Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate review: maximum adjectives, minimal money

The number of Tiggos continues to grow in New Zealand as Omoda Jaecoo parent brand Chery presses on with its push (back) into the local market with its range of budget-friendly family SUVs in a range of sizes and ICE, hybrid and PHEV forms.

The latest Tiggo to land here represents something of a retrograde step, with the Tiggo 8 previously being available as a PHEV, before Chery introduced the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, a pure combustion version powered by a 180kW/375Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in place of the PHEV's 1.5-litre/battery arrangement.

The Tiggo 8 lands in the awkward no man's land between the medium and large SUV segments, being slightly bigger than your average mid-sizer, while offering a full seven seat configuration more common in the larger segment.

And with a starting price of just $39,990 for the FWD version, this puts the Tiggo 8 smack in the sweet spot for families who need a 7 seater, but doesn't want to pay Hyundai Santa Fe money.

The Tiggo 8 we drive here is the top-spec Ultimate version, or to give it its full name the "Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate", which is an adjective-heavy way of saying it is a top-spec AWD Tiggo 8 with an ICE powertrain, while there is also a mysterious "390T" badge on the rear that doesn't seem to mean anything.

This is because the 390 correlates to the Tiggo 8's maximum torque - in the South African market. While our model produces a maximum of 375Nm, Chery hasn't bothered to delete the badge for our market. Which is... weird.

Unnecessarily wordy and blatantly redundant badges aside, the Pro Max Ultimate lands at $44,990 and, along with additions like a power tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, upgraded audio system and bigger wheels, also brings AWD to the Tiggo 8 mix, representing a substantial bump up in specs for a relatively small ask.

On the outside: what are the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate's main design features?

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate presents as a handsome, traditional large (ish) SUV with restrained, inoffensive styling. You probably won’t double-take at it in a parking lot, but that’s kind of the point: it leans into a conventional family-SUV silhouette rather than space-age minimalism.

The Tiggo 8 is a handsome, conventional large SUV that does little to excite, but absolutely nothing to offend in terms of exterior trimmings.

As the Ultimate is the top-spec model the exterior boasts high-end additions like intelligent projector-style LED headlights and 19-inch alloy wheels, so certainly it looks every bit the large luxury family hauler.

The large chrome-accented grille dominates the front end in a way we expect from Chinese SUVs, but its not overdone and, crucially, not too chromey either. The same can't really be said of the flanks, however, with things getting a tad too shiny for my personal tastes.

Overall though, the Tiggo 8 is a handsome, conventional large SUV that does little to excite, but absolutely nothing to offend in terms of exterior trimmings.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate's cabin like?

Much like its exterior, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate sticks to a more traditional approach than many newer, minimalist rivals. The cabin blends physical buttons, touch surfaces, and a central touchscreen in a mostly logical, easy-to-use layout.

The chassis genuinely impresses with its capability and balance, being agile for a large SUV.

Up front, you get a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system paired with a 12.3-inch digital driver display, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present, along with a single wireless phone charger.

Materially, there’s a mix of convincing synthetic leather upholstery and less convincing fake woodgrain trim, while our test vehicle’s two-tone black-over-brown interior looks premium, but won't be to all tastes.

A full-length panoramic sunroof - complete with a proper sunshade - is a standout at this price point, while the switchgear features satin-chrome accents, the leather-wrapped steering wheel feels convincing, and controls for audio, phone, and cruise are placed intuitively.

Space is generous in the second row, while the third row is functional but not expansive. Overall, it’s pleasant, practical, and familiar rather than futuristic.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate like to drive?

The Tiggo 8’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 180kW and 375Nm, driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and feels brisk and responsive in the 1731kg SUV.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate is a quiet, comfortable, and genuinely more capable large SUV than you might expect for the money.

There is some low-speed clunkiness and indecision from the DCT - think earlier-generation Euro-brand dual-clutch behaviour - and a hint of turbo lag, but once moving, it’s smooth enough, but a conventional torque-converter auto would likely feel more refined.

