Chinese cars have gone a long way. From being cheap knockoffs a decade or so ago, thanks to deep pockets, they’ve now managed to incorporate design and technology matching up with the best of the world. Of course, their prices have also gone up slightly, representing the wealth of features that they’ve begun to offer. In the Philippine market, one of the most expensive Chinese SUVs that you can get is the Chery Tiggo 8 Luxury EX — and honestly despite its price tag, it’s a worthy choice.
More than anything, the clean and well-executed design of the Tiggo 8 shows how far Chinese cars have gone in a short period of time. Thanks to a strong belief in coming up with their own design DNA (as opposed to just copying other established carmakers), it passes the all-important driveway test.
If anything, it’s the Japanese and Korean carmakers who should be worried. Besides the good looks, the Tiggo 8 is well-finished with a quality paint job, consistent finishing, and solid levels of construction. In addition, it’s well-spec’d too. Almost nothing has been left out: LED head- and taillights, power folding mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, and 18-inch alloy wheels are all standard.
As impressive as it is, the Tiggo 8 is equally impressive on the inside. The execution is fairly close to Chery’s joint-venture partner in China, Land Rover, especially when it comes to the layout and controls at the center console. It does get its own unique all-digital gauges and even a massive infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay built-in.
Despite its compact SUV price tag, the Tiggo 8 is sized squarely as a mid-sized SUV. It has three rows of seats, and take note, these aren’t vestigial or jump seats. They’re actually comfortable; more so than anything the Fortuners or Montero Sports of the world could do. The second-row slides fore and aft too, allowing passengers to negotiate for knee room on their own accord.
Oddly though, entry to the last row of seats can only be done on the right-hand side. Though the entire second row folds completely flat, only the smaller part — the 40 of the 60/40 split-fold detaches from the floor rails. Sure, nimble individuals can still manage to climb over the folded seat back, but it requires a good stretch to do so.
Driven in large part by prevailing tariffs with China, the Tiggo 8 comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine driving the front wheels. With 145hp and 210Nm of torque mated to a six-speed dual clutch, it’s not a slouch; though the gearbox could use a bit more pep.
Ultimately, it sides with what people consider to be traditional luxury. The ride is soft, waft-like; gliding over humps and bumps without transmitting any of them into the cabin. It neuters the driving experience by some margin, but at least it isolates the passengers from the hustle-and-bustle of the outside world.
Throughout its line-up, the Cherys are shining examples of value for money. With the exception of not having any driver assist systems (blind spot indicators, collision avoidance, auto parking tech, and such), they’reloaded with everything except the kitchen sink. Think of a feature, and most likely it’ll have it. Plus, it’s got a 10-year or one-million-kilometer engine warranty on top of a three-year free maintenance package and a five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty.
In the end, the Chery Tiggo 8 shows how competitive Chinese cars have become of late. While they can’t boast of some far-fetched Western connection, honestly, they don’t have to. They aren’t household names yet, but from a purely product perspective, they’ve gone a long, long way.
If you’re the chauffer-driven or family-oriented type, the Tiggo 8 is definitely a legitimate choice. It loses out in terms of handling and the drivetrain could use some polish, but it’s got more space, more toys, and a plusher ride. It’s the mind over heart choice, and it’s one that’s very easy to make.