By Otsile Kadiege

Mid-2022 Chery South Africa added the Tiggo 7 Pro to their local SUV tally. Months later the automaker revealed the updated model which is now called Tiggo 7 Plus. You might be asking yourself why the Tiggo 7 was facelifted so soon. Well, the Tiggo 7 Pro has been on sale in other markets for a few years now meaning it arrived on our shores late – a few moths it was due for a nip & tuck.

That said, the Tiggo 7 Plus is by far one of the most radically updated models we’ve seen in recent times. It boasts an updated exterior and interior styling, it also gets new technologies as well as a new, more powerful engine mated to a new transmission.

Premium exterior

Outside, the updated Tiggo 7 Plus adopts the brands new design and a few styling cues from other Chery models. Up front, the Tiggo 7 Plus boasts a newly designed, large radiator grille with a vertical slats. It’s flanked by slim LED headlights with sequential turn signals which look similar to those found on the Tiggo 8 Pro. The lower front bumper features vertical daytime running lights (DRLs) and red accents.

Apart from newly designed 19-inch alloy wheels, much of its profile remains untouched. At the rear, ‘CHERY’ lettering has been integrated with the LED taillights cluster which also features an LED light-strip. It also sports large quad exhaust-like trimmings which will likely be reserved for higher-spec models.

Upmarket interior design and technologies

One of the major updates of the Tiggo 7 is inside. The interior is much more premium compared to the prefacelift model. Highlights include a redesigned dashboard which now features two integrated 12.3-inch driver and infotainment displays, touch sensitive climate and media controls and a newly designed flat-bottom style multifunctional steering wheel with ‘CHERY’ lettering.

Its centre console has also been revised with a new layout with shortcut buttons,a volume control and rotary drive mode selector with a knurled effect. The centre console also features a newly designed gear selector with a crystal-like effect and crest embedded beneath.

More highlights include a large panoramic sunroof, newly design patterned sport seats, a new magnolia red and black interior color combination as well as chrome, gloss black and carbo fibre-like trimmings throughout the cabin.

Assistance systems

The Tiggo 7 Plus is fitted with level 2+ driving assistance system, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking to name a few.

Performance

Chery has ditched the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol for a more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine which develops 145 kW and 290 Nm. The CVT gearbox has also been axed in favour of a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission found in other Chery models.

Chery’s updated Tiggo 7 Plus is quite appealing, both inside and outside, and its updated specification will definitely give its competitors a run for their money. The sad part is we shouldn’t expect the Tiggo 7 Plus to land on our shores anytime this due to its recent introduction to the South African market.