Chery Tiggo 8 Review
The Chery Tiggo 8 series stands as a flagship offering from the Chinese automaker Chery in the highly competitive UAE SUV market. Positioned as a versatile and family-oriented 7-seater SUV, the Tiggo 8 aims to deliver a compelling blend of modern design, spacious comfort, advanced technology, and competitive performance at a value-for-money price point.Available in various iterations like the Tiggo 8 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro Max, it caters to urban families and those seeking a well-equipped vehicle for longer journeys, making it a strong contender against both established and emerging rivals.
Exterior and Interior Design
The Chery Tiggo 8, particularly in its "Pro" and "Pro Max" iterations, showcases a sophisticated and upscale exterior design. It features Chery's signature "Life In Motion 3.0" design philosophy, characterized by a prominent "Galaxy" grille with intricate detailing, sleek full LED headlights, and dynamic character lines along the body. The silhouette is generally elegant and commanding, maintaining a balanced proportion for a 7-seater SUV. Depending on the trim, it comes with stylish alloy wheels (often 18 or 19 inches) and modern elements like sequential turn signals and a connected LED taillight bar. Its dimensions are substantial, typically around 4,720 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, and 1,705 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,710 mm, providing a significant road presence.
Inside, the Chery Tiggo 8 offers a premium and spacious cabin designed to accommodate seven passengers across three rows. The interior ambiance is elevated by the use of high-quality materials, including soft-touch surfaces, leatherette upholstery (often with intricate stitching), and tasteful wood or metallic accents. The cockpit is modern and driver-focused, featuring a dual-screen setup in higher trims: a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an equally large 12.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen (or combined into a large floating unit). This system provides seamless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a user-friendly interface.
Comfort is a priority, with features such as multi-zone automatic climate control (often three-zone for all rows), power-adjustable front seats (with heating, ventilation, and memory functions on top trims), and ample legroom. The third row is foldable, allowing for flexible cargo configurations. Even with all seven seats in use, there's a usable boot space of around 117 liters, expanding significantly to 739 liters with the third row folded down, making it highly practical for family needs.
Available Colors and Accessories
The Chery Tiggo 8 series is competitively priced in the UAE, offering significant features and capabilities for its cost.New model prices for the Chery Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 8 Pro Max generally range from AED 90,000 to AED 126,500, with the Plug-in Hybrid variant being higher, potentially around AED 135,500 to AED 146,000.
Exterior color options for the Tiggo 8 are diverse and modern, including Ivory White, Crystal Black, Rhine Blue, Aurora Green, Technology Grey, New Khaki White, Phantom Grey, and Aviation Silver, allowing for a personalized touch.
Key features and accessories available on the Chery Tiggo 8 (varying by trim, including Pro and Pro Max versions) often include:
LED lighting: Full LED headlights, taillights, daytime running lights, and sequential turn indicators.
Panoramic sunroof: Large panoramic sunroof for an airy cabin feel.
High-Resolution Screens: Dual 12.3-inch LCD screens for instrument cluster and infotainment.
Advanced Infotainment: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, multiple USB ports, voice control, 8 or 10-speaker Sony sound system.
Comfort Features: Multi-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable seats with memory function, ambient lighting, power tailgate.
Safety & Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS):
Multiple airbags (front, side, curtain).
360-degree panoramic camera system with "transparent chassis" view.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW).
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA).
Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) and Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA).
Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Engine Specs and Performance
The Chery Tiggo 8 in the UAE offers a range of engine options, predominantly turbocharged petrol engines, designed to provide a balance of power and efficiency for a family SUV. More recent models, especially the Pro Max, feature more potent powertrains, and a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) variant is also available.
1.5-liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Petrol Engine (Base Models):
Output: Approximately 145 horsepower (HP) and 210 Nm of torque.
Transmission: Paired with a 6-speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): Around 10 seconds.
1.6-liter Turbocharged GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) Four-Cylinder Petrol Engine (Tiggo 8 Pro):
Output: Produces around 185-197 horsepower (HP) and 290 Nm of torque.
