Chery Tiggo 8 1.5T CSH PHEV Apex (2025) Review

Chery has taken the market by storm, especially with its Tiggo 4 range. However, at the opposite end of the model lineup are the Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 8 Pro ranges, which target more premium competitors. We grabbed the keys and, in 24 days, accumulated around 4 200 km travelling all over the country. 

Fast Facts

Styling

The Chery Tiggo 8 retains most of what customers like about the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, however, with a few changes. Notably, the model-specific diamond-pattern grille is immediately noticeable. This is flanked by automatic LED headlights, standard on the model, and is complemented by the sportier bumper below and the contrasting black grille surrounds. 

Down the sides, you can expect 19-inch alloy wheels, but eagle-eyed enthusiasts will also notice that the lower sections of the doors feature a new fold design with an upswept ending, rather than the straight crease found on the Tiggo 8 Pro and Pro Max models. A visibly apparent addition is the fold-away door handles, which promote aerodynamic flow. Furthermore, the exterior mirror housings also received a touch of premium design. 

Towards the rear, customers can expect a new bumper design and a prominent "Plug-In Hybrid" moniker. The taillamps are connected via a light bar, similar to the recent updates on the Max models. Overall, the Tiggo 8 has a softer appearance than its stablemates and very much competes in the premium segment when it comes to styling.

Interior and Technology

Step inside, and a well-appointed cabin greets you. Firstly, the interior gets artificial leather upholstery with a napped-like texture. This complements both the premium and sporty feel inside. Both front seats can be heated and ventilated, and the front passenger also benefits from a massage function, as well as the ability to extend a leg support and lower the seatback, similar to what you would get in your favourite recliner chair at home. This is called Chery’s Queen Seat. If this writer didn't like driving as much as he does, he would've probably wanted to spend most of his time in the passenger seat.

The dark, leather-clad dashboard, with wood-like inserts and a contrasting matted-metal finish, also houses the rather large infotainment screen. The 15.6-inch touchscreen serves as the central control unit for most HVAC and many vehicle settings. The unit comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Still, it has a variety of built-in functionality such as navigation and an Intelligent Voice Command system that can be activated by saying "Hello Chery".

Behind the multifunction steering wheel sits a 10.25-inch driver instrument cluster that provides a good level of information, including the positions of other vehicles near you relative to your car. The display can also be adjusted to show information such as tyre pressures, current media playing, and fuel/battery consumption. Bolstering the interior specification is the premium 12-speaker Sony sound system, which provides immersive sound quality.

Step into the rear and you get 60/40 split rear seats, which are also adjustable and can recline to a degree. The adjustments can also provide additional legroom for passengers six and seven when the third row is folded up. The third row will be sufficient for teenagers or taller passengers in a pinch and over short journeys. With the third row of seats folded flat, you expand the boot from 117 litres to 494 litres, quite respectable for a vehicle of this size.

We quite like the styling of the Tiggo 8 CSH and how everything feels just a little more refined than the already premium Tiggo 8 Pro and Pro Max models. 

Performance

The key attraction to the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH plug-in hybrid model is the powertrain. The combination of the 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine and the electric motor was really impressive. The combined output provided all the confidence while overtaking, even when heavily loaded, while remaining very frugal. 

Driving Impression

Preface

In the next few paragraphs, you might encounter the terms "primary ride" and "secondary ride." When referring to the primary ride, this means how compliant the suspension is over road surface variations, such as large bumps and speed bumps. These are typically characterised by high amplitude and low frequency. However, speaking about the secondary ride refers to how the suspension reacts to small road imperfections at higher frequencies. This can relate to brick and corrugated dirt roads, where imperfections are small but happen more often.  

The Trip

This December, we travelled around 4,200 km in various conditions and terrains. We visited Gansbaai, St Helena Bay, Kathu, Van Zylsrus, and Kuruman before returning to Gauteng and resuming our regular commute. This excluded regular exploration of nearby towns, quick gravel routes to remote locations, and trips to town for supplies.

Starting with the noise, vibrations and harshness (NVH) of the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH. Whether driving on national routes, dirt/gravel routes or even the occasional mild off-road trip, the Tiggo 8 remained nice and quiet inside, even when the engine steps in to help charge the battery or give extra power. No rattles or squeaks were experienced, and the very little road noise that entered the cabin on gravel and dirt routes was easily overpowered by the premium Sony sound system.

