Chinese brand Chery is starting to make a dent in the Aussie market and it’s doing so with just two models on offer; the Omoda 5 and recently launched Tiggo 7 Pro.
What’s even more encouraging is Omoda 5 only dropped in April 2023, and yet has still managed to notch up an enviable 5.1 per cent share of the busy small SUV segment by year’s end.
The larger 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro lobbed just a few months ago, but again, it’s has already carved out a 1.2 per cent slice of the intensely competitive midsize SUV segment – outselling more familiar models such as the Renault Koleos, Skoda Karoq and Cupra Formentor.
Mind, it’s still early days for Tiggo 7, but with sharp drive-away pricing, a stack of premium features and an enhanced drivetrain with a design that doesn’t polarise, it’s bound to make it onto the shortlist of prudent buyers looking for maximum bang for buck without skimping on the creature comforts.
Chery is also bullish about where it sees itself positioned amongst its Chinese counterparts. Talk to Lucas Harris, managing director at Chery Australia, and he’ll tell you in no uncertain terms it’s the most premium of those Chinese brands currently in market here.
Nevertheless, the Tiggo 7 Pro faces intense competition on all sides in the most hotly contested new car segment in Australia – accounting for no less than 20.2 per cent of all new cars sold here. Moreover, there are 24 individual brands currently competing in the midsize SUV segment.
Leaving the top-selling brands to one side for the moment, there are also several Chinese models already off and running here, like the popular BYD Atto 3, GWM Haval H6, and MG HS, all of which continue to rack up solid numbers month on month. Indeed, MG will launch a new-generation HS this year which should see a significant bump in sales for the model range.
Chery itself has a cadence of new product on the way including ‘GT’ versions of Omoda 5 – with new engines and transmissions, along with the choice of 2WD and AWD – as well as an all-electric variant called E5.
There’s also a seven-seat SUV coming called the Tiggo 8 Pro Max which will take on the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan X-Trail, among others, at the affordable end of the seven-seat SUV category.
Clearly, the Tiggo 7 Pro still has a long way to go in this space if it’s to get within a bulls roar of chart-toppers like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester; but by the same token, it’s new to market and is already starting to get traction.
Mind, it’s not the cheapest thing in the segment but with sharp drive-away pricing, loads of premium features and an enticingly low cost of ownership over its seven-year warranty period – the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro unequivocally stacks up as a bonafide bang-for-buck champion despite the plethora of competition.
How much does theChery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD cost?
Prices start from $39,990 drive-away for the entry-level Urban, and the price climbs to $45,990 D/A for the top-spec Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD we have on test – the only all-paw variant offered in Australia.
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro pricing:
- 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Urban: $39,990
- 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Elite: $41,990
- 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD: $45,990
Prices are drive-away
To see how the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro lines up against its wealth of competition, check out our comparison tool.
What is the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD like on the inside?
If you’re in the market for an affordable mid-size SUV with a sharp eye for a bargain and you’ve yet to discover Chery, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise, if not a treat.
That’s especially true if you’re looking at the range-topping Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD as tested here.
If you didn’t know better, you’d might think you’ve jumped into the latest BMW or Mercedes-Benz given the plush seats, huge high-definition dual screens and tastefully designed dashboard.
There are hints of both prestige makes sprinkled about the cabin down to the metal speaker grilles and stop/start button that looks decidedly similar to that in a Benz, though again, the design and execution is elegant and something that belies its mid $40,000 drive-away price tag.
And there are examples of this premium nature everywhere you care to look. The design, clarity and colour reproduction of the screen graphics is truly excellent, as is the level of customisation and configuration, though it’s not always entirely intuitive – but neither is it in those same prestige brands mentioned above, either.
There’s just so much information on offer so it’s best to take time out to get familiar with buttons, dials and switches before setting off for the first time.
Mind, response times on the large infotainment touchscreen aren’t always instant if you’re switching from CarPlay back to the default on-board media menu. Perhaps Chery could take a leaf out of Hyundai or Kia in this regard.
There’s no dash clutter as you find in some of the more expensive makes and models. Instead, everything is neatly arranged with a horizontal geometry including plenty of shortcut buttons for general settings and audio surrounding the shifter housing.
Indeed, the drive-by-wire shifter itself is another nicely-finished bit of design work that sits neatly ahead of a knurled drive-mode selector.
Never mind the ‘artificial leather’ description either, which adorns the seats, console, door trim and dash. It looks and feels like genuine Nappa leather complete with perforated seat backs and cushions in both rows, as well as contrast stitching and piping.
The front seat design itself employs a one-piece unit with built-in headrest and cool GT-style cut-outs with metal-look surrounds. They really do look the part, but more importantly, they’re properly bolstered on seat and seat back for a more comfortable driving experience.
Same goes for the three-pronged steering wheel, wrapped in the same ultra-soft material. It’s a stylish bit of kit on its own accord which uses metal accents and piano black to house touch buttons and toggle switches.
