wheel, either.
The quilted brown leatherette seats envelop you like an armchair, with plenty of cushioning and a soft headrest. Lateral support is lacking, but drivers of a wider body shape will appreciate the lack of bolstering.
Both front seats are power adjustable, heated, and ventilated across the Tiggo 8 Pro Max range. Ahead of the driver sits a grippy flat-bottomed steering wheel with physical buttons, and behind that are two expansive screens.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument display is clear and functional, with easily legible readouts. By default you get a pair of traditional gauges that flank a customisable central area – it’s an approachable layout for tech-averse buyers.
There are several alternative layouts for those who want to experiment with their new toy. Next door, the 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen is laid out like a smartphone with large app icons.
The system is easy to navigate, prioritising popular selections on the menu pages, and there’s an obvious home button to return to the main menu. While user-friendly and responsive, the touchscreen screen lacks resolution.
Wireless smartphone mirroring comes standard on all models, although Apple CarPlay was prone to dropouts during our test. In such situations, the native ‘turbodog’ navigation system offers serviceable backup.
Front row phone charging is covered by a wireless pad, in addition to USB-A and USB-C outlets.
Tech-heads will also appreciate the haptic climate controls integrated into the dash, which offer a clean look to the detriment of usability. Brightly coloured ambient lighting is an aesthetic addition without compromise.
It can be difficult to find the balance between style and substance, but Chery has done well in this regard with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
No storage was sacrificed in the making of this suave, wannabe European cabin.
Up front you get a huge centre console, wide rubber-lined tray under the centre stack, large glovebox, skinny door bins, a sunglasses holder, and two cupholders. That’s ample space for stuff, if you ask me.
The kids in the back are well looked after, too. Second row passengers cop seats that are just as comfortable as the front pews, with recline adjustment and soft, contoured headrests.
A pair of average-sized adults fit comfortably and the seat backs are soft if your knees stick out. Despite the Ultimate’s panoramic sunroof, headroom is also more than adequate. Natural light keeps the space feeling open and airy.
Whoever ends up sitting back there will have room to store bits and pieces in large door bins, map pockets and cupholders located in the centre armrest. USB-A and USB-C charging outlets are integrated into the air vent housing.
A seat in the third row is hardly a punishment, either. The seats are plush, there’s loads of headroom and, depending on whether you slide the second row forward, the available legroom can accomodate smaller adults.
Compared to segment rivals, the Chery sits somewhere between the Kia Sorento and Nissan X-Trail for third row usability.
Just 117L of boot space is available with all seven seats in place, or enough for a few grocery bags.
In five-seat configuration cargo room jumps to 739L, which is far more appropriate for a family weekend away.
The seating rows don’t fold completely flat, but you can still slide bulky items in without hitting a pronounced lip.
| Dimension | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Length | 4720mm |
| Width | 1860mm |
| Height | 1705mm |
| Wheelbase | 2710mm |
| Boot capacity (VDA) | 117L (3rd row up) 479L (3rd row folded, to seatback) 739L (3rd row folded, up to roof) |
| Kerb weight | 1731kg |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 2302kg |
To see how the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
Just one powertrain is available, with the choice of front- or all-wheel drive depending on variant.
| Technical specifications | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl turbo |
| Power | 180kW (5500rpm) |
| Engine torque | 375Nm (1750-4000rpm) |
| Transmission | 7-speed DCT |
| Driven wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1731kg |
| Fuel economy (claim) | 8.7L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | N/A |
| Fuel tank size | 57 litres |
| Fuel requirement | 95 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 200g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6b |
| Maximum tow capacity | 1300kg (braked) |
| Maximum towball download | 75kg |
Our test consisted of peak-hour Melbourne commuting, conditions that heavily influenced our final fuel consumption figure. Back at launch we recorded a 9.1L/100km average.
Chery Australia says it’s working on bringing the Tiggo 8 Pro Max Plug-in Hybrid, which teams a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with dual electric motors and a 19.27kWh ternary lithium battery.
System outputs are 240kW and 545Nm, with EV range quoted at 80 kilometres on the more lenient WLTC cycle. This PHEV drivetrain will likely debut in Australia with the smaller Tiggo 7 Pro Plug-in Hybrid first, the company says.
To see how the Tiggo 8 Pro Max lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max drive?
Chery is going for a luxurious feel with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, and that requires more than just a splash of leather and a generous helping of modern tech. It needs to drive well, and the Ultimate does just that.
The drivetrain plays a significant role in the driving enjoyment of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
Under the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 180kW and 375Nm, the most potent engine of any seven-seat SUV under $50,000.
In fact, the only rival that comes close is the LDV D90 with 165kW and 350Nm.
