Tiggo 8 Pro Is… Well, The Chery On Top!

Although it bears similarities to the ‘4’, the newcomer is also the first model from the Chinese automaker to show off the company’s new design language.

Called ‘Movement Design’, it mixes bionics and aesthetics to create a look that hides its size, while maintaining a striking presence. This design also aims to incorporate the human and technological elements into one, as is best seen in the luxurious interior.

From outside, the three-dimensional grille is inspired by the stars in the galaxies. It features chrome ‘stars’ in a black sky, while two fully automatic matrix-LED headlamps with dual daytime running lights – called Tiger Eyes – flank the grille. 

The headlights connect to the rear lights through the shoulder line, which runs – in very unusual fashion – in a continuous line from the front to the rear of the SUV.

Other design elements include satin chrome finishes across the lower air intake, which double as a strike plate, the fog lamps, grille, windows and lower door section.

To round off the design, Chery has added LED rear lights with dual fog lights and a high-mounted central stop light, illuminated threshold sills and 18-inch alloy wheels with a chrome and black design.

“In planning for the South African introduction of the Tiggo 8 Pro, we used the analogy of first-class travel. Once in first class, your every need is satisfied. There are no hidden costs, no surprise bills, and luxury is a given.

“That is what we have created for customers of the Tiggo 8 Pro, from design, to seating, to performance and of course to luxuries. We invite customers to enjoy their First Class,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa.

“We are very pleased with the positive feedback that we have received from our customers and the media in South Africa. And the inclusion of the Tiggo 4 Pro in the SA Car of the Year competition is a good sign that Chery’s Tiggo Pro range will reach the same heights in South Africa as it has done elsewhere in the world,” says Liu.

Inside, all major controls have been digitised in three separate screens. The first is the instrumentation panel, which is a large horizontal 12,3-inch high-resolution screen. The screen not only displays the necessary vehicle information, but dynamically adapts to the driver’s needs and can display much of the infotainment and mobile phone information as well.

A second screen – 8-inches wide – takes over all the fully automatic dual-zone climate-control functions. Executive models receive a third air-conditioning system for the rearmost seats.

Mounted in the centre of the dashboard and forming the heart of the vehicle controls is the infotainment system. This 10,25-inch high-definition floating multimedia display takes care of the audio controls, display from your mobile phone via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the image from the reverse camera.

All seven seats are leather clad on the Distinctive model and, on the Executive model, the trim is upgraded to black and brown leather with a modern diamond-stitched pattern.

All Tiggo 8 Pro models have a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory setting, and in the Executive model, the front passenger also receives four-way electrical adjustment and electrically adjustable lumbar support.

The rear seats in both models can fold completely flat in a 60:40 configuration.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro has six crash bags as standard across the range. These are all omnidirectional and have been designed to create the maximum protection to all occupants. 

Also standard across the range is a full list of safety features including Traction Control (TCS), Roll Stability Control (RSC), anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and of course ISOFIX child seat anchors.

The Tiggo 8 Pro has rear park distance control (PDC), a rear-view camera with dynamic guides and a 310-degree parking view from its cameras mounted in the nose, rear and sides of the vehicle.

In the Executive model, Chery has added Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSC), Intelligent High-beam Control (IHC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSD), Front Collision Warning (FCW), an emergency Brake Override System (BOS) and a Door Open Warning and Prevention (DOW) system as standard.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is powered by a 1,6-litre TGDI that delivers a maximum power output of 145 kW at 5 500 r/min and 290 Nm between 2 000 r/min and 4 400 r/min. The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) that delivers power to the front wheels.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro offers a comprehensive 10-year / 1-million-kilometre engine warranty. Only the original owner is afforded this warranty and it is not transferrable. A 5-year / 150 000 km general warranty that is linked to the vehicle is standard, as is a 5-year comprehensive roadside assistance plan.

Chery will also offer customers a comprehensive 5-year / 60 000 km service plan as standard with its flagship Tiggo 8 Pro.

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Pricing: