Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Updated

Chery is on a roll in the local market. The Chinese automaker is offering comparable products at prices that are too good for many to resist. Over 20 000 new Chery models have found new homes in SA over the last 18 months. Now the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro updated version has been released to lure more buyers to the brand.

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What’s interesting that over 3 000 (of the 20 000) sales consisted of the top-of-the-range Tiggo 8. That means the brand is not just attracting first-time car buyers with its entry-level Tiggo 4 (read more by clicking this link) but buyers are overlooking traditional brands to opt for the Chinese ‘newcomer’.

Staying Fresh

While the Tiggo 8 is an attractive proposition for many in the local landscape, Chery SA has decided that the model could do with a little update. The seven-seater SUV has been given a mild exterior revision.

The changes include a new grille treatment with a light-up Chery logo, which is obvious at night. The front changes are complemented by a body-wide light strip that has a moving light signature on start up.

Other aspects of the exterior appearance, such as the alloys wheels remain unchanged. If you aren’t really familiar with the Tiggo 8 these design changes may pass you by.

New Look Interior

A larger degree of change has been carried out in the cabin. Ahead of front occupants is a new instrument cluster and infotainment screen. The two units share a common backing plate, which makes them appear as one continuous widescreen. The infotainment interface features touchscreen functionality, crisp full-colour graphics and a voice-activated option.

More notable is the removal of the Range Rover-esque panel below the infotainment screen that house controls for the climate control system. The HVAC controls can now be accessed via a set of haptic controls on a thin ledge below the central air vents, or within the infotainment system. There is also a newly designed gear selector.

Less notable is the repositioning of the front tweeters of the standard Sony sound system from the A pillars to the door cards. Elsewhere the Tiggo 8 still boasts soft leather and high level of perceived quality. The cabin showed no signs of flimsiness even after a stint over a rough section of gravel road.

Mechanical Unchanged

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro updated version remains unchanged under-the-skin. There are two powertrain options, a 1,6-litre (145 kW/290 N.m) and a 2,0-litre, referred to as ‘Max’, which is the version we drove at the local launch event. Headline figures for the Max version are 187 kW/390 N.m. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power exclusively to the front axle. An all-wheel-drive version will be introduced in due course.

We found the powertrain capable of delivering good performance and easy overtaking. Although, we found the transmission mapping a little eager, especially when setting off, causing a surge of acceleration when you just want to pull away gently.

The engine is pretty quiet as well. We didn’t find it too intrusive, which speaks to a well insulated cabin. However, we did note higher than ideal levels of noise coming from the tyres. This may have something to do with incorrectly set tyres pressures, which we can confirm when we get a unit for review.

Summary

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is an agreeable package. In addition to being a capable family car it offers extremely good value for money. The cars are standard as a buyer sees them on a showroom floor, there is no options list and you the only choice one has to make (engine aside) is your preferred colour.

Chery offers each new Tiggo 8 with a five-year/150 000 km warranty and five-year/60 000 km service plan. Max versions come with a with a seven-year/90 000 km service plan. In addition there is five years of roadside assistance and the brand’s ten-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty. With that level of backing and competitive pricing it’s not difficult to see why Chery is a regular feature in the top-ten new car sales listings.