Ride quality is generally pleasant around town and on smooth tarmac, but there’s a brittle edge that becomes more pronounced on coarse-chip seal at speed, while road noise is modest but increases on coarse surfaces as well.

The steering is light, accurate, and responsive yet largely devoid of feel, prioritising ease over engagement, while the chassis genuinely impresses with its capability and balance, being agile for a large SUV. It will ultimately bias towards understeer when pushed, but does so predictably.

Driver assistance tech is extensive and, most importantly, well-judged - adaptive cruise, lane departure warning and assist, blind-spot warning/assist, traffic jam assist, intelligent cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and more are onboard, and all work well, being minimally intrusive.

The cruise control does have a weird tendency to nibble at the throttle - a quirk we have seen in some Chinese vehicles of late - but the braking behaviour is fine.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate stands out by being a genuinely large, well-equipped seven-seat SUV at a price that undercuts many smaller, less powerful rivals.

Fuel consumption could be an issue, however, and while Chery claims a combined fuel consumption of 8.7L/100 km for the AWD Pro Max Ultimate model using 95-octane fuel, real-world consumption we observed during mostly urban use sat at 16.2L/100km.

While this will drop with more open road usage, its still not great, particularly when it demands costlier 95 petrol. However, like our previous Tiggo 7, the Tiggo 8 didn’t have many kilometres on the clock, so will likely get better with a bit more mileage under it’s belt.

Overall though, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate is a quiet, comfortable, and genuinely more capable large SUV than you might expect for the money.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate's warranty and servicing situation?

Chery offers a standard warranty of 7-years/Unlimited kilometres on the Tiggo 8, while service intervals are 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

On the whole: what do we think of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate?

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate stands out by being a genuinely large, well-equipped seven-seat SUV at a price that undercuts many smaller, less powerful rivals.

At $44,990 for the AWD Ultimate (a FWD variant starts at $39,990), the value proposition is impressive: full leather-like trim, dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless phone mirroring, ventilated and heated front seats, panoramic sunroof, comprehensive safety tech, and a punchy turbo engine all set the Ultimate apart.

The trade-offs are real but reasonable for the price - the dual-clutch transmission lacks polish at low speeds, the ride can feel brittle on coarse surfaces, steering is unengaging, and some cabin finishes (like fake woodgrain) don’t fully convince, while the fuel consumption is less than optimal.

Yet the assistance systems are well-calibrated, space and practicality are excellent, and the overall driving experience is predictably comfortable and capable.

Don’t buy it expecting the refinement of a similarly specified SUV at twice the price - you’ll be disappointed. But buy it as a $45k family-sized seven-seater that’s bigger, better equipped, and more powerful than most at this money, and you’ll likely be impressed.

It’s likeable, sensible, and compelling value, with a few rough edges that are easy to justify given the cost.

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate FAQs

What kind of car is the [Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate?

A medium-to-large-sized family SUV.

Does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate have hybrid or EV technology?

No, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is powered by a conventional combustion engine, although a PHEV version of the Tiggo 8 is available.

What’s the fuel economy of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate?

Chery claims a combined average consumption of 8.7L/100km for the Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate, but we got nowhere near that during our time with it. This is likely due to the fact that Chery quotes Australian ADR figures that are calculated under an outdated protocol, while our test car also had minimal miles on it.

Is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate safe? 

The Pro Max Ultimate has a full 5 Star ANCAP safety rating and packs 10 airbags, including two front airbags, two front side airbags, two curtain airbags, two second row side airbags, a driver's knee airbag and a front centre airbag.

What safety and assistance features does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate have?

What are the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Ultimate main rivals?

• Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid ($54,990): FWD and not a 7 seater, but the go-to standard in the segment.
• Mitsubishi Outlander XLS ($51,990): 7 seats and AWD, but with a CVT hooked up to an ageing engine.
• Nissan X-Trail ST AWD ($48,990): Similar to the Outlander, with bother offering 10 year warranties.
• MG QS Excite ($44,990): Considerably bigger, but not AWD. Also not as good, but remarkable value.
• Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid ($48,990): Currently on special, the PHEV version isn't that much more...