- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Ar Fr
Chery Tiggo 8. A branched ‘cherry’
The Chery Tiggo 8 is a 7-seater mid-size SUV produced by Chery (Chery) since 2018 and has already been restyled twice. As of 2020, there is a luxury version of this model called Tiggo 8 Plus, known in export markets as Tiggo 8 Pro. And they are all versions of the same ‘tiger’ (Tiggo comes from the word ‘tiger’). If you don’t really like the association with the animal world, you can easily replace it with a berry, because the word “Chery” is in tune with the English word “cherry”. We prefer the latter option. After all, the Chery Tiggo family has many branches, like a real branched “cherry”. However, they are not too different from each other.
Chery plans to enter the Israeli automotive market in 2022 with an electric SUV, the Chery eQ5. Israel will become the 22nd country where Chery sells its vehicles outside of China. The SUV is rear-wheel drive and has a single 163 or 178 hp electric motor, mounted on the rear axle. The capacity of the traction battery installed under the floor is 70.1 kWh, while the driving range is 510 km according to the NEDC cycle.
First generation
The new Chery Tiggo 8 was unveiled at the 2018Beijing Motor Show. The SUV is 4,700 mm long, 1,860 mm wide and 1,746 mm high, while its wheelbase reaches 2710mm. The vehicle is built on an elongated T1X platform, which gave rise to the compact Tiggo 5X and 7 models. The interior is modern, featuring a large digital dashboard, multimedia system, electric parking brake, etc. The interior offers three rows of seats arranged according to the 2+3+2 formula. The third row is quite narrow, but equipped with its own air conditioning. The trunk size for the 5-seater version is 892 liters or 1,932 liters with the second and third row seats folded down.
The model comes with a 1.5-litre turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 147 hp and 210 Nm, which is mated to a Getrag 6-speed dual-clutch robotic gearbox or an Aisin 6-speed manual gearbox. The SUV is front-wheel drive only. The vehicle has a MacPherson type suspension at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear. The wheels are 18 inches and the ground clearance is 200 mm.
2019 restyling
After restyling, the vehicle got not only an updated appearance, but also a new engine. The front end of the SUV featured a different grille with large honeycombs, a different bumper and fog lights. The head optics includes LED headlights with turn signals. The beauty is completed with 18-inch wheels. Moreover, the 2019/2020 Chery Tiggo 8 got a completely new interior. The front panel has three screens: a 12.3-inch screen for a dashboard, a 10.25-inch screen for a multimedia system and an 8-inch screen with a pair of rotary switches for the climate control unit. And everything goes well together.
The SUV received new Acteco engines: a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder direct injection engine producing 197 hp and 290 Nm, combined with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox from Getrag. The declared average consumption is 7.4 liters per 100 km. The model is still front-wheel drive.
2021 restyling. Chery Tiggo 8 Plus
A new all-wheel-drive version called Chery Tiggo 8 Plus Kunpeng Edition appeared in the fall of 2021. It should be noted that the prefix ‘Plus’ denotes rich versions. The new modification has a different look and an original ‘face’ design: the octagonal grille is larger, the bumper is new. There are four exhaust system pipes at the rear. The interior has not changed, but it has a premium design and three rows of seats.
The new Chery Tiggo 8 Plus is equipped with a powerful new generation 2.0 TGDI turbocharged direct fuel injection engine producing 254 hp and 390 Nm. The powerful Tiggo can be two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the rear wheels being driven by a clutch on the rear axle. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch robotic gearbox. It remains to add: the export options are called Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
Plus and Pro. Looking for differences
Versions of the SUV with the Plus and Pro prefixes are actually the same car. The Plus is for the Chinese market only, while the Pro is an export version. The first ‘Plus’ appeared in October 2020 as a more upscale option. These versions could boast of a redesigned exterior in the ‘Life In Motion 3.0’ style, beautiful 18 and 19 inch rims. As a result, the body has become 22 mm longer and 1 mm higher than that of the original Tiggo 8. The Plus (aka Pro) is offered in 5 and 7 seater versions.
The SUV has two 12.3-inch screens: the dashboard and the LION4.0 infotainment system screen. The Plus version comes with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 200 hp and 290 Nm, which is mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The second option offers a mild-hybrid system (1.5-liter turbo engine with a 48-volt superstructure), which produces 156 hp and comes with a CVT.
A modernized version was unveiled in April at the Beijing Motor Show, the start of sales in China is scheduled for May, after which the vehicle will be exported to other markets. The newest Chery Tiggo Plus (Pro) has received a new image and became longer. The width of the body is 1,860 mm, the wheelbase is 2,710 mm, that is, these parameters remain the same. The SUV has received a different front panel and a projection screen. The SUV is equipped with the 1.6-liter TGDI (197 hp) and 2.0-liter TGDI (254 hp) turbocharged engines mated to a 7-speed robotic gearbox. 326 hp hybrids are also offered. All-wheel drive is available at extra cost for vehicles with 2.0-litre engines.