There’s some faux carbon-fibre trim spread sparingly around the cabin, but it too is of a higher quality than you might see across other makes and models – some costing plenty more than the Tiggo 7 Pro, too.
We particularly like the brushed metal-look HVAC control strip. Its subtle and sleek in design encompassing easy-to-read touch controls with quick response.
There’s some interesting 3D plastic trim on the front door cards that actually resemble those used by high-end carmakers like Aston Martin – though it uses leather for the same effect. Granted there are several materials and effects on display here, but it still works for me aesthetically.
As well Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s also the option of using the ‘Hey Chery’ voice assistant for things like audio, phone and climate control. It worked most of the time, but I suspect its speech recognition software might get better with more use.
Up front there’s wireless charging to go with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, dual cupholders and dual USB ports (USB-A and USB-C).
Second row passengers get rear air vents and a single USB-A charging port and dual cupholders in a central armrest. Meanwhile both outboard seated passengers get ample legroom, space for the centre passenger is compromised due to the extended console that properly intrudes.
From the mid-spec up in the Tiggo 7 Pro range you get a powered tailgate – revealing no less than a claimed 625L of luggage space behind the rear seats. We assume that measurement is to the headliner, but either way, its looks positively expansive.
The rear seats don’t fold entirely flat and there’s also a lip to mount if you’re lugging around longer gear, but do so, and luggage room expands to 1672L.
More beneficial still is the full-size spare wheel under the boot floor – across the entire model line. That’s not something you find these days. In most cases you’re lucky to get a space saver.
What’s under the bonnet?
Power for the entire Tiggo 7 Pro range comes from a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
It develops 137kW of power at 5500rpm and 275Nm of torque between 2000rpm and 4000rpm, and the engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels exclusively in Urban and Elite versions, and all four wheels in the Ultimate spec tested here.
Chery claims a 9.5-second 0-100km/h time for FWD models, and a slower 9.9 seconds for the AWD flagship. Quoted fuel consumption is 7.0L/100km for the Tiggo 7 Pro FWD, and 7.8L/100km for the heavier AWD – both figures are on the combined ADR cycle.
I saw 9.3L/100km and above on my test loop, which given some more enthusiastic driving at times didn’t overly concern me. There were other times over the test period where consumption dropped to just below 7.8L/100km.
There’s a 51L fuel tank for FWD models and 57L for the AWD version, with 95 RON premium unleaded required as a minimum. Importantly, Tiggo 7 Pro’s turbo petrol engine complies with Euro-6b emissions standards, despite most mainstream rivals electing to go with older Euro 5 standards.
Still on the cards for Australia is the Tiggo 7 Pro e+ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) which uses a three-gear Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT) featuring three physical gears and three engine operating points with an adjustable speed ratio.
Dual electric motors, a motor controller and transmission are integrated with each other, and mated with a “hybrid-specific” 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. There’s a 19.27kWh ternary lithium battery and total system outputs of 240kW of power and 545Nm of torque, with claimed electric range of 80km under China’s WLTC cycle.
Now that’s something we’d really like to see join the line-up, sooner rather than later.
How does the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD drive?
Forget about Eco mode, it’s just doughy, like every other make and model out there. Far better in the Normal drive mode where the Tiggo 7 Pro offers the most comfortable and pleasant driving experience.
Power delivery in this mode is more linear than in Sport, but you can still punch it when situations demand maximum go with decent response.
Indeed, the Tiggo 7 Pro can feel more lively than its quoted performance claims especially from a standing start.Mind, throttle response can still be a tad tardy at times unless you give the throttle a proper prod.
Lower gears are automatically held a tad longer than ideal, whereas I found the dual-clutch transmission settles down for smoother shifts and better calibration in the midrange.
There are no paddleshifters even for this top-spec variant, but there is an e-shifter which was fairly dull experience and not exactly quick to respond, either.
Nevertheless, under daily driving conditions Tiggo 7 Pro offers a surprisingly refined driving experience.
Engine noise is generally minimal with good sound insulation to boot. It’s only when you stamp on it from the get-go do you ever hear any unpleasantness from the engine bay.
Chery is on record as saying it’s keen to explore local tuning opportunities which we hope would include drivetrain calibration along with suspension and steering tuning, which we would certainly welcome.
Even though the Ultimate rides on larger 19-inch wheels, ride comfort and ride compliance is decent. Larger speed bumps and broken road were barely felt inside the cabin but sharper edges could unsettle the vehicle – it’s not always uniform in its damper response.
However, no such shortcomings with body control through tighter roundabouts or even faster bends. It almost felt ‘sporty’ on occasion when paired with Tiggo 7 Pro’s commendable ‘in-car’ driving position.
It’s a comfortable and efficient motorway cruiser too, thanks to the transmission quickly finding top gear from as little as 60km/h. Interestingly, very little traffic noise is heard inside the cabin – even truck and bus noise seems muffled.
While most drivers will likely celebrate the light steering for easy tight-space manoeuvring and those underground parking stations, there isn’t much feel to it compared with either the Honda ZR-V or the Mazda CX-5.
