We spent the festive season behind the ‘wheel of a Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max 290T Executive AWD and, while we were crisscrossing the Western and Southern Cape, we noticed many of these models on the road… Clearly, South Africans like what they see.
Introduced late last year, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max 1.6 TGDi 290T Executive AWD (what a mouthful!) is not only the flagship of the local Tiggo 7 Pro line-up, but also another example – as if we needed it – of the speed at which Chinese brands can bring new models, updates/facelifts and derivatives to market.
The Tiggo 7 Pro arrived in Mzansi as recently as mid-2022, but this Pro Max variant is far more evolved. Instead of a mere facelift, it represents a comprehensive “sharpening-up” of just about every facet of what was already a high-value proposition. Chery calls the changes “optimisations” that go beyond simple design tweaks to include upgrades to the body and chassis structures, as well as materials used.
But the big news with this particular derivative is twofold… Firstly, the Executive-spec Tiggo 7 Pro Max is powered by the brand’s 145 kW/290 Nm 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine, which debuted in the Tiggo 8 Pro Max and, secondly, it marks the first time that the model is offered in all-wheel drive guise.
It was indeed fortuitous that the 290T Executive AWD was made available to us for an extended review, because its all-wheel-drive system was put to the test when we travelled along some gravel roads…
3 Things we like about the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max
Design & Detail Refinements
The pre-facelift Tiggo 7 Pro was a handsome SUV (it didn’t really need a glow-up), but you will immediately notice – and probably appreciate – the cosmetic updates incorporated in the Tiggo 7 Pro.
Everything appears to have gained sharper edging (the headlamps, the grille, air intakes etc.) and there are some unique touches, too, including blue strakes in the front airdam – a neat detail touch that also appears on the (rather substantial) rear wing.
In profile, the accentuated curves above the rear wheel arches add visual character, while the LED tail lamp clusters span the tailgate. Riding on striking 19-inch, diamond-cut, dual-tone alloy wheels, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max certainly looks the part and prompted some observers to remark: “It looks expensive.”
Inside, the upmarket look and feel continues. The materials are of a premium quality and while some elements of the design appear to have been “inspired” by what you typically see in a Mercedes-Benz, it is worth noting that the Chery felt “better screwed together” than some of the recent Benzes that have passed through our hands. There are no rattles or squeaks, even on poor surfaces – impressive, to say the least, at least partly because the Cherys’ ride quality can be a little firm on ragged/damaged roads.
The very neat (and bigger) infotainment touchscreen (12.3 inches) boasts an impressively high-res display and the quality of the test unit’s 360-degree camera view(s) will put some premium brands to shame. In front of the driver is another 12.3-inch screen, which also delivers superbly crisp graphics. The 2 screens fit together to seamlessly form a very attractive, curved 24.6-inch “hyperboloid” screen.
The infotainment system’s software is (somewhat hilariously) named “TurboDog9” and, in general, it works well, although we found that the quality of the system’s English became progressively poorer the deeper we delved into the menu. Well, no matter, the (wireless) Android Auto and Apple CarPlay ensure smooth connectivity, and the wireless charging pad is now faster – 15W to 50W. In terms of audio output, a quality 8-speaker Sony system is fitted to this variant. See what we mean by detail refinements?
Furthermore, the air-conditioning system features N95-level (pm 2.5) air-purification capability and, in this flagship derivative, negative-ion air purification. We also appreciated the fitment of an offline navigation system, powered tailgate and, once we got the hang of it, the voice control system.
Power and (to a degree) efficiency
The Tiggo 7 Pro Max’s 145 kW/290 Nm 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A benefit of all-wheel drive – and one that will be appreciated even before you traverse the unbeaten path – is an immediate improvement in traction (such as negating wheelspin when pulling away in a hurry). In other (front-wheel-drive) Cherys, we have found that the throttle mapping and power delivery characteristics are such that wheelspin can be an issue.
It certainly has plenty of grunt… The 290T Executive AWD is said to accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 8 sec, but more impressively, it delivers refined open-road cruising… and there is always enough power underfoot to overtake safely. If you do prefer sharper throttle responses, you can always change the drivetrain into Sport mode (1 of 6 drive modes, which include Eco, Normal, Snow, Mud and Off-Road).
One area in which contemporary Chinese-made vehicles tend to overpromise and underdeliver, however, is fuel efficiency. Rival brand Haval also suffers from this drawback, but in our experience, the larger H6 family car (powered by a comparatively “less stressed” 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol motor) proved more efficient than the 1.5-litre 4-pot turbopetrol in its smaller sibling, the Jolion compact family car.
