Last Updated on 18/10/2025 by Raj

2026 Chery Tiggo 7: Where Ambition Meets Electrification — The Hybrid SUV That Has Its Eyes Set on Changing the Game

The Backstory — From Underdog to Disruptor

Someone had a chat with you ten years ago and said a Chinese SUV would eventually take on the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai — you’d have laughed, politely.

But here we are.

Chery, the previously shy student in the back of the world car classroom, is now the one everybody’s sneaking their notes from. The Tiggo range has been Chery’s workhorse since the mid-2000s — but it was the Tiggo 7, introduced in 2016, that began the brand’s new-age rebirth.

The original Tiggo 7 was good: small, cheap, and bold. But it was the promise that generated all the hype. With each subsequent iteration, the new version got sleeker, more aggressive, and smarter — leading up to today: the 2026 CheryTiggo 7, an aggressive statement of in European-looking sheath.

The 2026 model doesn’t hint at progress — it shouts it. This isn’t a make-over. It’s a message: “China’s ready. Are you?”

The Design — Where Confidence Meets Craft

Before you even set foot through the door, the new Tiggo 7 announces itself. It sports its confidence like a bespoke suit — all sharp lines and sleek edges. The new grille, with its waterfall-like mesh shape and wing-shaped LED DRLs, is reminiscent of Land Rover but with a uniquely Chery spin.

From every angle, it looks more premium than its price suggests. It’s not flashy, just intentional. There’s maturity in the proportions, from the high shoulder line to the crisp LED taillamps that wrap elegantly around the rear.

It’s the kind of design that makes passersby pause at a traffic light — not because it’s exotic, but because it’s unexpectedly handsome.

Inside the Tiggo 7 — A People’s Cabin, Not Just a Passenger’s

This is where Chery really shows its new-found swagger. The inside of the 2026 Tiggo 7 feels like someone analyzed what makes premium SUVs excellent — and then chose to take it one step further.

The cabin greets you with a two-screen arrangement: two 12.3-inch high-definition screens smoothly integrated in one curved piece of glass. One for your entertainment, one for your driving information. It’s futuristic but not suffocating — intuitive enough that you don’t require a PhD in touchscreens to shift the air-con temperature.

Materials are the pleasant surprise. Soft-touch paneling encircles the dash, stitched leatherette adorns the doors, and the brushed aluminum trim appears truly upscale. The seats are spacious, sculpted, and supportive — for extended periods in unpredictable Southeast Asian traffic.

There’s ambient lighting that adapts to drive mode, a Sony premium sound system, and even a panoramic sunroof that fills the cabin with natural light. It’s more “boutique hotel lounge” than “budget SUV.”

It’s obvious Chery’s designers have read up on the psychology of comfort — this cabin isn’t merely designed to impress, it’s designed to unwind you.

Performance — The Quiet Storm

Let’s speak of what’s beneath the skin, because the 2026 Tiggo 7 is more than a pretty face.

It’s powered by Chery’s current Super Hybrid CSH powertrain, which mates a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a powerful electric motor through a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT). They make a combined 279 PS and 365 Nm of torque.

But it’s not the figures that impress most — it’s the feel. The hybrid system marries electric and petrol power so smoothly that you hardly even realize the transition. Through city traffic, the Tiggo 7 cruises in virtual silence, using electric power for distances of up to 90 km — far enough for most Kuala Lumpur or Manila commutes without consuming a single drop of fuel.

On the highway, the petrol engine engages smoothly, assisted by the electric boost when you push it hard for a pass. You can feel the torque immediately — no lag, no theatrics.

And then there’s the range: with both fuel and charge full, you can drive as far as 1,200 km before you need to refuel. Bangkok to Singapore on one tank and charge. Not too bad for a mid-size family SUV.

The suspension calibration is biased towards comfort, absorbing potholes and speed bumps with tranquil equanimity. But it remains grounded under cornering, assisted by Chery’s always-on adaptive damping technology.

It’s not sporty — but it’s enlightened. The Tiggo 7 does not pursue thrills. It offers reassurance.

Safety and Technology — Thinking Ahead, Literally

New Chery models have gained something of a reputation for including the kitchen sink with their features, and the Tiggo 7 is no exception.

It arrives with the full ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) package, providing you with semi-autonomous safety at the push of a button. Look forward to Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The 360-degree camera system is sharp and intelligently calibrated — no grainy fisheye look here. Six airbags are standard, and the body itself employs reinforced high-tensile steel up to international crash standards.

In brief: the Tiggo 7 doesn’t just keep you safe when things go wrong — it works relentlessly to ensure they don’t.

Real-World Capability — Designed for the Way We Actually Drive

None of these SUVs in this class is for serious off-roading, and the Tiggo 7 is well aware of that. What it is geared for, however, is real life — potholes, floods, steep climbs, and mixed road conditions that characterize Southeast Asian roads.

The ground clearance is broad enough for bumpy city roads, and the drive mode selector has Eco, Normal, and Sport. Under Sport, the hybrid system depends on both motors for instant response. Under Eco, it relies on electric mode and coasting efficiency.

Its light steering and small footprint make parking easy, yet highway behavior is composed and quiet. The outcome is an SUV that’s comfortable in both city traffic and flowing expressways.

Pricing and Market Positioning — The Value Revolution

That’s where Chery lands its knockout punch.

In Malaysia, the Tiggo 7 PHEV CSH comes in at approximately RM 129,800, fully spec’ed with hybrid technology, ADAS, and luxury-tier appointments. For perspective, that’s roughly half the cost of a similarly specced Japanese hybrid SUV.

In the Philippines, initial projections see it coming in at around ₱1.52 million, roughly pitting it head-to-head with the Honda HR-V or Corolla Cross — but with much more tech and a plug-in system to boot.

Indonesia will also witness its launch in early 2026, with Chery having already conducted local testing of the model.

What’s impressive is the manner in which Chery’s pricing is no longer about being cheap — it’s now about redefining value. It’s not cheap because it’s cheap; it’s smart because it’s fair.

Living With the Tiggo 7 — Everyday Luxury, Simplified

Take it for a week and you begin to notice the subtleties. How the car remembers your seat and climate preferences. How the digital readout modulates brightness for your environment. How the air-conditioning gently dehumidifies wet tropical air following a rainstorm.

There’s consideration in the Tiggo 7’s layout that’s, dare we say, humane. It doesn’t clutter you up with buttons or require you to relearn how things work. It just functions — smoothly, silently, economically.

Even the regenerative braking is elegant — no jerky movements or rubber-band effect, just a smooth recovery of energy with every stop.

It’s the kind of car that never has to prove itself on a daily basis. It simply makes every day a little bit easier.

Pros and Cons — The Honest Breakdown

What We Loved:

Stunningly crafted cabin finally puts some competition in the Japanese’s hands.

Effortless and efficient hybrid system with commanding range.

Exceptional value for money and feature package.

Highly polished ride and refinement.

Truly eco-friendly without the EV anxiety.

What Could Improve:

Infotainment software still a tad quirky in certain menus.

No AWD variant (yet).

Chery’s dealer network still growing in some SEA markets.

Verdict — The Moment Chery Grows Up

The 2026 CheryTiggo 7 is the car that finally grows up the brand into the mainstream. It’s bold but not arrogant, cutting-edge without being confusing, and affordable without sacrifice.

For Southeast Asia — where gas prices ride high, traffic never stops, and functionality is key — this SUV is smarter than ever. It’s a taste of how the future should look when technology works for people and not vice versa.

And if this is the path Chery’s taking, the rest of the segment should likely begin looking over the rear-view mirror — because the Tiggo 7 isn’t losing pace.