2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite review

Yesterday at 10:00 AM

2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite

It might have a name like the latest iPhone release, but the 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite has some proper cred behind its long-winded name.

It swanned into the Australian market earlier this year as one of the country's most affordable seven-seat SUVs – priced from just $41,990. Drive-away too.

It's unashamedly value-focused thanks to a strong seven-year warranty, capped-price servicing, and contains a suite of safety equipment to keep occupants safe.

We came away intrigued after spending time at the model's launch in Sydney, but after spending time in this car's rivals – namely the Mahindra XUV700 and Mitsubishi Outlander seven-seat FWD – it was worth spending a full week to see how it shapes up with everyday life.

How much is a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max?

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is one of just three models in the car maker's Australian line-up at present, and it takes up the mantle of being the company's flagship car. You can also buy the Omoda 5 small SUV or the Tiggo 7 Pro, but the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is the largest and most expensive offering in the range.

Prices start from just over $40,000 drive-away, but the car this review focuses on is the mid-specification Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite.

While all three variants available to buyers come with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the $43,990 (drive-away) price for the mid-spec variant unlocks kit such as a power-operated tailgate, a built-in dash cam, third-row air vents with temperature control, and welcome animations for the exterior lights.

Only buyers of the top-spec Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate benefit from all-wheel drive, all other variants (including this one) send the 180kW/375Nm outputs through the front wheels. It gets a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

In terms of its competitors, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max sidles up against other budget seven-seaters like the Mahindra XUV700 (from $36,990 drive-away), the LDV D90 (from $38,937 drive-away), or the Mitsubishi Outlander LS seven-seat ($41,240 before on-road costs).

Standard fare included on all Tiggo 8 Pro Maxes are LED headlights and tail-lights, 18-inch wheels, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree cameras, ambient interior lighting, eight-speaker Sony sound system, and wireless phone charging.

It also gets an array of safety systems that we'll discuss later on.

Overall, it's an impressive list of standard equipment given its attractive drive-away price point. Given the mid-spec model grade I had only adds some small items, I'd probably be maximising the value and selecting the entry-level version.

How big is a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max?

Step up into the Tiggo Pro Max 8's cabin and you're greeted with an intuitively laid-out design that almost leans to the premium end of the automotive landscape.

The woodgrain-style inlay pieces look smart, the silver trim pieces break up an otherwise dark cabin presentation, and the single-piece infotainment/cluster screen appears sharp.

Sitting in the driver's seat, I found it difficult to organise a comfortable driving position due to the seat not having enough travel. I'm tall at 194cm, but it was annoying that the seat wouldn't go low enough.

While the seats themselves were largely comfortable, the bolsters were too soft and didn't actually help support front seat occupants through corners.

There's plenty of glass to see out of and the traditional SUV shape allowed good rearward visibility, but the rear-view mirror magnification had a weird fish-eye effect that genuinely made my head hurt.

Around the centre console, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max has a pair of cupholders, a central lidded bin, and a shallow wireless phone charger, but that's about the extent of at-hand storage for the driver. I wish there were a few more spots for odds and ends, especially considering the width of the centre console.

There's a single USB-C and USB-A port to service the front row.

Moving further back, I found the Tiggo 8 Pro Max had impressive space in the second row. Behind my own driving position, there was plenty of knee room and adequate head room. I also like the fact that the rear backrest can recline. Additionally, the seats slide on rails to aid third-row entry.

Kids in the third row might have a difficult time sliding the second row of seating out of the way because the action was surprisingly heavy. There's also a narrow aperture to slide through, meaning you have to contort your body sideways to sneak on through to the third row.

The smaller split side of the second row is on the right hand, or traffic side, which can make loading the third row tricky. The wider portion on the kerb side has a less user-friendly fold function, too.

There are air vents in the third row, though, and decent space side-to-side.

The boot opens electrically on the mid-grade Elite and paves way to a 479-litre capacity with the second row in place. There is 117L of boot space when all three rows are up.

Comparatively, a Mitsubishi Outlander (163L/478L) or Honda CR-V (150L/472L) both offer a little more space when all three rows are in use but less space when the third row is flat.

In the case of a flat tyre, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max comes with a space-saver spare wheel.

Does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

Dual 12.3-inch screens run the infotainment and instrument cluster screens.

The Chery's infotainment is not one of its strong points. There are poor English translations that immediately make the car feel cheap, such as the car's Economy mode being branded the Economic mode, and a low refresh rate for the digital cluster screen renders your mini ADAS graphics with a stuttered effect.

I also had reports of poor call quality on the other end of the phone.

I spent a majority of the week utilising the wireless Apple CarPlay (and Android Auto) capabilities, though the native system is simple to use and get your head around.

I do wish the system came with a home button or shortcuts, though, because there's a lot of prodding involved in switching between functions.

Is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max a safe car?

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max range is rated a full five stars according to ANCAP, based on testing of the smaller Chery Tiggo 7 Pro.

It earned scores of 88 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 79 per cent for vulnerable road user protection (pedestrian, cyclists and motorcyclists) and 86 per cent for safety assist technology.

