By Otsile Kadiege

Chery Automobile Co. Ltd  is one of China’s top-five selling automotive brands which sold 1,881,316 vehicles in 2023. This is partly thanks to the adoption of a multi-brand strategy of establishing many car brands for different purposes. As of 2024, the company has 8 active brands, including Omoda and Jaecoo for export markets like South Africa.

That said, some of Chery’s models have been rebadged and sold in other markets as new models of the parent company’s sub-brands. Such is now the case with the recently revealed Tiggo 7 Sport which is a slightly redesigned Jaecoo J7 with sporty touches and a familiar-looking face.

Tiggo 7 Sport exterior and interior design

Outside, the Tiggo 7 Sport ditches the Jaecoo J7’s upright front-end design for a more curved design which looks almost identical to a sub-compact luxury crossover SUV from a popular British automaker. That said, highlights up front include a gloss black mash grille with a sporty insignia, a bonnet with ‘CHERY’ lettering and air scoops, slim LED daytime running lights and separate LED headlights which have been integrated into the redesigned front bumper.

It also gets new gloss black wheel designs and an exterior luggage compartment which has been mounted between the C- and D-pillars. At the rear, the Tiggo 7 Sport sets itself apart from the J7 with a sportier lower rear bumper. Inside, the cabin is a carbon copy of the J7, however we noticed a new toffee colour theme.

Powertrain

The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is yet to share the powerplant details of the Tiggo 7 Sport, however it will most likely use the same engine found in the Chery Tansuo 06 (known locally as the Jaecoo J7) which is a 145kW and 290Nm 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that’s paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. This being a ‘sporty’ derivative, Chery might add a bit more oomph to engine.

Image source: Autohome