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Another addition to the ever-growing Chery range, the Tiggo 8 Pro. Even in its base form, the Tiggo 8 Pro is as flagship as it gets for a seven-seater SUV. A few variants and iterations have popped up since the vehicle's inception in South Africa. Now we have an all-wheel-drive variant.
Related: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 390T Executive (2023) Facelift Review - Even more deluxe
'Enjoy your first class. Now in All-Wheel Drive' is this variant's slogan here. It aims to deliver buckets of sophistication but with added driving dynamics. In general though, from the driving experience to luxury materials, the Tiggo 8 Pro screams class ever so subtly. Some specification additions have been made to the AWD variant. We've tested the 2WD version of the Tiggo 8 Pro, but does the AWD warrant the price increase? We'll investigate and make some comparisons to the 2WD model along the way.
Styling
Styling is much the same when looking at the 2WD and AWD models side by side, with an 'AWD' badge denoting the difference between the versions. Despite that, the AWD variant arrived subsequent to the facelift the range received. The styling cues are still pretty to look at. The use of the diamond shape in the 3D hexagonal grille, LED head and tailights complete with lighting sequences and giant imposing stance are still notable styling cues. Amusingly and coincidently, we received the same burgundy paintwork as the 2WD variant we received some time back.
Ride height and ground clearance remain the same here, at 203mm, along with the machined 19-inch alloy wheels. The styling here suits the AWD motif more, but some styling additions to differentiate the AWD and 2WD models would be welcome.
Space & Interior
Comfort & Convenience
Performance
The real meat and potatoes of the AWD variant is in its performance. The same 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol is in use here, churning out 187kW and 390Nm, and this is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. There isn't a power bump here, but the power on hand is more than adequate in AWD fashion despite the 103kg kerb weight increase. The AWD system aids in solving one thing this writer experienced with the 2WD variant. The 2WD variant had a propensity to light up the front tyres once the turbo comes into song. This could also be partly due to throttle mapping, but with the AWD variant, the power delivery is much more tame. The AWD system in this vehicle is front-wheel-biased, and additional driving modes have been added to utilise the system effectively. The transmission could do with adjustments to its mapping to be on the sharper end, particularly upon more gingerly acceleration. Suspension-wise, tuning has been performed to accommodate the AWD system, but some more adjustments could be used to tighten the handling further and give more agility. For the average commute and gravel road trek, it performs fine.
Updated Chery Tiggo 8 Pro First Drive Review
Fuel Economy
The claimed fuel consumption is rated at 8.7l /100km. We hovered around the 8.5l /100km mark, which was not too shabby.
Can you fit 3 car seats in the back of a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro?
Safety
You'll find the following standard safety equipment in the AWD variant:
- ABS, EBD, ESP
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS)
- 10 Airbags - Dual Front, Front Side, Side curtain, Second-row seat bolster, Driver Knee, Far Side
- Speed Limit Reminder
- Front and Rear Park Distance Control (PDC)
- Around View Monitoring HD Camera (AVM)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Traffic Congestion Assist (TJA)
- Driving View Recorder (DVR)
- Intelligent Evasion System (New)
- Lane Departure Prevention (New)
- Emergency Lane Keeping (New)
- Driver Monitoring System (New)
The new Driver Monitoring System is interesting but can be quite sensitive, with plenty of audible and visual warnings for driver distraction even when the driver is focused on the road. Traffic sign recognition is a mixed bag with recognising speed limit signs. The active driver assistance systems need the sensitivity to be dialled back. Nonetheless, there is a comprehensive safety feature set in this vehicle.
How is the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro performance?
Price
The Tiggo 8 Pro Max AWD purchase price comes with a 7-year /90 000km service plan, 5-year/150 000km warranty, 10-year / 1 million km engine warranty and 5-year/unlimited km roadside assistance.
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6TGDI 290T Executive | from R609 900 |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDI 390T Executive | from R669 900 |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDI 390T Executive AWD (tested) | from R731 900 |
Competitors
- BAIC B40
- Haval H6
- Citroën C5 Aircross
- Mitsubishi Outlander
Does the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro have ISOfix?
Verdict
The Tiggo 8 Pro Max benefits from the addition of all-wheel-drive and some extra specification to the already comprehensive feature set. The Tiggo 8 Pro as a whole is getting there but needs a few more tweaks to make it perfect. The sensitive active safety systems can be a bit irksome, but some further tuning of the drivetrain and suspension can give a more dynamic drive, and small styling cues to differentiate between the variants would be welcome. Nonetheless, the AWD variant remains a comprehensive package and further shows off what Chery's interpretation of luxury motoring can be.
