New plug-in hybrid Chery Tiggo 8 Pro confirmed for South Africa – What to expect

Chinese automaker Chery recently confirmed two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs for South Africa before the end of 2024, one of which is an offshoot of the Tiggo 8 Pro.

Thus far, the company has kept rather quiet about the SUV, not letting any details slip except for the fact that the PHEV model will be able to eclipse 900km on a single tank, as opposed to its petrol-only siblings that reach anywhere from 671-705km.

For more information on what the new Chery has to offer, we looked at other countries in which it is already on sale.

What to expect

In the Philippines, the PHEV Chery is called the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ but has no obvious styling cues apart from its badges that hint at its electrified underpinnings, still wearing the black/chrome “Galaxy” grille, full-LED lighting, chrome door inlays, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, twin exhausts, and functional roof rails of the standar version.

The seven-seater SUV also has a smart tailgate, keyless entry and start, a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, quilted leather upholstery, dual 12.3-inch LED displays for the infotainment and driver’s cluster, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-speaker Sony stereo, electric and ventilated front seats, and wireless charging.

Active and passive safety systems additionally comprise lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic jam assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, traffic sign recognition, and front-collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking.

According to a hands-on by AutoIndustriya, the Tiggo 8 Pro e+ is equipped with a 1.5-litre, turbocharged petrol motor under the hood combined with two electric motors that get juice from a 19.27kWh battery.

The petrol unit produces 115kW/230Nm while the e-motors do 55kW/160Nm and 70kW/155Nm, respectively, with the entire setup generating a system output of 240kW and 545Nm.

Chery has further developed a unique three-gear transmission that combines with the standard CVT for its new PHEV drivetrain, resulting in nine individual operating and 11 individual speed modes.

The operating modes include single-motor electric only, dual-motor pure electric, direct drive from the turbo-petrol engine, parallel drive that harnesses both petrol and electric power, a setting specific for charging while parked, and one for charging while driving.

“The 11 speeds cover all possible vehicle usage scenes, including low-speed driving (for instance while moving in heavy traffic), long-distance driving, mountain driving where low-end torque is welcome, overtaking, expressway driving, driving on slippery conditions where the dual-axle motors will drive all four wheels for better traction, and urban commuting,” said the company.

An all-electric range of 75km is also on the cards, and when the battery cell is depleted, it can be recharged in approximately three hours at the right wall socket.

When it arrives, the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is expected to assume the flagship position of the line-up, so we expect it to be priced north of the current headliner that retails for R669,900.

The South African-specific details of the SUV will be announced closer to its launch date next year.