Chery Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban 2026 Review

The long march of China’s value-focused Chery brand has brought some of the most aggressive pricing we’ve seen since Hyundai’s Excel broke ground in Australia in 1986 but the arrival of its self-proclaimed ‘Super Hybrid’ variants could be the brand’s knockout blow.

That is, if Chery can land the punch.

As we’ve seen with our recent assessments of hybrid and non-hybrid variants of the Tiggo 4 small SUV, along with myriad other Chery models, a passing grade is not guaranteed.

But there is no ignoring the $45,990 driveaway starting price for this new Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid appears sharp for any seven-seater, impressive for a hybrid and astonishing for a plug-in hybrid such as this.

This is even among fellow rivals from China such as the non-hybrid MG QS, where pricing still kicks off at $51,491 in NSW, and even BYD’s incoming Sealion 8 that is expected to start in the $55,000 range.

Traditional rivals include our reigning 2025 Car of the Year, the Hyundai Santa Fe (in hybrid form from $63,079 driveaway), and seven-seat versions of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (from $64,990 driveaway).

But at barely 4.7m long – only a touch longer than a midsize Toyota RAV4 – Chery’s seven-seater credentials will be tested, and its headline 95km electric range claim figure also requires closer inspection.

What are the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban’s features and options for the price?

Kicking off with the base Urban grade at $45,990 driveaway, the Super Hybrid variants are a not insignificant $7000 upcharge over the entry point of the petrol-powered Tiggo 8 Pro Max (from $38,990 D/A) and some equipment, such as heated and ventilated seats, is moved to the pricier Ultimate grade.

There’s also the small matter of Chery removing an airbag on the petrol-electric variant, but we’ll address that later on in the review.

Highlight features of the Urban include:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights and tail-lights
• Roof Rails
• Synthetic leather seats
• Dual-zone climate control
• 50-watt wireless phone charger
• Ambient lighting
• 10.25-inch digital driver’s display
• 15.6-inch multimedia screen
• Wireless Apply CarPlay / Android Auto
• 10-speaker Sony stereo 
• Six-way power adjustable driver’s seat
• Four-way manual adjustable front passenger seat

Stepping up to the Ultimate adds:

• Heated/ventilated front seats
• Massage function for the driver’s seat
• Four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Heads-up display
• Panoramic sunroof
• 12-speaker Sony stereo
• Power tailgate
• Privacy glass for the rear doors/tailgate
• Puddle lights

How does the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban drive?

Chery’s Super Hybrid system – mercifully shortened to CSH in branding – is best thought of as an electric-first drivetrain that drives more like an EV than a traditional hybrid vehicle.

A 105kW/215Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine sits up front but it’s the 150kW/320Nm electric motor that does most of the work and the result is a punchy and yet quiet drivetrain.

Upon first impression, the electric motor feels too aggressive for a family SUV, often chirping the front wheels when taking off from a standstill, particularly in slippery conditions.

We found ourselves self-correcting for this hypersensitivity over time, but it was always a shock when jumping in and out of other vehicles.

Once moving, though, it pulls strongly and consistently right up to highway speeds, where the 1.5L petrol engine then directly connects to the front wheels if you’re in hybrid mode.

Around town, the Tiggo 8 feels in its element, with the suspension generally comfortable and body control adequate.

The torquey drivetrain is adept at zipping into small traffic gaps, aided by good visibility and its 4.7m size, making it plenty manageable for the majority of drivers.

Rear occupants will find the suspension to be quite a bit harsher than those up front but it’s at higher speeds where the wheels start to fall off (figuratively speaking).

On a country road, the Tiggo 8 feels quickly out of its depth with the good-quality Bridgestone Continental tyres doing their best to make up for suspension that often requires several compressions to settle the car over a simple pothole.

In general, the chassis appears disinterested in coping with any kind of driving athleticism.

For this reason, it’s wise to leave a wider margin for error when cornering at higher speeds, as it can and will surprise you.

It’s a shame because the beautifully quiet drivetrain makes for a pleasant place to enjoy watching the countryside, though at higher speeds, we also found wind and tyre noise become noticeably loud.

The Tiggo 8’s forte, then, is definitely at lower speeds, where the experience is better sorted if perhaps uninspiring.

What is the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban’s interior and tech like?

Largely identical to the petrol Tiggo 8 from the outside, the Super Hybrid features the brand’s new interior design, with an enormous 15.6-inch multimedia screen the focal point of a clean and functional space – though not one without flaws.

The aforementioned screen is beautifully crisp and responds quickly to inputs; it’s just a shame the operating system behind it is so confusing to use. This is an issue of critical importance given that Chery has abandoned almost all physical and haptic-style buttons found on the petrol model.

With functions such as regenerative braking found under the ‘New Energy’ submenu – labels that would appear obviously only to the Chery marketing department – patience and time are required to fully master the system. The issue is that it’s still cumbersome to use, even after doing so.

The 12-speaker Sony sound system fights an uphill battle against the intrusive road noise in the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid but performs adequately.

The Ultimate grade above adds two additional speakers in the driver’s headrest, which should offer some improvement but we’ve yet to sample that grade.

Material choice around the cabin is mixed, soft-touch synthetic leather on the door tops, dash and armrest are a welcome addition as they raise the feeling of expense.

Similarly, the brushed aluminium-look inserts on the doors are identifiable as plastic at the touch, but are still a pleasant part of the design.

