Test driving the Chery Tiggo 8 Promax SUV

From the country to the coast, this is an affordable range SUV for families or singles – with a lot of stuff! – that you can’t go past.

For three weeks, we test drove the latest model Chery Tiggo 8 Promax from the urban centres of Melbourne to the coastal reaches of Philip Island and the Mornington Peninsula, up to the winding country roads of the Victorian highlands, and there was one verdict than ran the gamut: this was one comfy ride.

It’s a quality crossover SUV that’s here to prove that “budget-friendly” doesn’t mean “boring”. Chery, the Chinese carmaker making a name for itself in Australia, has loaded this beast with gadgets and gizmos that will make you think, “Wait, is this a luxury SUV or just really good at faking it?”

Design & Interior

First impressions? It’s shiny.

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max brings a bold grille that screams “look at me,” and a sleek, modern body that’s undeniably eye-catching. Does it compete with its European rivals in that regard? Well, maybe not quite and it could run the risk of erring on the side of ‘too boxy’, but for what it is, the size you get and the driving perks, it’s OK to overlook that.

Inside, things get more high-tech than a teenager’s gaming setup. Dual 12.3-inch screens dominate the dash because apparently, one screen just isn’t enough these days. The cabin is wrapped in faux leather (or as we like to say, vegan-friendly luxury) and comes with ambient lighting to make night drives feel like a disco on wheels.

The seven-seater configuration is an obvious plus for larger families, but those in the back row might want to make peace with their knees – it’s a bit tight back there. Meanwhile, cargo space is decent, though you can forget about loading up anything massive once all the seats are occupied.

Tech & Features

Here’s where things get interesting. The Tiggo 8 Pro Max is stocked with so much tech, it’s giving Silicon Valley startups a run for their money. We’re talking wireless phone charging, a panoramic sunroof, 8-speaker Sony audio, and heated and ventilated front seats. Oh, and did we mention the voice commands? Say the word, and the car listens – most of the time.

In-built car AI

I have to be honest here. The concept of a personal assistant, like Siri or Gemini built into your car sounds like a handy addition, at first. Until you try to use it.

Much like the fate of Google Home speakers, or Amazon’s Alexa speaker, this thing will so quickly be relegated to the category of a ‘glorified egg-timer’ as quick as you can say “Hey, Chery”. Its limited functionality extends from the radio to the navigation. And that’s it. Add to that the fact the nav uses something called TurboDog (what?),which doesn’t understand most Australian roads and how to drive between them, it’s rendered largely more annoying than useful. We’d recommend connecting your iPhone or Android and channelling that through the dashboard, instead.

Safety features

On the upside, though, safety-wise, you’re covered with features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a 360-degree camera that’ll make parallel parking a breeze (or at least less of a nightmare for those less-practised). It does, in certain instances, take the intelligence side of smart driving a little too far and if it doesn’t know your driving style, can slam on the brakes if you’re say, on cruise control with lane assist on while changing lanes. It might need some more training.

Distraction detection

Never before has ‘distraction detection’ been so distracting.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Promax, like other Cherys, comes with a facial recognition system that is attached permanently to the back of the steering wheel. Conceptually, great! Until you try to do anything other than have your hands at 10-and-2 with your face forward, like, say, reach for the map to navigate, change your music choice or unbelievably, do a standard head check! What’s worse is that you cannot turn it off permanently, meaning you have two choices:

  1. Turn the face detection off every single time you get in the car, or
  2. Totally change the way you drive to match Chery’s dictated methods

If you’re a confident driver who doesn’t want to me micro-managed by Big Brother, this can really get in the way.

Having said all that though, for those who aren’t used to the bigger dimensions of the Chery Tiggo 8 Promax and need that added assurance when it comes to reverse-parking or simply driving forward, then this is a great-to-have.

Performance

Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 187kW and 390Nm of torque.

Pair that with a smooth-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, and you’ve got a car that’s surprisingly zippy for its size. But don’t expect it to conquer the great outdoors – this is no off-roader. It’s more of a city-slicker SUV than an adventure seeker.

As far as we took it was on a few bumpy country roads and unsealed driveways. It handled it fine, but you wouldn’t want to go tackling anything more treacherous without it feeling like the tyres were giving way below you.

Fuel efficiency? At 7.7L/100km, it’s not winning any awards, but it won’t have you panicking at every petrol station, either. Oh, and drive modes? Yep, you’ve got a few to play with, though most people will probably leave it on “Normal” and call it a day.

Verdict

The 2024 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max tries very hard to impress and in some ways, it actually does. For an SUV priced starting around AUD $38,990, it packs enough value and features to make you think twice about dropping double that on a fancy European rival… unless you’re a badge snob.

Is it perfect? No. But then, very few cars are. But if you’re after a tech-laden, family-friendly SUV that won’t bleed your wallet dry, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max might just surprise you. Drive one, and you might even admit Chery knows a thing or two about building an SUV.