Chery Tiggo 7 Review | Has China cracked the family SUV?

The Chery Tiggo 7 might not have been on the market all that long, but it’s the sort of car that has us wondering how long established manufacturers can keep charging more – for less.

It isn’t trying to be a premium SUV. Nor does it pretend to reinvent the segment. Instead, Chery has taken a familiar formula in the shape of a five-seat crossover – and attacked the market with a surprisingly low price point. Especially for those in the market for a lease deal.

Tiggo 7: What exactly is it and what does it compete with?

While the name might be new to UK consumers, the company isn’t. The Chinese manufacturer has been building cars for decades, and is now expanding its reach across Europe. In fact, its sister brands include Jaecoo (whose 7 won last year’s Leasing.com Car of the Year) along with the recently launched Lepas.

It’s been designed to offer everything families need, without a premium price tag attached.

But Chery is the group’s value offering, and as such the Tiggo 7 sits at the heart of the line-up. It’s been designed to offer everything families need, without a premium price tag attached. Here’s our full review.

The Tiggo 7 has five seats and measures just over 4.5 metres in length, putting it firmly in the same territory as a plethora of other family SUVs: the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan are all in the same segment.

But rather than trying to beat any of those on badge appeal, Chery’s formula is a simple one: give you more car for the same money.

There are two engines to choose from. Entry-level models get a 1.6-litre turbo petrol producing around 150hp, while the more expensive Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid combines a 1.5-litre tubo with a plug-in hybrid system producing around 200hp.

Two trims are available: Aspire and Summit – and even the entry-level model comes packed with kit.

The latter can muster more than 50 miles on electric battery power alone, courtesy of an 18kW battery pack. Combine this with its petrol range, and you get a car capable up upwards of 650 miles between fill ups. Not bad.

Two trims are available: Aspire and Summit – and even the entry-level model comes packed with kit.

So, the looks…

Despite Chery sitting firmly in the “value” category, this isn’t a car that looks it. Chery hasn’t attempted to make it look like an obvious budget alternative to take on the likes of Dacia.

Instead, it gets a fairly generic and conservative take on the styling front, with a large grille, slim LED headlights and a clean profile. There’s none of the strange design touches you sometimes find on newer Chinese models attempting to stand out from the crowd.

There’s none of the strange design touches you sometimes find on newer Chinese models attempting to stand out from the crowd.

The Tiggo 7 looks very much like a conventional family SUV, and that’s probably a good thing. There are some neat details, too. The lighting signature gives it a more sophisticated appearance than you might expect, while the large allow wheels and its overall proportions do give it a premium air.

It’s not likely to turn heads in the same way as some models, but that’s not really the point – the Tiggo 7 looks modern without unnecessary complication. And, considering its price point, that’s quite an achievement.

What’s the interior like?

This is where the Tiggo 7 makes an even stronger case for itself. The cabin doesn't feel like you've climbed into a car that's been built down to a price. There's plenty of soft-touch material, a clean dashboard layout and a pair of 12.3-inch screens that give the interior a suitably modern feel.

The tech is one of the car’s biggest selling points.

In fact, the tech is one of the car’s biggest selling points. Even entry-level Aspire models get kit like wireless charging, dual-zone climate control and a crisp reverse camera. Summit models up the spec to include things like electric heated and cooled front seats, a premium sound system and a 360-degree camera.

 

You won’t be short on space either. The high driving position gives you a good view over the road, while rear-seat accommodation is more than adequate for a family of four.

Boot space depends on which version you choose. The petrol model offers 484 litres with the seats in place, increasing to 1,305 litres with them folded. The PHEV sacrifices some of that capacity, but still provides a useful 565 litres.

How does it actually drive?

This is where the Tiggo 7 perhaps feels most like the product of a manufacturer still finding its feet in Europe. The 1.6-litre petrol engine produces enough power for everyday driving,  but hardly makes the Tiggo 7 feel sporty.

Its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine works with an electric motor and hybrid system to produce 204bhp and 365Nm of torque.

With a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive, the petrol version is more about getting from A to B comfortably than entertaining you along the way.

The plug-in hybrid is a different proposition. Its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine works with an electric motor and hybrid system to produce 204bhp and 365Nm of torque.

That cuts the claimed 0-62mph time to 8.5 seconds, making it the more convincing choice if you regularly carry passengers or spend plenty of time on faster roads. It's also the version that makes the most sense for company car drivers and anyone with access to home charging.

The suspension is tuned more towards comfort than cornering ability.

The PHEV's ability to cover a significant proportion of shorter journeys on electric power means it can be considerably cheaper to run day-to-day than the petrol version – provided you actually plug it in.

Neither version is particularly engaging to drive. The steering is light and there's little feedback through the wheel, while the suspension is tuned more towards comfort than cornering ability. But that's not necessarily a criticism.

For most people buying a family SUV, a comfortable ride and easy-going driving experience are more important than steering feel. And the Tiggo 7 does those things reasonably well.

Are you really getting more for your money?

In a word, yes. While we deal with monthly lease rates and not list prices on Leasing.com, they are worth a mention. Because a Tiggo 7 in petrol form will cost you £24,995 – that’s a significant undercutting compared to an entry-level Nissan Qashqai, which starts from the £30,000 mark.

This also translates into lease rates – a top spec Summit in PHEV form will cost you less than a similarly-specced Qashqai – and many other core rivals.

Should you lease one?

People already are – Chery, along with Jaecoo and Omoda, are amongst the most enquired on cars on Leasing.com so far in 2026. The Tiggo 7 isn’t necessarily going to think the way we think about driving.

It’s not particularly exciting, and the petrol engine can feel a little laboured when pushed. But those shortcomings feel far less important when you consider what you’re actually getting.

Drivers are seemingly more than happy to overlook the unfamiliar badge in return for the amount of car they’re getting for their monthly payment.

If you’re leasing, you’re not having to worry about what the car will be worth in five years’ time or whether Chery will retain its value as well as that Qashqai or Kia.

So, when the monthly payments make it possible to get a well-equipped family SUV for considerably less than many established rivals, the Tiggo 7 starts to look like a very sensible proposition indeed.