The score is due to expire in December 2029, in line with the six-year validity of new ANCAP ratings.

What safety technology does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max have?

In terms of on-paper boasts, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max has a laundry list of active safety measures designed to keep occupants safe.

A full list is detailed in the table below, but this is how they worked in action.

Regarding the car's adaptive cruise-control system (with lane-centring function), the system works by grabbing at the brakes to rein in speed behind other cars, rather than by letting off the accelerator. It's a nauseating feeling and frustrating when you're on the freeway.

As well, the system would often stray a few kilometres per hour below the prescribed limit. I was surprised to find the Tiggo 8 Pro Max didn't automatically enable park after the driver's door was opened – the car simply rolled away in gear. Many other cars would automatically engage park after the door was opened.

How much does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max cost to run?

There's no denying the impressive value proposition of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max. From the date of delivery buyers receive a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and it's matched by an equal-length capped-price servicing program.

All services (within the first five years) are capped at $280 each and are scheduled every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever occurs first). The sixth year is a bit more pricey at $465.60.

For context, a Volkswagen Tiguan 110 has a three-year service plan available for $1565 and five years for $3340, and a Mitsubishi Outlander will run you $1010 for three and $1700 for five years.

Each time you service at a Chery dealership, a 12-month extension of roadside assistance is automatically applied, up to a maximum of seven years.

Insuring a Tiggo 8 Pro Max like this one will cost $1496 according to an online quote generator, and based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances. As a point of comparison, the Mitsubishi Outlander LS Black Edition is quoted at $1115 over the same period.

Is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max fuel-efficient?

Value for money also extends to how much efficiency you're getting out of a car. The less efficient it is, the more money you'll have to pay in petrol costs.

With that in mind, Chery quotes 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres on a mixed driving cycle including both highway and urban use. That's not particularly impressive when a Mitsubishi Outlander can do 7.7L/100km or the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace can do 7.0L/100km, according to our testing.

Unfortunately, it gets even worse when it comes to real-world use with the Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite. I returned an 8.5L/100km rating after a week spent with the car – I primarily drove it on freeways too. Somewhat worse, the turbocharged engine requires more expensive 95-octane fuel as a minimum. Not particularly value-focused in the efficiency department, then.

What is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max like to drive?

You don't expect 180kW and 375Nm from a medium-sized seven-seat SUV. Not at the affordable end of the price spectrum anyway. But the Tiggo 8 Pro Max's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine punches low in the rev range and hard.

There's not much nuance about how the power is delivered – it all comes in one lump, which makes for some sprightly acceleration away from traffic lights. Sometimes the front-wheel-drive system is overburdened by the wave of power and the car can momentarily break traction.

It's difficult to modulate the throttle at low speeds due to the jerky accelerator pedal. Even small inputs can result in unexpected lurches forward. At the same time, the transmission can be slow to respond when you're trying to change direction – for example, during a three-point turn – which can be frustrating if you're in a hurry.

Its gear shifts are slick when the car's on the move, but it can often roll backwards if the car's on a hill and you're just setting away from a standstill.

There are three distinct driving modes (Eco, Normal, and Sport), which largely tweak throttle response and transmission shift points.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max is endowed with a soft ride quality that absorbs bumps with a gentle effect. This is a nice sensation around town where speed humps and train tracks are dispatched without fuss.

But it's a different story on the open road, where the Tiggo 8 Pro Max lurches around corners and reacts slowly to high-speed bumps in the road. It's not a deal-breaker, but it could do with a bit of a tighter suspension set-up for a more reassured handling character.

Adding into the handling mix, the light steering quality is handy around town (in addition to the good visibility), but there's a vagueness to the steering that doesn’t fill the driver with confidence when you're threading the car through a series of bends.

Can a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max tow?

While I didn't get the opportunity to tow with the Chery while it was on test, a 1300kg braked tow rating means it's not going to be touring Australia with a caravan anytime soon.

It's more suited to trips to the tip with a trailer in tow.

Note that the 2WD Tiggo 8 Pro Max variants have a maximum payload of 568kg (including driver).

Should I buy a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max?

When you're shopping at the budget end of the market, there are bound to be concessions in terms of quality, technology, and drivability. You can't have everything.

There are some nice aspects to the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite. I love how spacious its cabin is with respect to its price, the included safety gear is impressive too.

But the jerky accelerator, lurchy body control, and lack of fuel efficiency are annoying to contend with every day.

There are a few other alternatives in the market that are worth cross-shopping this affordable seven-seater against. It'd be worth trying out all options before settling on the Tiggo 8 Pro Max.

How do I buy a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max? The next steps.

I tried the mid-spec Tiggo 8 Pro Max this time around, but I’m betting the smart money buys the more affordable Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban. You don’t lose that much in the way of equipment, but you save a few thousand dollars – which is the aim of the game at this budget end of the spectrum.

The next step on your purchase journey is to visit the Chery website to book a test drive of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max. You can also find Chery cars for sale at Drive Marketplace.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to this car since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

The post 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Elite review appeared first on Drive.