Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid 2025 Review

The 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid starts from less than $40k drive-away in Australia, undercutting just about every plug-in hybrid mid-sized SUV rival currently on sale.

Kicking off proceedings is the entry-level Urban at $39,990 d/a, while the range-topping Ultimate is $43,990 d/a.

That sees it undercut the established Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $57,290), along with other PHEV options such as the BYD Sealion 6 (from $42,990) and GWM Haval H6 ($47,990 d/a).

Yet to be priced, but due in the coming months, are the MG HS Super Hybrid and Geely Starray EM-i, both of which are set to be super-efficient and competitively priced machines.

Even with its sub-$40k starting price, the Tiggo 7 Urban comes well-equipped, with 18-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, LED lighting all round and keyless entry.

Inside, twin 12.3-inch digital displays bring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth and digital radio, along with a six-speaker sound system and leather-appointed seating with a six-way power adjust driver’s seat.

For an extra $4000, the Ultimate adds memory for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof with powered sunshade, ambient interior lighting, an eight-speaker Sony sound system, wireless phone charging, puddle lamps, tinted rear windows and a 360-degree parking camera.

A full suite of safety gear includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane keep assist with departure warning and prevention, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with AEB, forward collision warning and more.

Under the bonnet, Chery’s Super Hybrid powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine (105kW/215Nm) mated to a 150kW electric motor. Unlike most other manufacturers, it doesn’t list combined power or torque figures.

Power is sent to the front wheels via a one-speed dedicated hybrid transmission.

Supporting the SUV’s promise of up to 1200km of combined driving range is an 18.3kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, said to bring around 93km (NEDC) of EV-only driving range.

The only no-cost colour exterior colour option is Mercurial Grey, while other four options – Space Black, Lunar White, Star Silver, and Turquoise Blue – command a $600 premium.

Services are due every 12 months or 15,000km, and will cost $947 or $1595 in the first three and five years, respectively.

The sixth service (72-months or 90,000km) is listed at a whopping $1291.31, with the first seven years of services total a little more than $3100.

Chery says it’s been listening to customer and media feedback since its re-entry into the Australian market back in 2023 with the Omoda 5, a compact SUV which left much to be desired.

The poor calibration of driver-assist aids in previous Chery models like the Omoda 5 was a real sticking point for many but the 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid feels far more polished.

No longer does the driver monitoring system harass or distract you (unless justified) and while we admittedly ended up switching the lane assist functions off (annoyingly, there’s three: Emergency Lane Keeping, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention), the driving experience with them on was far more resolved than what we’ve experienced from past Chery models.

On road, the plug-in hybrid drivetrain delivers smooth and silent EV-only operation around town and when the petrol engine does kick in, it’s virtually imperceptible. The system can run on electric or petrol power independently – or a mix of both – depending on driving conditions.

Below 80km/h, it prioritises electric propulsion, and even at highway speeds, the electric motor provides a strong, confident surge with just a light tap on the accelerator, making overtaking or merging feel effortless.
Around the city, the electric assistance makes this 1.8-tonne front-wheel drive SUV feel lively, with only a hint of wheel spin on some occasions.

And, while you don’t have to plug it in regularly to benefit from its hybrid capabilities, keeping the battery charged will help maximise fuel efficiency and get you closer to Chery’s combined average claim of 1.4L per 100km.

We were unable to make a definitive judgment on the Super Hybrid’s consumption at the local launch, however, our tester averaged 3.8L/100km according to the trip computer, after around 200km of highway and country driving.

The ability to run it on 91 RON fuel will help keep costs low, whereas many of its competitors require a minimum of premium (more expensive) 95 RON unleaded. Some of those rivals also comforted with a 55 litre fuel tank whereas the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid is fitted with a 60L tank.

There’s no traditional start/stop button either, which takes some getting used to. Instead, keyless entry allows you to hop in, press the brake, shift into drive, and go. It’s a convenience we’re sure many will appreciate.

Even in the base model, it feels like Chery has made a concerted effort to make the Tiggo 7 feel less… cheap.

The materials feel more upmarket than you might expect at this price point, while the second row is surprisingly spacious. The super tall ceiling would likely accommodate Chinese basketballer Yao Ming.

Up front, a huge centre console and array of storage cubbies make for plenty of storage, while rear-seat amenity is pretty good too, with a centre armrest, air vents and seatback pockets – although a single USB-A outlet is a let-down in 2025.

Refinement is where the 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 loses ground.

The ride becomes unsettled and brittle on rougher B-roads, allowing bumps and road noise to intrude, while the steering feels vague and overly light.

Steering was also an issue when using the vehicles ‘Integrated Cruise Assist’ which is just like adaptive cruise control, only with a form of lane keep assist added.

As a result, we were left constantly fighting the steering wheel as it twitched and tugged beneath our hands, veering the SUV left and right in a bid to keep the vehicle dead centre of the lane.

It takes a three-second hold of the cruise control button on the steering wheel to switch the ‘integrated’ function off and just use the adaptive cruise control, which was a much nicer experience.

Boot space might have taken a hit compared to the petrol-only version thanks to the hybrid’s additional electrical tech. However, at the time of writing, we can’t confidently tell you how much smaller the boot is because Chery doesn’t know the cargo capacity of its Super Hybrid.

For reference, the Tiggo 7 SE+ gets a 626 litre boot and a spare tyre. The plug-in version only receives a tyre repair kit.

Recharging times? Pretty decent for a plug-in hybrid. Chery says it'll take around 20 minutes to charge the battery pack from 30% to 80% using a fast DC charger (think an outdoor public charger from EVIE or Chargefox). DC recharging tops out at 40kW and with AC (like a wallbox) it is 6.6kW.

That said, Chery reckons you don’t need to charge the SUV to get fuel efficiency benefits.

Meanwhile, build quality seemed fine for the most part, but we did notice a bit of a boot quirk: it never seemed to close properly on the first go.

You’d put something in the boot, then get into the driver’s seat to a warning on the instrument cluster that the boot wasn’t closed, then go to check it, only to find that it did appear closed. You’d have to open and slam it shut again almost every time.

There were also some glaring signs that this vehicle had been rushed to market and we hope our test car was just a one-off. Small things such as ‘Tiggo 8 Pro Max’ floor mats in a Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid, the clock in our tester showing 3pm (Russian time, so we discovered) at 11am in the morning, and a slightly off-centre steering wheel when driving straight, suggesting the need for a wheel alignment.

It’s also worth pointing out that we were the first to get into this car in the morning – we weren’t being pranked by fellow motoring journos.

The 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid ticks many of the right boxes for a value-driven medium SUV.

It offers a decent suite of safety and tech, solid standard equipment and strong efficiency claims. Outside, its understated and conventional styling should resonate with buyers seeking a more traditional SUV, while the interior does a great job of disguising its budget roots.

However, during our time with the vehicle at its local launch, some aspects felt unfinished, almost as if it had been slapped together and rushed to market. We hope these early teething issues are ironed out in customer-delivered models.

Still, the overall value proposition is difficult to ignore and those in the market for an affordable, feature-rich hybrid SUV, should take the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid for a test drive.

2025 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban at a glance:
Price: $39,990 drive-away
Available: Now
Powertrain: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 105kW/215Nm (electric motor: 150kW/310Nm)
Combined output: Not provided
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Battery: 18.3kWh lithium-iron phosphate)
Range: 93km (NEDC)
Energy consumption: 16.3kWh/100km (NEDC)
Fuel: 1.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 33g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au