You can certainly feel that on the road. Paired with a slick-shifting dual-clutch transmission the Chery four-pot never lacks grunt, whether you’re slicing your way through the suburbs, cruising on the highway, or venturing further afield.
The Tiggo gets going in a smooth manner from a set of traffic lights, and has plenty of in-gear acceleration to execute lane changes and overtakes. Not quite enough to warrant quad exhaust tips, though.
It’s also surprisingly quiet when you exercise your right foot – the engine never buzzes, thrashes, or shouts.
If you close your eyes (in the passenger seat, of course), there’s little to distinguish the feel of this budget family hauler from far more expensive metal.
That extends to how the Tiggo 8 Pro Max rides. With floaty suspension and light, direct steering, it’s a big and soft SUV that’s forgiving on coarse surfaces.
Speed humps barely register in the cabin, and it takes a nasty pothole or bridge join to upset the Chery.
The lightness of the steering also makes the Tiggo 8 Pro Max easy to manoeuvre, despite its dimensions. I tackled more than a few tight laneways during our test and never felt out of touch with the positioning relative to walls and other vehicles.
In urban environments, safety tech is the most distracting aspect of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max. A long list of safety features will undoubtedly appeal to potential buyers, but on multi-lane roads the car was too eager to alert me to potential collisions that simply weren’t going to occur.
Vehicles travelling safely in the lane next to me were too often perceived as a danger, prompting the surround-view cameras to signal a warning unnecessarily.
Chery has previously faced teething issues when bringing its driver assistance systems Down Under, and this is a kink that’s likely to be ironed out over time.
The surround-view camera with 3D view also offers plenty of perks. It makes parking easier, and assists when you’re navigating a narrow passage.
Road noise on the highway also needs addressing.
Riding on its its larger 19-inch alloys and narrower 235/50 tyres, the Ultimate isn’t quite as refined on the open road as it is in the city, transmitting some rubber roar into the cabin.
The safety systems quieten down once you’re cruising, with driver attention monitoring only making itself known when reasonable.
Adaptive cruise control does a good job of keeping the Tiggo 8 Pro Max in sync with highway traffic, too.
If you choose to take control on winding rural roads, the Chery also steers well for a large SUV, with impressive handling. It will happily take corners at speed, with solid body control and grip.
The all-wheel drive system provides extra traction, which comes in handy when the roads get rough or slippery.
What do you get?
Three trim levels are available – Urban, Elite and Ultimate.
Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- LED tail lights
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite navigation
- Voice assistant
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Wireless phone charger
- Ambient lighting
- 8-speaker Sony sound system
- Black leatherette upholstery
- Heated, ventilated front seats
- 3 x drive modes
- Air quality management system
Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite adds:
- Power tailgate
- Heated exterior mirrors
- Built-in dashcam
- Third-row air vents with fan speed control
- Illuminated door sills with Tiggo lettering
- Retractable cargo blind
Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate adds:
- All-wheel drive
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Fragrance system
- Puddle lamps
- Panoramic sunroof
- 10-speaker Sony sound system
- Privacy glass
- Optional brown synthetic leather upholstery
Is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max safe?
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max has a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on testing of its partner model, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, in 2023.
| Category | Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 35.54 out of 40 (88 per cent) |
| Child occupant protection | 42.74 out of 49 (87 per cent) |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 50.30 out of 63 (79 per cent) |
| Safety assist | 15.54 out of 18 (86 per cent) |
Standard safety features include:
- 10 airbags
- Front airbags x 2
- Front side airbags x 2
- Curtain airbags x 2
- Front centre airbags x 1
- Driver knee airbag x 1
- Rear side airbags x 2
- Forward collision warning
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Emergency lane keeping
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Integrated Cruise Assist
- Adaptive cruise + lane centring
- Blind-spot assist
- Rear collision warning
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Safe exit warning
- Speed limit information
- Speed Control Assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Driver monitoring system
- 360-degree cameras
- Parking sensors front, rear
How much does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max cost to run?
Chery Australia covers its lineup with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Running costs | Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0T AWD |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 7 years |
| Service interval | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Total capped-price servicing cost | $2309.16 |
CarExpert’s Take on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate offers excellent value for a sub-$50k seven-seat SUV – it’s a well-rounded package with no real weakness.
Performance? Check. A smooth and refined ride? Check. The cabin is roomy enough for a car-full of adults and comes packed with technology and amenities.
Rivals are plentiful – the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail, and Mitsubishi Outlander, just to name a few.
All are established with large fanbases, but don’t offer the same taste of luxury motoring that Chery has pulled off with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
Each variant has its place in the range, although given the low cost of entry I’d recommend the flagship Ultimate with its all-wheel drive balance and meaningful interior upgrades.
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