Visibility all round is excellent thanks to the Tiggo 7 Pro’s tall glasshouse, with the exception of the rear tailgate which is relatively small compared with some rivals – but it doesn’t seem to affect rear vision.
While it’s worth noting the Chery’s superb 3D rear camera view, making it dead easy when close knit parking is demanded, I found the wide-angle rear-view mirror terribly distorting and difficult to rely on.
The Tiggo 7 Pro is also equipped with a large suite of active safety systems, and while these have largely been locally re-calibrated with lower sensitivity in mind, things like lane keep assist and lane centring assist can still be a bit overzealous and annoying during the daily commute.
That’s not the only thing which I found annoying. Chery’s driver monitoring system somehow saw through my Maui Jim polaroid sunnies and accused me of not paying attention when looking at the drive mode dial for a split second.
What do you get?
Tiggo 7 Pro Urban highlights:
- Auto LED headlights
- Rain-sensing wipers
- 18-inch alloy wheels in Atlas tyres
- Full-size spare
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- 3 drive modes (Eco, Sport, Normal)
- Keyless entry and start
- Remote start
- Electronic parking brake with auto hold
- Artificial leather upholstery
- Artificial leather-wrapped steering wheel
- 4-way steering wheel adjustment
- Heated front seats (cushion, backrest)
- 6-way power driver’s seat
- Four-way power passenger seat
- Dual-zone climate control
- Panoramic sunroof
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- ‘Hey Chery’ voice assistant
- 8-speaker Sony sound system
- Wireless phone charger
- Ambient lighting
- Front, rear USB outlets incl. USB-C
- 2 x 12V outlets (front, boot)
Tiggo 7 Pro Elite adds:
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Power tailgate
- Illuminated sill plates
- Air quality management system
- Negative ion air freshener
- Cargo blind
- Optional black roof
- Surround-view cameras
Tiggo 7 Ultimate adds:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Cooper tyres
- 6 drive modes (Eco, Sport, Normal, Snow, Mud, Off-road)
- Red brake calipers, front
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Power driver’s seat incl. memory
- Power-folding exterior mirrors with memory
- Ventilated front seats (cushion only)
Is the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD safe?
The Tiggo 7 Pro received a five-star rating ANCAP safety rating in December 2023.
It scored an adult occupant protection rating of 88 per cent, a child occupant protection rating of 87 per cent, a vulnerable road user protection rating of 72 per cent, and a safety assist rating of 86 per cent.
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- 8 airbags incl. front-centre, driver’s knee
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Child presence detection
- Driver monitoring system
- Forward collision warning
- Integrated Cruise Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane centring assist
- Traffic jam assist
- Intelligent Headlamp Control
- Auto high-beam
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keep assist
- Parking sensors front, rear
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Safe exit warning
- Speed limit assist
- Traffic sign recognition
Tiggo 7 Pro Elite adds:
- Surround-view cameras
How much does the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate AWD cost to run?
The Tiggo 7 Pro is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
There’s also seven years of capped-price servicing and up to seven years of roadside assistance, provided you service the vehicle at a Chery dealer, otherwise its just 12 months free. Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
Chery Tiggo 7 service pricing:
Urban + Elite 1.6T FWD
- A Service (12mth/15,000km): $280
- B Service (24mth/30,0000km): $280
- C Service (36mth/45,000km): $280
- D Service (48mth/60,000km): $280
- E Service (60mth/75,000km): $280
- F Service (72mth/90,000km): $367.94
- G Service (84mth/105,000km): $287.84
Ultimate 1.6T AWD
- A Service (12mth/15,000km): $280
- B Service (24mth/30,0000km): $280
- C Service (36mth/45,000km): $280
- D Service (48mth/60,000km): $280
- E Service (60mth/75,000km): $280
- F Service (72mth/90,000km): $515.60
- G Service (84mth/105,000km): $287.84
CarExpert’s Take on the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
Make no mistake, there’s a decent dollop of wow factor when you climb aboard the Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate for the first time.
It doesn’t look or feel like something priced at $45,990 drive-away. Clearly the folks at Chery sought inspiration from a couple of German luxury brands on look and feel in the cabin, but the design, materials and execution is impressive.
If Chery wants to be known as the most premium of its Chinese counterparts in the two segments it currently competes in, it’s already there; with attractive pricing, loads of premium features and a benchmark-equalling ownership cost program.
While the Tiggo 7 Pro Ultimate might hold range-topping status, you could also argue it represents the best bang for buck up against seasoned chart-toppers in base spec from the likes of Hyundai, Kia, Honda and Mazda.
Mind, there’s still plenty of room for improvement courtesy of local dynamic tuning programs, and if executed with an all-embracing approach it may well end up putting even those rivals on notice.
We also can’t wait until Chery Australia pulls the trigger on the Tiggo 7 Pro e+ with its 240kW and 545Nm plug-in hybrid system – yes please.
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