Transmission: Mated to a 7-speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).
Drivetrain: Primarily Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): Around 8.5 to 8.9 seconds.
2.0-liter Turbocharged GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) Four-Cylinder Petrol Engine (Tiggo 8 Pro Max):
Output: Generates a robust 254 horsepower (HP) and 390 Nm of torque.
Transmission: Paired with a 7-speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT).
Drivetrain: Available in both Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) and All-Wheel Drive (AWD) configurations, enhancing versatility.
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): Around 7.0 seconds.
Top Speed: Approximately 210 km/h.
1.5-liter Turbocharged Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Powertrain (Tiggo 8 Pro Plug-in Hybrid):
Combined Output: Combines a 1.5L turbo engine with electric motors for a significantly higher combined output, often exceeding 300 HP and 510 Nm of torque.
Transmission: Utilizes Chery's 3-speed DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission).
Drivetrain: Typically Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) with electric AWD possible.
Performance: Offers exceptional fuel efficiency and strong acceleration, with an extended electric-only range.
The Tiggo 8 series generally features MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link independent suspension at the rear, providing a comfortable and stable ride suitable for city and highway driving.
Mileage and Fuel Efficiency
The Chery Tiggo 8 series offers competitive fuel efficiency for a mid-size to large 7-seater SUV, with the hybrid variant leading the way in economy.
1.5-liter Turbo Petrol Engine:
Average fuel consumption is typically around 14.7 to 15.4 km/L (or 6.5 to 6.8 L/100km).
1.6-liter Turbo Petrol Engine:
Average fuel consumption is around 14.3 km/L (or 7.0 L/100km).
2.0-liter Turbo Petrol Engine (Tiggo 8 Pro Max):
Average fuel consumption is generally around 12 to 15 km/L (or 6.7 to 8.3 L/100km). Some sources specify city mileage at 12 km/L and highway mileage at 15 km/L.
These models typically have a 51-liter fuel tank, offering a decent driving range.
1.5-liter Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Powertrain:
The PHEV variant offers significantly improved fuel economy, with official figures often reaching 16.9 km/Lor even higher under ideal conditions, thanks to its ability to run on electric power for considerable distances. It also typically has a larger battery for an electric-only range.
Real-world fuel consumption can vary based on driving style, traffic conditions, and the use of air conditioning, especially in the UAE's climate.
Competitors and Market Comparison
The Chery Tiggo 8 series competes in the highly popular and competitive 7-seater SUV segment in the UAE, directly challenging both established Asian rivals and other rapidly growing Chinese brands:
Toyota Fortuner / RAV4: While the Fortuner is more rugged, the Tiggo 8 competes with its spaciousness and feature-set at a more attractive price. The RAV4 is a smaller 5-seater but competes on fuel efficiency (especially its hybrid).
Nissan X-Trail: A direct competitor in terms of family practicality and features, though the Tiggo 8 often offers more advanced tech for the price.
Hyundai Santa Fe / Kia Sorento: These popular Korean SUVs are strong rivals, offering similar seating capacity and feature levels, often at a higher price point.
Haval H6 / H9: Other Chinese SUVs from Haval, particularly the H9 (which is larger and more off-road focused) and H6 (smaller, 5-seater), are direct competitors in the value segment.
MG RX8: Another prominent Chinese 7-seater SUV that offers a robust build and competitive features.
Changan CS95: A similarly sized and priced Chinese SUV offering a comparable package.
Jetour X70 Plus / X90 Plus: From Chery's own sub-brand, Jetour offers spacious and feature-packed 7-seaters that share similar market positioning.
The Chery Tiggo 8 stands out with its upscale exterior design, a luxurious and technologically advanced interior, generous 7-seater practicality, powerful engine options (especially the Pro Max and PHEV), and a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features, all offered at a highly competitive price point. Its strong warranty packages (often 10 years/1 million km) also provide significant peace of mind, making it a compelling option for families seeking a modern, capable, and value-packed SUV in the UAE.