EYE of the TIGER: Blackwells
Synonymous with the strength, speed and commanding presence of the tiger, Chery’s Tiggo is taking over the Christchurch cityscape, finds Metropol writer Ben Selby.
Founded in 1997, the Chery brand has fast become one of the largest vehicle exporters globally, selling 14 million vehicles worldwide. Having re-entered our market with a wide selection of SUVs and plans for a new ute on the horizon, Chery is wasting no time making their presence felt with a focus on technology and practicality at a competitive price.
I put the Tiggo 8 Pro Max through its paces thanks to Blackwells Chery. While also available as a hybrid, the Tiggo 8 starts in petrol guise with the entry level Urban FWD at $39,990 + ORC and my test car, the Ultimate Pro Max AWD at $44,990 + ORC.
Inside is a proper seven-seater. The third row of seats can be stowed away to give you a most capacious 479L. The Tiggo embossed synthetic leather seats appear rather comfortable at first glance and once you step aboard, you find you were right. Head room is decent and you sit high up, for great all-round visibility.
Standard for the Urban grade includes 18-inch alloys, an eight-speaker SONY sound system, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless phone charging, a 360-degree camera and a whole host of active and passive safety features such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic braking and a rather alert driver monitoring system.
Both the Urban and Ultimate receive the same 2.0L GDI turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 180kW/375Nm, but the biggest difference if you opt for the Ultimate Pro Max is the addition of all-wheel-drive over the Urban’s FWD. You also can enjoy further additions like a power tailgate, dashcam, 19-inch alloys, a panoramic roof, an extra two speakers for the SONY sound system and illuminated door sills to a name a few.
What is rather surprising is just how eager that 2.0L turbocharged four cylinder is when you apply some assertive right foot. Kicking in relatively low down in the rev range, you can get up to the urban speed limit easily and once there, it settles into a sedate commute.
Ride comfort is decent and tyre roar, while noticeable, is by no means an annoyance. You also have a plethora of drive modes to choose from. The Tiggo 8 will default to Eco mode on start up, but it only requires a twist of the centre console mounted toggle switch to cycle through Normal, Sport, Mud, Snow and others, all accompanied by a friendly voice reminding you which mode you have selected. The steering feels light, direct, and responsive, while the AWD system provides good grip in slippery conditions.
As far as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max AWD is concerned, when you factor in practicality and the level of equipment you get as standard for your snip under $45k, one cannot help but be impressed.
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FACT FILE
2026 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max
SPECIAL DEMO CLEARANCE PRICING :
Urban fwd: $36,990 driveaway
Ultimate awd: $41,990 driveaway
Engine: 2.0L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Petrol
Transmission: 7-speed DCT Auto
MAX Power: 180kW
MAX Torque: 375Nm
Combined Fuel Consumption: 8.7L/100km
Wheelbase: 2710mm
Alloys: Up to 19-inch
Available at Blackwells Chery, Moorhouse and Sockburn, blackwellschery.co.nz