When it comes to the suspension, Chery calibrated the Tiggo 8 CSH to provide a firm primary ride, so you would want to slow down significantly when going over speed bumps or larger undulations. However, the secondary ride has been set up to minimise most road imperfections, providing a truly soft and compliant driving experience even on rough dirt or gravel roads.

As for the power, we were pleasantly surprised. The engine and electric motor combination complement each other really well. With the Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT) transmission, there is a relatively constant and predictable power surge should you apply the throttle for an overtake. The transmission is also very smooth, almost giving the impression that there are no shifts, just constant drive.

The electric motor also mitigates the delay one usually experiences with start/stop systems, for the time required to restart the engine, and, in the case of the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH, the time spent with the engine switched off in HEV drive mode. This means that in daily commuting situations, you always have access to power. Switch to EV mode and utilise the 18.3 kWh battery for an all-electric range of up to 90 km.

We didn't quite achieve the claimed EV range; however, the vehicle was heavily loaded most of the time, and with the inclines down at the coast, it is understandable. This brings us to the question of whether the electric system really delivers better fuel consumption figures.

Fuel Consumption

The main benefit of a hybrid powertrain is, of course, a more frugal use of fuel. The Chery Tiggo 8 CSH plug-in hybrid pairs a powerful electric motor with an already frugal 1.5-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder petrol engine. And while the surge of power when applying the accelerator could fool you into thinking the motivation was for performance, it is, in fact, for better fuel consumption. 

With the battery charged to more than 30%, the electric motor handles most of the propulsion, and the petrol engine intervenes only when the electric motor is under excessive strain. We achieved approximately 1.5 L/100 km in HEV mode when fully charged, very close to Chery's claimed 1.3 L/100 km. 

However, even with the battery at only around 28% charge and the engine engaged most of the time, we achieved an overall fuel consumption figure of 5.4 L/100 km over approximately 4 200 kilometres. This is truly impressive, considering we were not aiming to conserve fuel and were overtaking numerous trucks throughout the entire route. This figure is also very close to the claimed average fuel consumption of 5.2 L/100km.

To give more context, the heavily loaded, 7-seat Chery Tiggo 8 CSH covered an average of 1 112 km on its 60-litre tank with a discharged battery and would definitely reach the claimed 1 200km range in a fully charged and filled condition. 

Safety

Just glancing over social media over the holidays, sadly, there were plenty of headlines about fatal car crashes. When driving in any country and in any car, there is always a risk of a crash; however, with new safety systems, that risk is reduced. Luckily, the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH in its Apex trim comes well-appointed with standard safety systems. 

You can expect a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These include: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSD), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). Most, if not all, of these came in very handy over the December trip. However, around certain corners, the Adaptive Cruise Control system was flustered by oncoming traffic and would apply the brakes. 

Remember, as the driver, you should always remain in control of your vehicle, even if the systems are maintaining a safe distance. And while this wasn't a scary experience, it did remind us that these systems are designed to complement your driving experience and enhance safety and that you are ultimately responsible.

The safety equipment also includes 10 airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a head-up display, and a personal favourite: a 540-degree camera system. The latter comes in handy in tight parking bays and in light off-roading situations where you might want to avoid obstacles. Lastly, the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH also features a system that prevents the car from moving if the driver isn't wearing a seatbelt, which can be inconvenient when you need to move the vehicle slightly. However, we still appreciate this feature for promoting safe driving practices. 

Pricing

At R729 900, the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH PHEV Apex includes a 7-year/150 000 km vehicle warranty, a 10-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty for the 1st owner, a 10-year/unlimited km hybrid battery warranty for the 1st owner and a 7-year/90 000 km service plan, offering significant peace of mind for the discerning buyer.

Verdict

Our long-distance trip provided valuable insight into what it would be like to live with the Chery Tiggo 8 CSH. Whether you plan to travel frequently or use it for your daily commute, the Tiggo 8 CSH offers excellent value for its price. With seven seats and a host of standard safety and semi-autonomous technologies, it outshines many competitors. 

Add to that the convenience and daily savings that the clever hybrid system will return, and it becomes clearer why this model should definitely be in your list for consideration.