Chery’s consistent stream of shiny new SUVs continues to undercut rivals on price, tech, styling and warranty, with the new Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate now steps into the fray. It’s an important car for the brand.
Its super hybrid architecture, dubbed CSH, offers a real alternative to the dominant Toyota RAV4, with the Chinese offering needing to not only look good on a spec sheet, but feel credible, to compete. If first impressions count, the Tiggo is impressive.
At 4.5m long and 1.8m wide, it sits right in the medium-SUV category, presenting an athletic stance, without overcompensating. A large chrome grille kicks things off, with LED projector headlights and dynamic turn signals. It’s a design that shows class.
At the rump, you will find a similar formula, starting with LED lightbars, a subtle spoiler and a tidy rear diffuser. Sitting pretty on 18-inch machined alloy wheels fitted specifically for the Ultimate trim, the look is premium.
Paint options like Turquoise Blue and Mercurial Grey also bring some flair. It looks expensive and will turn heads when stopped at a set of traffic lights. Step inside and the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate quietly raises the bar.
Twin 12.3-inch screens stretch across the dash, housing a crisp digital instrument cluster and an infotainment display that feels modern in both resolution and layout. It also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, backed by Chery voice command setup.
An 8-speaker Sony audio system sounds surprisingly rich for this segment. Plenty of soft touch materials feature, including synthetic leather, in a cabin with well considered ergonomics. The rotary gear selector feels intuitive too.
Dual zone climate controls with rear vents and ambient lighting create a space that is inviting and functional. The front seats are heated, ventilated and power adjustable, with memory for the driver.
Rear occupants get good knee and headroom, although the flat seat base means longer road trips might test comfort a little. Visibility is decent thanks to a large glasshouse, with support from a 360-degree surround view monitor.
Under the bonnet sits a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an electric motor and a dedicated hybrid transmission. Combined outputs reach 150kW and 310Nm, all channelled to the front wheels. In action, the response is smooth.
Acceleration is consistent, with most of the heavy lifting done by the electric motor before the petrol engine chimes in. The transition between the EV and hybrid modes is subtle but noticeable, although the software does a decent job of hiding it.
The 18.4kWh lithium iron phosphate battery offers up to 93km of electric only range, meaning most suburban commutes can be handled without taking a sip of the liquid gold sitting in your fuel tanks.
The ride quality is also decent. The Macpherson strut front and multi-link rear does a good job managing handling on most roads. Over patchy surfaces the stiffness can be felt a little more. The steering is light and nimble, but feels a little inaccurate in terms of directness.
The brake pedal is progressive for a hybrid and does not feel forced. Importantly, you can adjust the regenerative braking across three levels to maintain subtlety. When pushed, on the road, The Tiggo 7 Ultimate does not necessarily feel sporty, but it is competent.
There’s still body roll when trying to boogie in bends, and Sport mode sharpens the responsiveness pencil a little, but for the most part Normal and EV mode deliver what is essentially a comfortable driving experience.
Chery quotes 1.4-litres/100km, which would be achievable if you plugged in regularly (essentially every night), but in the real world, we found that you’d get around 4-5-litres/100km once the battery is depleted.
That’s still excellent compared to similar SUV’s. Charging is straight forward via a Type 2 AC and CCS2 DC port located on the driver’s side rear quarter, with a full recharge through a home setup taking around three hours.
Boot space is a very reasonable 475-litres, that can be expanded further to around 1500-litres when the seats are folded. Remote start, a powered tailgate and a smart key that locks and unlocks when you approach or walk away add to everyday usability.
The Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate packs a huge list of safety technology for its price point – which sits at an insane $38,990 drive away – including forward collision warning, autonomous braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
You’ll also find blind spot correction, rear cross traffic alert, and driver monitoring. The value proposition alone, along with the ownership package, remains one of the brand’s strongest selling points.
A 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty, 7-years roadside assistance and capped price servicing provide piece of mind. This car marks proof of how far Chery has come. It’s not just a cut price, cheap and cheerful alternative anymore.
That’s because the 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate is a genuinely well-rounded hybrid SUV that has great specs, and decent drivability. And while it’s not perfect, the steering could do with providing more feedback for example, the fundamentals are sound.
You can find out more on the Chery Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One. To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was provided by Chery Australia for independent review purposes. Exhaust Notes Australia has not been paid to review this vehicle.