Seat upholstery is less impressive as it features almost no breathability and feels cheap, mimicking old-wetsuit texture more closely than it does leather. The seat base and back are also flat and offer limited support, becoming tiresome on long trips as a result.

We also noted in our on review unit that the driver’s seat began to creak after five days of testing, which is less than ideal in a near box-fresh car.

Offsetting this to a degree is a series of smart design choices, ample storage in the centre tunnel, under the arm and in either sides of the doors. There’s even a place for two phones, though only one side is linked to the 50-watt wireless charger.

Makeup enthusiasts will also appreciate the LED ring-lighting around the vanity mirror, with adjustable colours and intensity on both sides. It’s a small but brilliant addition to the cabin that shows Chery is thinking about how its buyers use and interact with their cars.

The flat-bottomed steering wheel also feels good in the hand and comes with an array of helpful buttons. The 10.25-inch digital driver’s display is limited in customisation, but it’s at least good quality and doesn’t get washed out by sunlight.

Row tow offers an impressive amount of space, featuring the ability to both slide and recline. A raised seating position over the front row provides good visibility, though the seats themselves are flat and uncomfortable, particularly in the centre position.

Chery hasn’t skimped on amenities however, with airvents, USB-A and -C ports fitted and door bins that fit a large bottle.

Parents will also appreciate the automatic walk-up and unlock function of the Chery, which pops out the door handles as the key approaches the car. It’s a brilliant feature when you’ve got your arms full of tiny humans and their luggage.

The third row is a visible afterthought of this model.

Even with the second row moved all the way forward, there’s no gap at floor-level to enter through, and the space itself would be a cruel punishment for anyone over the age of 12…who might expect air vents or, perhaps, side curtain airbags, for that matter. More on that soon…

Chery doesn’t quote specific boot space for the hybrid version of the Tiggo 8 but expects a slightly smaller capacity than the petrol, which has a respectable 479L with five seats in place and paltry 117L when all seven are up. A tyre repair kit is provided in lieu of a spare tyre.

More concerning, though, is the abundance of electrical cabling found in places easily accessible and often frequented by children. The first location is found under a flimsy piece of carpet in the third row, and the second is the high-voltage cables for the hybrid systems under the boot floor cover.

Is the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban a safe car?

The Tiggo 8 Pro Max petrol variants are covered by a five-star ANCAP rating that was awarded back in 2024, but this does not apply to its hybrid variants and we might have a theory as to why.

Over in Europe, both petrol and plug-in versions of the Tiggo 8 are fitted with a driver’s side knee airbag, but this feature is removed on Aussie Super Hybrid models. European buyers also benefit from a five-star rating on all models from the equivalent NCAP safety authority.

Chasing Cars asked Chery to clarify why the Super Hybrid variant removes this airbag, but no clarification has been forthcoming.

We think Aussies deserve the same equipment and clarity as our European counterparts.

Focusing on the vehicle at hand, however, the driver assistance technologies as a whole are far more restrained and accurate than other Chery models we’ve tested in the past, though the driver monitoring and lane-keep assistance can be a bit testing at times.

Although also observed in the Outlander PHEV and other seven-seat midsize SUVs, it’s disappointing that the Tiggo 8 doesn’t offer side airbag coverage for occupants – likely children – who sit in the third row, and are statistically more vulnerable in an accident.

In our eyes, this negates the usefulness of the tight third row entirely.

Other highlight features include:

• Nine airbags
• 360-degree camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind spot monitoring
• Safe exit assist

What are the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban’s ownership costs?

Chery quotes a 95km all-electric range from the Super Hybrid but this figure is tested according to lax NEDC standard. In combined conditions, we saw 68km before the petrol engine forcibly kicked in.

Once the 18.4kWh battery was flat, the series-parallel hybrid system provided a still very impressive 5.6L/100km – less than a litre off a plugless hybrid such as the Toyota RAV4, though a minimum of 95 Ron is required for this vehicle.

Unusually for a plug-in, DC charging capability is fitted, allowing the Chery to charge up to 40kW and top up the battery from 30 to 80 percent in 20 minutes. Home-style AC charging is also available, which easily replenished the battery overnight using a 10-amp wall plug.

A warranty of seven years/unlimited kilometres is applied to the car and an additional year of coverage applies to the battery, electric motor and other hybrid components.

Servicing over five years is capped at a reasonably affordable $1595 with intervals of every 12 months or 15,000km.

The honest verdict on the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid Urban

Pitched as a do-it-all vehicle with both petrol and electric power paired with the practicality of seven seats, closer inspection the Tiggo 8 in Super Hybrid guise reveals a more modest but still impressive list of talents.

Value is still extremely strong, the entry price is very affordable, and the running costs could stand to save you some serious money over the longer term.

Kept within the bounds of urban areas and with four people on board, the Tiggo 8 makes a tremendous amount of sense but with a lack of AWD, the extremely tight and airbagless third row, this model lacks the versatility it promises.

And if versatility isn’t a must-have and you intend to keep to urban areas, we’d be inclined to consider the cheaper, five-seat Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid or the similarly affordable and fully electric MG S5 small SUV that will travel almost four times the distance on electric power.

Given the Tiggo 8’s shortcomings, it’s not surprising to see the larger and AWD-equipped Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid cresting over the Aussie horizon in late 2025, which looks to stand a better chance at meeting this model’s wide brief.

For now, the Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid straddles a broad list of requirements, and while it may only cover a few of them convincingly, for some buyers, that may be all they need it to do.