Chery’s 315kW Tiggo 9 flagship confirmed – priced from $60,000 to rival Mitsubishi Outlander and BYD Sealion 6

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Chery has confirmed plans to further expand its ‘Tiggo’ SUV range, locking down a new seven-seater plug-in model set to release in less than one month.

Known as the Tiggo 9, Chery’s new model will be its largest and most expensive yet… Before exploring offerings from sub-brands Omoda and Jaecoo, that is. 

Priced from $59,990, the Tiggo 9 predominantly rivals the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, which starts from $57,290, and climbs to $69,290 in seven-seat guise. It will also contend with the five-seat BYD Sealion 6, priced from $42,990. Prices shown are before on-road costs.

Key standard equipment for the Chery Tiggo 9 includes:

• 360-degree surround view camera
• Leather interior
• 6-way power-adjust front seats with heating, ventilation and massage
• Heated and ventilated rear outboard seats
• Heated steering wheel
• 10.25-inch driver instrument cluster
• 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 14-speaker Sony sound system
• Heads-up display 
• 50W wireless phone charger
• Electronic panoramic sunroof
• Power tailgate
• LED exterior brightwork 
• 20-inch alloy wheels

The Tiggo 9 will also need to compete with the BYD Sealion 8, an upcoming seven-seat plug-in hybrid measuring an impressive 5040mm in length. That model, along with a smaller, cut price Sealion 5, is slated to arrive in Australia early next year. 

In contrast, the Tiggo 9 measures 4820mm in length (110mm longer than a Mitsubishi Outlander), 1930mm wide, and 1699mm tall, with a 2820mm wheelbase. (Overseas exterior dimensions shown — local dimensions are not yet available). 

Keen eyed readers would note the extreme similarity in size between the Chery Tiggo 9 and the Jaecoo J8, and indeed, the models look to be the same car under the skin.

But where the J8 makes use of a more traditional 183kW/385Nm four-cylinder turbocharged engine and eight-speed automatic drivetrain, the Tiggo 9 features three electric motors – two at the front and one at the rear – mated to a 1.5-litre turbo petrol via a ‘dedicated hybrid transmission’.

The result is a staggering claimed combined output of 315kW / 580Nm, and, thanks to its 34kWh Lithium-ion battery, the Tiggo 9 also claims a combined range of 1250km and an EV-only range of 170km. Both figures are measured to generous NEDC testing standards. 

The release of the Tiggo 9 will mark the second appearance of Chery’s unique three-motor PHEV system, which first debuted on the $61,990 (before on-roads) Omoda 9. 

That model boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating, where the Tiggo 9 is currently unrated. We anticipate Chery to already be working behind the scenes to begin independent safety testing on its new Tiggo 9 model, in order to share a five-star rating with smaller Tiggo 4, 7 and 8 relatives. 

Chery has confirmed that the Tiggo 9 has a comprehensive suite of driver safety features, including autonomous emergency braking and emergency lane keeping, as well as ten airbags. 

Like all Chery models, the Tiggo 9 will be backed by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty, with a separate eight-year unlimited kilometre warranty applying to its high voltage PHEV battery.