The Tiggo 7 Pro Max is a slightly smaller vehicle than the H6, but we were concerned that the 290T Executive AWD’s sportier demeanour (or state of tune) would mean very frequent visits to the pumps.
Well, the Chery wasn’t as thirsty as we expected, even if its claimed consumption figure (7.8 L/100 km) is rather optimistic. You should be able to comfortably achieve 9.4 L/100 km in mixed driving conditions.
What caused frequent visits to the pumps, however, was not the car’s thirst, but an increasingly erratic fuel gauge/distance-to-empty display. Towards the end of the test, we simply couldn’t trust it anymore.
Cruising Comfort and Safety
With such a long list of standard features, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max certainly has all the ingredients of a luxuriously appointed and comfortable family car. Still, Chery needs to get the basics right – and it does.
The beautifully shaped and leather-trimmed seats are quality items that offer support in the right places. What’s more, the electrically adjustable front seats (with memory for the driver) offer heating and cooling functions. Rear leg- and headroom are excellent and occupants seated at the back also benefit from the fitment of aft ventilation outlets and a USB charging port. Overhead, there is a vast panoramic sunroof.
The load bay is nicely shaped and sized, plus, with the rear backrests folded down, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max offers 1 672 litres of utility space, which proved particularly useful during the holiday season! Adding peace of mind (particularly if you will traverse poorly maintained roads quite often) is a full-size spare.
Our new office in Cape Town has a particularly steep ramp – one that includes a turn and, if a car lacks structural integrity, this ramp usually elicits tell-tale groans or creaks. There was not a squeak from the Chery when we drove it up or down this ramp, so we have to believe Chery’s claims of improvements to the model’s body structure. The calmness of the car out on the open road further speaks to good structural integrity, and in general, we found the Tiggo 7 Pro Max’s cabin a relaxed, calming place to be.
As with the pre-facelift car, the damping is still on the firm side, however. The ride quality does feel a little jittery over uneven road surfaces, especially when the vehicle is loaded up with occupants and luggage.
Even though the Tiggo 7 Pro Max features numerous drive modes, including ones for mud and off-road, it should not be considered a serious off-roader, however. The very low-profile tyres (225/55 R19s) are obviously road-biased, and there are no locking diffs or any other serious budu-bashing hardware.
No, rather enjoy the extra security that comes with the fitment of all-wheel drive, and understand that it is comfortable and stable on gravel roads. The ground clearance and approach/departure angles are, however, good enough for some low-speed “off-roading” if required. It is worth noting that, after we had travelled a significant distance on very dusty gravel, no dust had entered the cabin; it was sealed “tight”.
The Chery also scores highly in terms of safety. It comes fitted with just about every feature that you would expect at this price point, plus a few more. The 290T Executive AWD has no fewer than 8 airbags and other notable (and worthwhile) features include adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert (with braking) and blind-spot monitoring, among many others.
There is also a driver-monitoring system (DMS) that keeps an eye on the driver’s focus, but it proved too sensitive (we mostly drove with it switched off). Indeed, many of the systems are “overly sensitive”, with constant chimes to warn you, in some instances, of nothing! Once the car automatically slammed on the brakes while reversing, which gave the driver a big fright, when there was nothing in the vehicle’s path.
What we dislike about the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max
Given the overall value offering here, the dislikes we identified could be regarded as examples of “nit-picking”. Yes, the fuel consumption was average, but not as bad as we had expected. More problematic (on our test unit, at least) was the erratic fuel gauge and, in particular, the distance-to-empty display. We simply could not trust it, which made planning stops on long-distance journeys somewhat more difficult.
And yes, the incessant beeping from all the safety and monitoring systems did get tiresome. One could argue that the driver should just concentrate harder, but in our opinion, the systems remain too sensitive, especially when compared with comparable setups of other brands. Therefore, we switched off as many of the features as we could, which of course defeats the purpose of having them (and paying for them).
Verdict
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max 290T Executive AWD is priced at R609 900 (February 2024), which puts it in the crosshairs of the highly-rated Haval H6 4WD Super Luxury. The Chery is a slightly smaller vehicle than the H6, but it hits back with a longer features list and a superior warranty (5 years/150 000 km).
In truth, neither the Chery nor the Haval will disappoint; the pair makes this a particularly tricky segment of the market for just about every other brand, simply because of the staggering value for money on offer here. But keen pricing and “value” are no longer the only competencies of the latest Chinese vehicles…
This Chery is built exceptionally well, beautifully finished and loaded with comfort- and safety-enhancing features. The few niggles that remain will undoubtedly be sorted out soon. We recommend it highly.
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