We get behind the ‘wheel of the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV, the biggest model from the Chinese manufacturer to date – and it’s confirmed for the South African market!
Suppose you’ve been following news about upcoming Chery models closely. In that case, you’ll spot that the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV (shown here) is visually different from the Chery Tiggo 9 that was revealed at the beginning of 2023.
This is where it gets interesting; while there are numerous similarities between the variants, what you see here is, in fact, the international model earmarked for export. It’s known as the Fulwin T9 in China, which is exclusive to that market, but we’ll likely see it rebadged as the Jaecoo J8. Confused? Yeah, we are too.
How big is the Tiggo 9?
You may wonder where the Tiggo 9 is positioned when Chery already has a 3-row medium SUV/family car in the form of the Tiggo 8 Pro and Pro Max. For context, the Tiggo 9 is 90 mm longer, 65 mm wider and 36 mm higher than the Tiggo 8. The wheelbase has been increased from 2 710 to 2 770 mm.
The Tiggo 9 is visually differentiated by its narrow headlights, slimmer tail lights, and 20-inch wheels. The model also features neat door handles that sit flush with the body once the car’s locked. Electrified derivatives have closed grilles, while the non-electrified ones feature conventional vented grille designs.
Engine and Transmission
The flagship Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV features a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It comprises a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine and 8-speed automatic transmission that operates in conjunction with an electric motor. The internal combustion engine produces a tidy 175 kW and 385 Nm by itself, while the electric motor can contribute up to 165 kW and the vehicle has all-wheel drive.
Battery size and pure electric range have yet to be confirmed, but Chery claims that the plug-in hybrid Tiggo 9 variant has an average fuel consumption figure of 5.2 L/100 km and a range of around 1 200 km. No performance figures have been given yet, but we estimate a 0–100 kph time of about 6 seconds.
For the conventional derivatives, we suspect the Tiggo 8’s 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol turbo will be carried over. As a reminder, that engine pushes out 187 kW and 390 Nm of torque in our market.
Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a minimalist dashboard, that’s offset by an enormous 15.6-inch HD infotainment screen that appears to control the majority of vehicle functions. The vehicle at the Beijing Show featured an interesting upholstery combination that comprised blue and white leather.
Being the flagship offering, the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV will come fully loaded with comfort and luxury features. The plush leather-trimmed seats have diamond-quilt patterning, heating and cooling functions, and the front passenger seat features a leg rest for additional comfort. Expect a comprehensive array of semi-autonomous safety technology too, but we’ll get confirmation for our market closer to launch.
What’s the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV like to drive?
As is the case with every vehicle test drive in China, we had very little time behind the ‘wheel of the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV. The test course comprised a simple straight section, where we could accelerate fully and test the brakes, and a tight circle to assess the steering setup. A speed date, if you will.
In our past assessments of the Tiggo 7 and 8 models (see also: Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max (2023) Living with it), our testers have noted inconsistent throttle mapping – often a case of too much torque, too soon – and this resulted in wheelspin on front-wheel-drive derivatives. It appears the Tiggo 9 is far more restrained and mature in its power delivery, and yet, it still manages to deliver a decent turn of pace.
The caveat here is that the vehicle was in its sportiest setting and was making use of both its petrol engine and its electric motor. We suspect the vehicle will lean on its electric system as much as possible in bumper-to-bumper traffic and use the petrol engine once you’re at triple-digit speeds on the highway.
The braking feel is adequate and the steering setup is on the lighter side at lower speeds, presumably to aid in tight parking scenarios. The Chery test track featured a few artificial bumps and despite the large 20-inch wheels, the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV felt reasonably settled when and after it traversed them.
Summary
The Tiggo 9 PHEV will occupy the top-dog spot in Chery South Africa’s model line-up when it arrives in Mzansi towards the end of 2024, or early 2025. Our first experience with the electric SUV was very brief, but there was enough to pique our interest. We’re keen to get to know the newcomer on local terrain.
Of course, pricing will be a critical factor. With the Tiggo 8 range topping out at R732k (Pro Max AWD), it will be interesting to see if Chery SA can bring the entire Tiggo 9 range in for under the R1 million mark.
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