By Malusi Msomi

The Chery brand in SA is a fast growing one. Not only are they bringing in cars at a rapid rate, but bringing cars that are not only good looking, but also packed with quite a bit of tech. We recently got our hands on the facelift 7-seater Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0T Executive to see what’s what.

Exterior updates

Finished in a rather stunning “Bokke” Green colour, our tester was quite a looker. The keen eyed would pick up that its a facelift thanks to a new front bumper and new grille. The party trick its new illuminated Chery logo which looks quite good in the dark, and illuminates when unlocking and locking the car. The rear is where the biggest change is where it now features a redesigned light clusters that do a little dance when unlocking and locking the car.

Standard features on the exterior of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max include LED headlights and taillights with sequential turn signals, 19-inch wheels, quad exhausts, and a panorama sunroof.

Updated interior

The cabin is quite a nice place to be in. The cabin feels upmarket and Chery has used high quality materials with a solid fit and finish. Standard features on the interior include a massive 24.7-inch integrated digital instrument cluster and infotainment screens, redesigned cabin elements, panoramic sunroof, and a Sony 8-speaker sound system. Gone is the separate climate control screen and in its place a wireless charging pad along with new gear lever and redesigned controls. There’s a news climate control panel under the infotainment screen, but we just wish it was facing upwards for easy reading and utilization. When its bright out, you can barely seen the controls.

Practically

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max is quite spacious. When 7 seats up however, boot space is quite limited at just 193-litres. Fold the third and second row of seats and you get a boot capacity of 892 and 1930 litres respectively, which is quite generous. On the practicality side you also get front power seats which are also heated and cooled, 4 USB ports and a sliding bench at the rear to accommodate third row passengers. Talking about the third row of seats, they’re honestly for small kids and short trips for adults as it’s not too spacious.

Power

Powering our tester is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four/cylinder engine that produces 187kW/390Nm. It sends its power to the front wheels via a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Chery claims 7.6 L/100km fuel consumption. Initially the Tiggo 8 Pro Max came with horrendous fuel consumption figures, but Chery seems to have fixed that issue. We managed to average 7.8 L/100km during our stint, with the lowest being 6.2 L/100km. The ride is quite commendable and it has plenty of shove for overtaking at any given time.

Safety

The list of safety features on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is quite extensive. Highlights for safety features include: 6 airbags, ISOFIX

ABS+EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), EBA (Emergency Brake Assist), AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), TCS (Traction Control System), RSC (Roll Stability Control), Rear Parking Sensors (Park Distance Control), Rearview Camera (with dynamic guides), 360º HD Panoramic Imaging Camera, and DOW (Door Opening Warning prevention)

Verdict

Priced at R669,900, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0T Executive is quite an enticing prospect. Pit it against any German rival or even Japanese rival, and you’re easily looking at R1 million plus. It has its niggles, which won’t be a deal breaker for most. For us, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is quite a compelling option is such a competitive segment.