2023 CHERY TIGGO 8 PRO 2.0T AWD: A JEWEL WORTH DISCOVERING | MOTOURISMO

Text and Photos by James Tagle

Tiggo 8 Pro 2.0T AWD

With a broad line of practical SUVs, from small crossovers to mid-size 7-seaters, Chery has swept the local market. The Tiggo 8 Pro, which was the final participant, has since added something new. Here is what you will find inside the new 2.0T AWD model, which I tested.

The Tiggo has an aggressive appearance thanks to its reverse point grille and narrow LED headlights

Sporty and functonal chrome quad-exhaust tips

Rear LED Tail lights 

Leather seats with white diamond pattern stitching 

Tech-filled cockpit

Chery Voice Control

2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine that produces 254HP and 390Nm of torque which is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox

Six drive modes for every road condition

Chery's new-found finesse presents an interior with soft-touch surfaces, smart silver veneers

Chery has come a long way since its debut in the Philippines several years ago. The low-quality copy/paste machines that disappointed many motorists are no longer available. In their place, consumers are lining up to get their hands on a range of modern-looking and incredibly well-equipped crossover SUVs.

The Chery Tiggo Pro lineup includes the 2 Pro, 5, 7 Pro, and 8 Pro, with the majority of these machines powered by small turbocharged petrol engines. The vehicles are stylish, well-built, and come standard with a slew of features. The best part is that they are very affordable. The latest addition to the 8 Pro lineup is the 2.0T AWD model, which isn't, as you might expect, the flagship variant. That title is for the PHEV variant.

Exterior:

At first glance, the 2.0T AWD model appears to be the same as the rest of the 8 Pro lineup. It has a strong muscular profile that gives it a sense of purpose. The Tiggo has an aggressive appearance thanks to its reverse point grille and narrow LED headlights. Privacy glass on the rear windows adds to the brawny appearance, while the multispoke wheels and cladding-trimmed arches give it an off-road feel.

The only way to really tell that this is a standalone model is the '390T AWD' badging in red lettering on the rear tailgate and its sporty and functional chrome quad-exhaust tips. On the whole, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max is a good-looking vehicle with no offensive lines to speak of.

Interior:

This is a mid-sized 7-seater, and while the third row is intended for those of smaller stature, there is plenty of room for a large family and their gear. 

The leather seats are not as plush as those found in higher-priced vehicles, but they are still very comfortable, and there is a surprising amount of leg, shoulder, and headroom. When opened, the full-length sunroof lets in plenty of light, giving the interior a spacious and airy feel.

Of course, like its T8 Pro brother models, it is loaded to the rafters with standard fitment like a 2-zone Climate control system with an 8-inch touch control panel, USB and 12v outlets, 8-speaker Sony sound system, wireless mobile phone charger, Adaptive Cruise Control, Ambient Lighting, Chery Voice Control, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.  And to excite the techie audiophile, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with voice control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto comes standard.

Chery has upgraded the window glass to dampen exterior sound and the overall NVH levels are quite low with just a whisper of wind noise coming from the wing mirrors.

Engine and Performance:

The power plant is a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine that produces 254HP and 390Nm of torque which is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Performance and fuel consumption claims (by Chery) are bold, with 0-100km/h coming up in 7.3 seconds and fuel consumption rated at 7.0 L/100km.

Careful throttle management will yield quite an astounding drive as the powerplant really wakes up when you change the drive mode to its Sport setting. It is quite spritely in and around town but the obvious results will be seen at the fuel pumps.

Safety:

Along with the normal alphabet soup of ABS EBD and TSC, the 8 Pro Max gets an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that contains features such as Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control with Emergency Braking Assistance, Lane Departure Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring. 

Verdict:

Chery's new-found finesse presents an interior with soft-touch surfaces, smart silver veneers, and diamond pattern stitching on the seats. A modern digitized look prevails with ambient lighting, and touchscreens, in a neat and uncluttered setting. Touch controls for the infotainment and climate systems are supplemented by slim silver buttons for those who prefer analog interaction.

I've been open about how much I respect Chery for what they have managed to do in such a short period of time. The cars are excellent, the pricing is fair, and they are expanding every month as new dealerships keep popping up. 

I like the more powerful engine in this 2.0T AWD almost as much as the interior upgrades. If you're looking for a 7-seater crossover SUV that is reasonably priced, I urge you to test drive one of them.

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