Chery’s flagship Tiggo 9 CSH brings a more upmarket edge to the brand’s value-focused lineup.
Image: Supplied
The Chery Group is no stranger to the ‘value luxury’ space with brands such as Omoda and Lepas, which led me to question whether the core brand should have a large and luxurious flagship like the Tiggo 9 in its portfolio.
Then the newcomer rolled silently onto our driveway, its hybrid electric motor humming softly and its mammoth 20-inch wheels attracting instant attention. I must admit that I was struck by its imposing presence. Stately, sporty and very Germanic, but without being an obvious copy of any premium ‘rivals’.
The Tiggo 9 sits at the top of Chery’s price catalogue, with the 2.0T petrol variation costing R689,900 in Pinnacle trim and R779,900 in Vanguard AWD guise, while the CSH plug-in hybrid equivalents range from R839,900 to R989,900.
That is a fair bit more than the Tiggo 8, which starts at R609,900 in 2.0T form, topping out at R729,900 as a PHEV.
A more premium feel for Chery: the Tiggo 9 CSH focuses on refinement and space.
Image: Supplied
Interestingly, the Tiggo 9 is not much larger than the Tiggo 8, with an overall length of 4,810mm versus 4,725mm, and a width of 1,925mm compared to 1,860mm.
The wheelbase gains an extra 90mm, and both seat seven occupants, albeit in third rows that are ideally more suited to kids. The Tiggo 9 does have a bigger boot when all rows are in place, with sufficient space for a few tog bags or a grocery shopping spree.
But the Tiggo 9 is not about rands, cents and measurements. The Tiggo 8, while certainly luxurious, is still a regular family SUV in the way it looks and feels, while the Tiggo 9 has truly premium vibes and presence.
Its exterior lines are smooth and elegant, while its cabin swoops around you with soft-touch materials, elaborate stitching patterns and warm wood grain trimmings. The flagship Vanguard model envelops occupants in genuine black leather upholstery, and also comes with high-end treats such as massaging front seats, a power-adjustable steering column and a head-up display.
Soft-touch materials and stitching details give the Tiggo 9 CSH a more premium in-cabin feel.
Image: Supplied
All versions of the Tiggo 9 ship with a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, a 540-degree surround view monitor, and front seats with six-way power adjustment and heating. However, the Pinnacle swaps the flagship model’s genuine leather for the synthetic kind.
The cockpit layout is minimalistic, with almost all functions controlled via the 15.6-inch central touchscreen, which boasts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto screen-mirroring capabilities. Buyers of the Vanguard can also look forward to a 14-speaker Sony sound system.
The Tiggo 9 is luxurious, plush and comfortable, but I do wish it had separate ventilation controls, as working the climate system via the screen can be distracting.
With cosy seats, a well-insulated cabin and suspension that soaks up the bumps in comfort over regular tar surfaces, the Tiggo 9 is the kind of car that soaks up the country and city miles with a great degree of comfort. However, the ride can get a little fidgety over rough or uneven surfaces. Ultimately, with its conventional steel suspension, albeit a sophisticated multi-link set-up, you’re not getting that cloud-like ride that more expensive premium SUVs with air suspension would offer. But at the price, that is understandable.
While the driving experience offers little engagement, as you’d expect with this kind of vehicle, the powertrain does deliver smooth and effortless performance.
In electric mode, it glides away in near silence, and even when the 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine does kick in, it remains impressively quiet and unobtrusive.
The powertrain delivers a combined output of 255kW and 525Nm, which is more than ample to ensure spirited acceleration and easy overtaking on the open road.
As a series-parallel hybrid, the vehicle is often driven primarily by the 165kW electric motor, while the petrol engine kicks in either as a generator when the battery is running low or to drive the wheels and supplement performance when maximum acceleration is needed.
Chery claims the 18.3 kWh battery allows an electric range of up to 90km, although in real-world scenarios, it will call the engine into play when the charge level drops to 25%.
Our vehicle averaged 3.3 litres per 100km.
This type of vehicle can certainly minimise your petrol consumption, but you have to be diligent with charging it. And opting for the hybrid model, over the 2.0T petrol, may not save you money in the long run as it commands a price premium of R210,000. But for those who have the extra money to spend, there is a case to be made for the smoother driving experience and lower emissions.
The Tiggo 9 CSH is Chery’s clearest step into proper premium territory, and it largely succeeds in making the case for itself. It is quiet, refined and genuinely comfortable, with a powertrain that delivers effortless real-world performance and impressive efficiency when charged.
It may not have the last word in ride sophistication or driver engagement, and the pricing puts it uncomfortably close to established European rivals, but the value equation remains compelling when you look at the level of luxury, space and technology on offer.
If you're willing to embrace the charging routine, it offers a relaxed, upmarket and highly usable family SUV experience that mostly punches above expectations.
IOL Motoring