Cheap Chinese SUV: Bargain or Total Disaster?

Опубликовано 25 мая 2026, 10:04

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This is the new Chery Tiggo 7!

It's an ultra-affordable family SUV hitting the UK market from Chinese brand Chery, and it’s aiming to catch the eye of buyers interested in family-friendly SUVs such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

Mat's got his hands on it to see if this high-spec, low-cost crossover is a genuine bargain or if you should stick to the established names. So let's dive in…

Starting with the exterior design, the Tiggo 7 makes quite an impression. Up front, you get an imposing face with a massive grille, sharp LED headlights, and a tall, flat bonnet line. Along the side, there’s plenty of chrome trim around the windows to elevate the look, while around the back, it keeps things trendy with a full-width rear LED light bar. All that being said, though, but we can’t help but notice a lot of inspiration being taken from other, more established brands. For example, the grille and headlights remind us of a Q7, while the chrome styling along the side is reminiscent of a Vauxhall Grandland!

The inspiration from other brands continues on the inside as well. The dash design seems particularly similar to an old BMW X6, the infotainment screen design is similar to that found in a new BMW X6, and the door panels remind us of a Mercedes!

However, all that being said, the interior is still very well made. The dashboard and upper door cards are upholstered in soft-touch leatherette, which is incredibly impressive for a car at this price point. You get a clean twin-screen display setup on the dash, though the infotainment menus themselves can be a bit awkward and fiddly to navigate on the move. Passenger space is great with plenty of head and legroom for adults in the back, and you get a generous 565-litre boot - though opting for the plug-in hybrid model cuts into that depth slightly.

In terms of engines, you have a choice between standard petrol or a plug-in hybrid. The entry-level car comes with a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that can deliver 147hp. However, the pick-of-the-range (and the car we have in this video), is a 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid, which comes with 204hp and the ability to travel for up to 56 miles on electric power alone!

The Chery Tiggo 7 starts from £24,995, with the range-topping plug-in hybrid coming in at £32,995. There’s no denying that the plug-in hybrid is probably the best buy, given it comes with all the added extras that aren’t included with the entry-level car. But should you choose it over its closest rivals? Stick with Mat to see for yourself!

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Chery Tiggo 7 Leasing v Buying: shorturl.at/fteqG

Nissan Qashqai Review: bit.ly/Nissan-Qashqai-2505

Kia Sportage Review: bit.ly/Kia-Sportage-2505

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:15 Similarities
01:02 Engines
01:24 0-60mph
01:54 Brake Test
02:15 Annoying Features
04:25 Good Features
06:40 Interior
07:06 Driving
09:25 Back Seats
10:24 Storage
10:44 Infotainment System
11:16 Boot
11:55 Price
12:34 Leasing
13:06 Best Alternatives
14:04 Verdict

Kia Sportage Review: bit.ly/Kia-Sportage-2505