2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid

Chery is one of the earliest Chinese car brands to enter the GCC market. Almost two decades back, their model range consisted of a few basic cars that looked suspiciously similar to older Japanese or European models. Over the years, they remained a bit player, but Chinese cars as a whole quietly evolved since then, culminating in a massive boom aided by excellent designs, generous tech packages and aggressive pricing. The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid is one of those models.

The Tiggo 8 Pro e+, as the badge says on its tailgate, plays in the hotly-contested compact SUV segment. The exterior design is a bit tall in profile but still pretty handsome, characterised by its unique grille, intricate LED tail lights, and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Step inside the Tiggo 8 Pro, and you’re greeted with a clean dashboard design, abundant leatherette-padded surfaces and textured wood-looking trim, all of which give this affordable crossover a very upscale ambience. The premium feel is further enhanced by small touches such as covered storage spaces and “knurled” switchgear, aside from the leather upholstery and standard LCD screens.

The power-adjustable, ventilated front seats offer moderate bolstering. Available with three rows of seating, the second row can slide fore and aft to create ample legroom, and both the second and third rows fold flat. Boot space is somewhat compromised due to the fold-down third row, but it’s a fair trade-off for the added seating flexibility. Adults can fit in the third row, though legroom is tight and access is best suited for kids.

The PHEV version of the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ is packed with the latest tech, with two 12.3-inch screens on the dashboard offering intuitive controls and clear visuals. The in-car system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and comes with voice recognition, a Sony 8-speaker audio system, two USB ports in the front, and one in the rear.

Additional tech features include a smart key, panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, a heads-up display, a decent dual-zone automatic a/c with dedicated touch buttons and rear vents and wireless charging. It also has a full suite of active safety systems, a 360-degree camera that’s useable while driving to aid in tricky turns, a full set of airbags and more.

Under the hood, the Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid combines a 156 hp 1.5-litre turbo 4-cylinder engine with a 19.27 kWh battery and dual synchronous motors. This setup delivers an impressive 310 hp of combined power, and 510 Nm of combined torque from 1750 to 4000 rpm. The drivetrain is mated to a “dedicated hybrid transmission” (DHT) and available all-wheel-drive, all of which worked seemlessly in our usual city and highway driving routes.

The PHEV accelerated from 0 to 100 kph in just 7.5 seconds during our March afternoon test in Dubai, and most of that kick is available exactly when you need it, so it feels pretty fast in situations such as overtaking.

The Tiggo e+ rules its segment in terms of efficiency too. It can travel 75 km or thereabouts on pure electric power, with as-tested consumption rates of 17 kWh/100 km in EV mode, and 4.5 litre/100 km in hybrid mode during city driving. Overall consumption was around 6.1 litre/100 km in mixed driving that included time on the highway when the petrol engine is used a lot more. It apparently has nine driving modes, but we didn’t feel the need to fiddle with them, aside from Sport mode.

The Tiggo 8 Pro offers a very comfortable ride, feeling decently quiet at highway speeds and a class above the usual Japanese rivals in terms of ride quality. The 235/55 R18 tyres contribute to a smooth drive, though the handling does reveal the vehicle’s weight, with some body roll in corners and limits that are easily explored with gradual understeer. Overall it still drives very much like a sedan.

The light steering feel and limited feedback from controls may not inspire spirited driving, but they do contribute to an effortless daily commute. The brake pedal feel is a bit uneven due to the regenerative system, and there is a mild delay in throttle response at low speeds, although switching to Sport mode improves on the latter.

The driving experience isn’t particularly dynamic, but it doesn’t need to be. The Tiggo PHEV is a suburban runaround designed for families, skewing more towards ride comfort and ‘softness’ rather than sporting appeal.

The Tiggo isn’t meant for offroading, but it can handle gravel tracks and packed-sand surfaces, with a bit of soft-sand driving possible if you have prior experience. Hill descent control is available, but ideally you shouldn’t put yourself in a situation where you need it.

Still, the 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid stands out as a strong contender among compact SUVs. With its contemporary design, premium interior, cabin tech and impressive drivetrain performance, it offers a well-rounded package that undercuts its Japanese and Korean rivals in price. What will surprise potential buyers is that it feels like a typical solidly-built top-tier product, free from any obvious quality flaws. While it may not be the most dynamic vehicle in its class, the Tiggo 8 wins exactly where it needs to win in this value-conscious segment.

Photos by Marouf Hussain Chowdhury.