SUPER HYBRID CHERY ON TOP

The Chinese continue to carve off a sizable slice of the automobile cake worldwide, and
with Chery on top, it’s hard to see this changing anytime soon. Last month the company
claimed 3305-unit sales, putting it in the top ten Down Under.

Now the fastest growing brand in Australia, Chery has done this on the back of the
success of the Tiggo 4 and 7 SUVs, recently joined by the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid,
capable of travelling up to 1200 kilometres on one tank of fuel and a single charge.

I spent time with the last mentioned and, at first, found it hard to be serious about a car
with a name like a schoolyard game of ‘catch’. Still, in the case of the Tiggo 8 Super
Hybrid, I gave it a go. Based on the three-model Urban, Elite and Ultimate Pro Max
Tiggo 8, the seven-seat SUV has been pared back to Urban and Ultimate models.

Priced from $45,990 driveaway, Chery has come up with a plug-in hybrid system, the
Chery Super Hybrid, for the newbies, which it says, combines the benefits of an EV and
internal combustion engine.

The flagship Ultimate sets itself against the plug-in hybrids from Mitsubishi, Mazda and
Kia in kit and quality but leaves them in the weeds on price and family appeal with
seating for seven.

The Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is covered by Chery’s seven-year unlimited kilometre
warranty, a similar period of capped price servicing and up to seven years roadside
assistance.

STYLING
First impression is the lack of ostentation: the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is a ‘regular guy’
seven-seater sports utility vehicle, albeit at almost five metres long, a large one. The
almost utilitarian looks are all topped off with standard roof rails, shark fin antenna and
rear spoiler.

The maker does make its mark with Chery’s brand diamond point grille, unique 19-inch
alloy wheels, power retractable door handles and stand-out LED headlamps and
taillights, plus dynamic turn signals. To cap it off, headlamps have ‘follow me home’
function.

INTERIOR
Enter the Ultimate cabin and settle into seven synthetic (who can tell?) leather seats.

The driver gets six-way power adjustment, the front seat passenger six-way powered
seat, including thigh support extension and massage function. Both seats are heated
and ventilated. Interior lighting includes front and rear, plus cargo area, accessed via a
power tailgate.

Second row seats have 60:40 split fold, the third row 50:50. Leg room is good in the
former, with the third row, best left for kiddies, cramping cargo space. Occupants,
however, are open to a light-and-airy environment through a tilt-and-slide panoramic
sunroof with power shade.

Storage starts with a front centre console box topped off by a comfortable armrest. Four
cup holders serve front and back, map pockets can be found in front seat backs and
coat hooks take outer spots. Dual zone climate control air-con is automatic.

INFOTAINMENT
Both variants feature a commanding centrally located 15.6-inch LCD infotainment
touchscreen, the driver an added 10.25-inch instrument cluster and satellite navigation,
wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Say ‘Hello Chery’ and an Intelligent Voice Command takes on requests about system
controls, or rely on the touchscreen or steering wheel switches to do likewise.

A word here. Almost everything is operated through the touchscreen and steering
wheel, not to the best effect. The touchscreen lacks an intuitive bent, steering wheel
buttons all-but disappear in bright light and the voice activation ‘stutters’.

Ultimate drivers can take advantage of a windscreen head-up display, which works a
treat, headrest speakers, part of the 10-speaker Sony audio with digital radio and
AM/FM tuner.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The revolutionary Chery hybrid system balances power and sustainability, reducing
carbon footprint without compromising on performance. A fifth-generation 1.5-litre
turbocharged petrol engine, which produces maximum 105kW of power and 215Nm of
torque, is mated with a single electric motor delivering 150kW and 310Nm.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a single-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission.
This Stepless Electric Hybrid System offers four driving modes — pure electric, series,
parallel, and energy recovery.

SAFETY
Both Tiggo 8 Urban and Ultimate feature an Advanced Driver Assistance System, which
includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and lane keeping
assist, as well as the ubiquitous anti-skid braking, electronic stability control, electronic
brake force distribution, brake assist and hill descent control.

As well as nine airbags – driver and front passenger, double curtain side, two front side,
front centre and a pair of second-row airbags – manoeuvring at low speed is aided by
360-degree around view and reversing cameras, plus four front and four rear parking
sensors.

Security gets into the act with proximity keys offering automatic walk-away locking and
anti-theft alarm and engine immobiliser.

DRIVING
A proximity key fob gets the Tiggo8 Super Hybrid Ultimate ready to go – unlocked and
powered up by the time the driver is seated, belted up and with foot on the brake. There
begins a life of touchscreen swiping, steering-wheel button pressing and voice
commanding (Hello Chery) unlike other petrol/electric hybrids, Chinese or otherwise, on
the market.

Silently getting into its stride from a standstill in full electric mode, the petrol/electric
mode can intervene, offering long range efficiency and speedy refuelling.

The stepless electric drive system offers four modes of operation – pure electric, series,
parallel and energy recovery. Pure electric ideal for low-speed city commuting and fuel
efficiency at speeds above 80km/h.

Up to 95km without charging, the lithium iron phosphate battery has a capacity of
18.3kWh and, according to the maker, can be charged from 30 to 80 per cent at up to
40kW on a DC fast charger in just 20 minutes. Above 30pc charge the Super Hybrid
System can run as a pure EV up to speeds of 120km/h.

In hybrid mode the two units work together to deliver a driving range of up to 1200km.
Steering is soft, ride and handling conditional, braking sharp and acceleration
impressive under a soft pedal touch.

SUMMARY
The Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is seriously ‘super’ in many ways, from comfort to practicality.
Pity about software and steering shortcomings. Last, but far from least, are the
appealing prices, with the well-specced Urban below $50K and the Ultimate worth the
extra four grand.

RATINGS
Looks – 6
Performance – 7
Safety – 8
Thirst – 5
Practicality – 8
Comfort – 8
Tech – 7
Value – 8

AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban $45,990
Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Ultimate $49,990
Note: These prices are driveaway

SPECIFICATIONS (Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Ultimate 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 1sp
Dedicated Hybrid Transmission, FWD, SUV)

ENGINE
Configuration: four cylinders inline
Maximum power 105kW
Maximum torque: 215Nm
Fuel type: Premium unleaded petrol 95 RON
Combined fuel cycle: (ADR 81/02) 1.3L/100km
CO2 emissions 30g/km
Electric range: 95km
Electric energy consumption: 154kWh/km

ELECTRIC MOTOR
Permanent magnet synchronised motor
Maximum Net Power: 150kW
Maximum Net Torque: 310Nm

BATTERY PACK
Type: Lithium iron phosphate
Capacity:18.4kWh

DRIVELINE: Dedicated Hybrid Transmission, FWD

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4724mm
Width: 1865mm
Height: 1718mm
Wheelbase: 2694mm:
Turning circle: 11.1m
Gross vehicle mass: 2585kg
Fuel tank: 60L

BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Solid disc

STANDARD WARRANTY
Seven years / unlimited kilometres (vehicle)
Seven years / 150,000 kilometres (HEV components)
Roadside assist up to 7 years