2022 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV Review | Philkotse Philippines

At this point in time, electrification is catching up in the local car scene fast with the introduction of new electrified (EV) models. Options in the market are expanding, from the conventional hybrid setups consisting of the combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motors to fully electric vehicles (EVs).

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV

One of the brands that are looking to not fall behind in the EV race is Chery with the launching of its Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV. As the name suggests, the Tiggo 8 Pro is available with a plug-in hybrid configuration that you can charge anywhere via a socket including in your home, providing the benefits of an electrified powertrain.

While that sounds a lot interesting, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV does offer more that can make the Chinese midsize crossover a compelling buy, especially considering its price tag at Php 2,450,000. Read on to know more about this electrified model in Philkotse’s 2022 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV review.

The first word that came to mind when I first saw the crossover back in May 2022 at its first media drive is luxury. From the base Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6T to the top-of-the-line Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV, the model carries a styling theme that can easily get away with the notion that it is worth more than its actual price.

18-inch wheels

At the front, the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is highlighted by the massive galaxy-inspired grille that you might’ve seen in the other Pro models such as the Tiggo 7 Pro. It has become a signature for the brand, giving more character to the design by adding an angular finish. This is surrounded by LED headlamps with sleek LED daytime running lights (DRLs).

A set of 18-inch alloy wheels are fitted into the crossover which has a multi-spoke design. While some find the design too straightforward, I think that it is only appropriate for the premium-looking vehicle. Adding texture to the side profile are the chrome strips on the lower part of the doors and the top of the windows.

Smoke taillights

And over to the back, the PHEV model gets LED taillights with a smoke finish, creating a distinction from its non-hybrid variants. Despite its premium-looking nature, the design team still decided to add sporty elements to the crossover including the twin-exhaust setup with chrome surrounds.

Overall, I don’t find the design underwhelming in any way. The predominant chrome bits have been put in the right places, giving a luxurious appearance from the front to the back. Available exterior color options offered in the PH-spec Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV are White, Blue, and Gray.

While my remarks on the exterior make the model appear faultless, I have a few comments on the interior. One of which is the cabin color which is all black. To give you context, the leather seats in the entry-level model are finished in brown and black, while this top-spec PHEV gets a simpler-looking appearance in terms of color choice.

Black-themed interior

So comparing the two, the uninitiated might find that the Tiggo 8 Pro 1.6T is the flagship model when judging the interior first. If I had the opportunity to get the PHEV model, I would want to sit in the brown and black cabin available in the base variant. But that’s just me – as there are still some buyers that prefer an all-black cabin.

Another feature that I think has to be mentioned is the position of the push start button. It would be better, or should I say safer, to have the button somewhere far off reach such as behind the steering wheel. The push start button can be deactivated by either a young passenger or by the new owner mistaking it over the electronic parking brake with an auto brake hold function.

Feature-loaded crossover

Aside from those, the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV offers a comfortable ride along with a plush feeling, which I believe is important for its price of over two million. Unless you’re 5’10 and over, the leg and head rooms should be adequate for the first and second-row passengers. One of my favorite features in the interior is the controls for the electronic seat adjustment placed on the left-hand shoulder area so second-row passengers can also adjust it.

In terms of NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), the Chery crossover excels. The outside noise is barely heard, while the ride comfort feels smooth. But it can feel a little tight and bumpy when sitting on the third-row seats. Additionally, harsh body rolls are almost non-existent, which we will get into more in this review’s driving impressions below.

The interior is a place where I don’t mind being stuck in traffic in. Available in different themes with significant layout changes, the 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment system come in one piece. The latter is paired with a Sony 8-speaker sound system, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The instrument cluster and infotainment come as one

As a third-row midsize crossover, the vehicle has aircon vents behind the center console with a USB charging port. Speaking of charging, a wireless charger is placed below the center console, which can only be accessed by the front passengers. However, you can’t see when you get a new notification due to the layout so might as well turn off the silent mode.

What I appreciate is the combination of physical and touchscreen controls for various features. This is important for adjusting certain settings while driving on the highway without sacrificing the premium look the design team is probably aiming for. Moreover, the driver seat gets a 6-way electronically adjustable function and a panoramic sunroof.

This Tiggo 8 Pro variant offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain

Moving to the safety department, the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is equipped with six airbags, an anti-lock brake system (ABS), an electronic stability program, brake assist system, brake override system, hill assist control, electronic brake force distribution, hill descent control, emergency brake assist, and traction control system.

Unfortunately, the brand’s advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) isn’t available in the PHEV model. Once again, the base 1.6T gets the upper hand as it is offered with the said advanced system. Regardless, the top-spec variant still comes with standard cruise control, which can be adjusted on the steering wheel.

Now on to the star of this model, the powertrain. Under the hood, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV has a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 19.28 kWh battery. Combine the components and you get maximum power of 320 horsepower and 545 Nm of torque.

An engine with two electric motors

Thanks to the electric motors and the use of DHT (hybrid special transmission), which has 11 gears, the acceleration was impressive for a car of its size. However, you should feel a slight drop in acceleration as the battery charge gets lower. For your reference, the PHEV model takes about three hours to fully charge.

Once you get it in 100 percent, the crossover can run from 80 km to 95 km in full EV mode. You can switch it to hybrid mode in case you want to use the turbocharged engine as well. I had no problem reaching 100 km/h in EV mode on the highway, giving me a fun and exciting instant-torque driving experience.

The information on the plug-in hybrid powertrain is displayed on the instrument gauge cluster

As I said earlier, the ability of the car to manage body rolls was quite commendable. So much so that it was my favorite part of the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV’s driving characteristics. While driving on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the ride felt very stable even when switching lanes in zero-traffic situations.

The suspension, which uses both independent systems for the front and back, absorbs road impacts well. You can feel a bit of stiffness when driving on rough roads, but not too significant to the point when it gets uncomfortable. If you’re planning to get this, I suggest having it charged always for improved power delivery and fuel efficiency, which we’ll talk about next.

In city driving, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV returned 12.7 km/l under light to moderate traffic. That was with the battery charged after plugging the car in at an SM Mall for free. Compared to other crossover/SUV models that normally average below 10 km/l in the city, this is one of the factors that you should consider when looking for a fuel-efficient car.

Charge and go

Meanwhile, the highway run posted 25 km/l while driving at an average speed of 90 km/h. Do note that during the test, there were four occupants with A/C fan speed on blast. After the battery ran out of juice, the fuel consumption increased as the engine both drove the front wheels and charged the battery. You can adjust this via the Energy Recovery setting which has three levels.
 

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV is one of the most affordable PHEVs your money can buy in the local market right now. And after a series of test drives, I think that you should consider this Chery crossover SUV as it delivers in every area, from the premium-looking design to the performance improved by the use of a plug-in hybrid setup.

The company enters the EV market strong

I can let the brown and black interior, and the lack of ADAS pass to keep the production costs in check. With the uncertain fuel prices and the industry’s continuous efforts to shift to all-electric, the PHEV variant of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is your futureproof option that comes along with a lot of features for its price of Php 2,450,000.

Chery Auto Philippines is offering the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV with an exclusive 8-year or 150,000 km lithium-ion battery warranty, whichever comes first. It is also available with the company’s Premium Preserv after-sales programs, providing 7-year general and engine warranties, 3-year free preventive maintenance service (PMS), and 3-year roadside assistance.