Chinese automaker Chery has taken the local passenger vehicle sales market by storm since rejoining the fray over two years ago. In addition to securing a regular place within the monthly top ten in terms of passenger vehicle sales with its Tiggo 4 Pro, products such as the Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro notch up respectable monthly sales figures! The brand recently bolstered its Tiggo 7 Pro range by adding the Max derivatives, with a more sophisticated powertrain and the option of all-wheel drive. We had a go in the newcomer recently and were pleasantly surprised.
Related: Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max pricing and spec revealed
Styling
The Max version of the Tiggo 7 Pro is distinguishable by its new chrome-accented grille with a diamond pattern, new LED headlights as well as redesigned lower sills and air intakes. The Tiggo 7 Pro range in general has been a bland but inoffensive SUV since it was first introduced, however, the additions to the Max model contribute to making this a more attractive SUV overall.
Related: Chery Tiggo 7 Pro vs Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Grand Creta: Here's our winner
Interior and space
The interior of the Max model is dominated by the slab-style infotainment with a total screen space of 24.6 inches for both the infotainment and instrument cluster combined. Those familiar with the regular Tiggo 7 Pro will note the new gear lever design as a hint of the powertrain change, an enhanced climate control system, an improved 50W wireless smartphone charger, and sports front seats complete the changes made with the Max. Much as with the exterior, the interior of the new model is a notable upgrade and looks spot on for an SUV within the segment in 2024.
Other observations made inside were the solid general fit and finish along with respectable build quality. The infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility offers great resolution and is very responsive, however, we still find the need to control the climate control system within the screen itself as bothersome. The Sony sound system provides good quality audio too, making the overall infotainment experience positive.
When looking at practicality, the Max excels, with a 626-litre boot, and a capacious second row of seating for passengers making it a great option for families. A note to those looking at the all-wheel drive option, with 19-inch wheels and a vague ground clearance figure quoted between 155-193mm, we don't envision this being supremely capable off the beaten path.
Performance and driving impression
Driving the Max, we were expecting the AWD model, as per the press car booking, however, the fact that we were expecting a white car, and received a baby blue one, coupled with the fact that it was willing to light up its front tyres and activate the traction control system, we surmised that we had received the front-wheel drive version, which is some R50 000 less, has smaller 18-inch wheels and is roughly 90kg lighter.
That being said, unless you need the all-wheel drive, we would recommend you opt for the front-wheel drive model as it appears to be more efficient, cheaper, and slightly lighter. The Max model benefits from a better powertrain than the 'regular' Tiggo 7 Pro, with the 1.6-litre turbo petrol and 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox lifted from the Tiggo 8 Pro. It produces 145kW and 290Nm of torque, providing this model with better overtaking power and a more effortless demeanor when taking on daily driving tasks.
While many will point to the host of active and passive safety features in this model, the incessant beeping and warnings from the vehicle are irksome initially, but perhaps more concerning is that it instills a sense of "...the boy who cried wolf" with you as a driver, whereby you've become so accustomed to the beeps and sounds emitted during mundane driving, that when a truly important warning sound does come though, you tend to ignore it.
Safety
In 2023, the ANCAP programme crash-tested the Tiggo 7 Pro Max and rated it as a 5-Star car with 88% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 72% for pedestrian safety, and 86% for its safety assistance systems. The products' list of safety features includes eight airbags, a level 2.5 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) 17 intelligent safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Blind Spot Monitor.
Fuel consumption
Chery claims that the Max will consume fuel at a rate of 7.0 L/100km; however, during our week with the car, we saw a figure of 9.1 L/100km, which is relatively heavy for a vehicle of this type, but is acceptable.
Pricing
The model we tested was listed for sale for R559 900 and comes with a 5-year/60 000km service plan, a 5-year/150 000km warranty, and a 10-year/100 0000km engine warranty for the first owner.
Verdict
The Tiggo 7 Pro Max is an impressive entrant from the Chery brand which has produced a safe, tech-laden, and ultimately practical SUV for a very impressive price tag. Be wary of the fuel consumption, and be prepared to be greeted by a host of in-car beeps and other sounds during operation, but otherwise, you'll be suitably impressed!
