CHERY TIGGO 7 PRO MAX

Chery South Africa has introduced several upgrades to the Tiggo 7 Pro SUV to celebrate their second birthday in the country, and we headed down to Cape Town to sample it.

All one needs is another chance, and Chery SA has made impressive strides since their return to our shores. The automaker’s success in the highly congested SUV segment can primarily be ascribed to the compact Tiggo 4 Pro volume model, although the slightly larger Tiggo 7 Pro has also gained notable traction here, prompting several upgrades to the range including a new 1.6-litre turbocharged engine and, for the first time, a range-topping all-wheel drive derivative.

VISIONARY UPDATES

Visually, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max now has an imposing and striking diamond-pattern grille, with the large Chery logo slotted in the middle. In addition, the lower sill and side intakes have undergone a transformation, resulting in a commanding road presence, while new “Angel Wing” LED headlamps exude a 3D-esque design that plays a unique lighting sequence (also at the rear), when approaching the car, key in hand.

Further exterior enhancements include new 18” diamond cut alloy wheels on the front-wheel-drive variant, while the all-wheel-drive Tiggo 7 Pro Max halo model garners 19” alloys. Customers can now also choose between eight different colour options for the Tiggo 7 Pro range.

The Tiggo 7 Pro interior has also not been left untouched during the upgrade process, with features such as ambient lighting, a 24.6” hyperboloid infotainment system screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a fully touch-operated climate control menu. 

The centre console is equipped with a soft touch gear selector knob, making for a luxurious and premium feel across the cabin. Electric seats, sport front leather seats, and a panoramic sunroof are also available, as is a smooth eight-speaker SONY sound system.

WEST COAST CALLING

The official launch route took us from Cape Town and along the West Coast, where we had the opportunity to get a feel of the vehicle’s on-road performance – and its new 1.6-litre TGDI turbo-petrol engine that produces 145 kW (at 5,500 rpm) and 290 Nm (between 1,750 and 4,000 rpm). 

Overall, the Chery handles itself well, partly thanks to its new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission aids in propelling the Tiggo 7 Pro Max from zero to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds, despite sounding somewhat strained under hard acceleration, which reminded me of the CVT fitted to the 1.5T standard (non-Max) Tiggo 7 Pro models. Nonetheless, the gear changes are prompt, and the various driving modes (Eco, Sport, Snow, Muddy, Normal, and Off-Road) allow you to find the ideal mode for every situation. We toggled between Normal, Eco, and Sport for our highway driving escapade.

SAFETY AND MORE

New-generation Chinese cars have firmly left historical safety concerns in the dustbin of history, and with a plethora of high-tech safety features onboard, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max is no exception. Noteworthy features include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, autonomous emergency braking, and Chery’s Driver Monitoring System.

LAST WORD

With its upgraded looks and sophisticated enhancements, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max is poised to cement Chery’s rise in the B-SUV segment and secure even better sales for the company locally. More than 450,000 Tiggo 7 pro models have been sold globally, with 100,000 units ascribed to the Max derivative alone.

Pre-orders for the all-wheel-drive Tiggo 7 Pro Max are now open, with customers set to receive their vehicles in January 2024.

All models come with a five-year/60,000 km service plan and a one million km/10-year engine warranty.

Report by REBANEILWE SEMAKANE |Images © CHERY SOUTH AFRICA