Chery is certainly not holding back with its entry into the UK car market. Having first arrived with the Omoda and Jaecoo brands, the Chinese automotive giant has now also begun selling vehicles here under its own name – the Tiggo 7 medium SUV we’re looking at here, and the larger Tiggo 8, which are both part of the fourth generation of Tiggo models globally.
Performance and drive
The Tiggo 7 is available with two powertrains – a 147hp pure petrol, and a 204hp plug-in hybrid (badged Super Hybrid). Of course, the PHEV is best from a company car tax point of view (an EV-only range of 56 miles means a BIK liability of 9%), which is fortunate because it’s also the most impressive option on the road. Around town, its electrification means drivers benefit from immediate responses, while the amount of shove when accelerating up to A-road speeds is fairly impressive for a family SUV, and there’s also good powertrain refinement, although quite a bit of road noise is audible at speed. In contrast, the petrol powertrain feels hesitant in town, sapping driver confidence when looking to nip into gaps, while out of town it seems like the engine has to work quite hard to maintain acceptable acceleration.
As for handling, the Tiggo 7 feels a bit heavy on the road, almost like it’s from a larger segment than it actually is, and although there isn’t excessive body roll or a lack of grip it feels quite ponderous and not overly willing to change direction. The ride feels quite firm at low speeds, but improves out of town.
Interior and tech
The Tiggo 7’s cabin features a good mix of soft-touch and higher-quality materials, although we noted the electric window switches feel a little flimsy. The pair of 12.3in screens for driver information and infotainment look good and work acceptably well – the latter also allowing access to an impressive range of parking and reversing camera systems, including a video game-style virtual view with our range-topping Summit spec test car.
Below the infotainment screen are touch-button air conditioning controls, but these aren’t the most intuitive to use on the move and could be more responsive.
Rear legroom is pretty good, and headroom is particularly impressive – even with the sunroof fitted to Summit models. A 426-litre boot is below-par for the segment, although at least you aren’t penalised here for choosing the PHEV rather than the petrol, and there is a near-flat load lip.
In entry-level Aspire spec, Chery boasts that the Tiggo 7 is the UK’s cheapest plug-in hybrid. The Summit grade incurs a £3,000 premium, while the petrol is £5,000 less – though this isn’t a saving we’d recommend due to its on-road performance and top-rate 37% BIK tax liability. The entry-level Super Hybrid comes in around £10,000 cheaper on price than PHEV medium SUV alternatives such as the Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson, while the (larger) MG HS Plug-in is around £1,500 more than the Chery. The Summit version tested here retains most of that advantage against equivalent spec rivals – and is also in the same ballpark on expected residual values, so that advantage shouldn’t disappear over time.
Positive: Impressively cheap for a plug-in hybrid, premium feel to interior materials, lots of headroom
Negative: Heavy-feeling handling, small boot, pure petrol version best avoided
Standard equipment: Automatic LED headlights, 18in alloy wheels, 12.3in driver display, 12.3in infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert.
Engines: Petrol: 147hp 1.6; Plug-in hybrid: 204hp 1.5
Equipment grades: Aspire, Summit
Transmissions: Seven-speed DCT automatic, single-speed DHT automatic
| Model | Chery Tiggo 7 Summit Super Hybrid |
| P11D | £32,830 |
| Residual value | 46.4% |
| Depreciation | £17,661 |
| Fuel | £5,676 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | TBC |
| Cost per mile | TBC |
| Fuel consumption | 313.9mpg |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 23g/km (9%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £49/£98 |
| Luggage capacity | 426 litres |
| Engine size/power | 1,498cc/204hp |
| Score | 7/10 |
