Chery has been making waves on the Australian car market with 27,579 units shifted to the end of October 2025 (VFACTS), and now it is introducing a new flagship; the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid.
Sitting at the top of the range, the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid uses a sophisticated T2X platform, which promises superiority in almost every metric over the T1X utilised by Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and 8 models. At 4800mm long, 1930mm wide and 1730mm tall, the Tiggo 9 is 76mm longer, 65mm wider and 12mm taller than the Tiggo 8 – which is also a seven-seater. The 2750mm wheelbase is 54mm longer, too. One configuration is being offered; the Ultimate AWD CSH, from $59,990 before on-road costs.
Starting with the powertrain and electrical architecture, the centrepiece is a 34kWh lithium-ion battery, which allows the big unit to travel for up to 170km (NEDC) on EV power alone. A three-speed Dedicated Hybrid transmission incorporates two electric motors at the front, with an additional one at the rear to give the Tiggo 9 all-wheel drive.
It marries up to the same 1.5-litre, turbocharged inline-four as the Tiggo 7 and 8 Super Hybrids, which develops 105kW and 215Nm. The net result is an official rating of 1.4L/100km on the ADR81/02 protocol, but Chery staff tells us it is capable of high 5s when running on petrol alone. Thanks to a 70-litre tank, up to 1250km of touring range is possible.
Impressively, the total system output is 315kW and 580Nm. While official performance figures aren’t available yet, it should be capable of 0-100km/h in around 5.4 seconds.
Safety is bolstered with 10 airbags (compared with nine for Tiggo 7/8) and a vast array of ADAS which have benefited from an extensive Australian localisation program. These include autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise and forward collision warning. Given Chery’s track record with ANCAP, it’s almost certain the Tiggo 9 will receive a five-star rating.
There’s a big emphasis on refinement with acoustic glass on the front windows and windscreen and superior suspension geometry than the T1X vehicles. When the Tiggo 8 SHS was launched, Chery boasted that there is a less than 1dB discrepancy when switching between ICE and EV powertrains. Apparently, this new model improves on that further still – something we will seek to corroborate when we test it soon.
Aesthetically, the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid has a familiar design language to other Cherys, but a more premium and bold expression. The front end is said to be inspired by the jaw of a tiger, with an upward kick to the glasshouse behind the rear door. A chrome element on the D-pillar coalesces to form a chrome window sill, with wraparound rear LED elements emphasising the shoulderline of the SUV. Ornate 20-inch, multi spoke alloys with concealed lug nuts give, dare we say, an almost Mercedes-Maybach appearance to the vehicle.
An opulent interior consists of a 15.6-inch infotainment screen, head up display (HUD) as well as heated, cooling and massaging front seats. The two outboard second-row seats also have heating and cooling. Other highlights include a 50W wireless phone charger, virtual voice assistant, panoramic sunroof and power tailgate. Boot space ranges from 143 litres with all three rows in place, 819L with the third row folded down and 2045L with the second and third rows stowed.
A 14-speaker Sony sound system comprises headrest speakers – which can be isolated for phone calls – tweeters, mid-range and subwoofers.
Volume expectations? We spoke with chief operating officer of Chery Australia & New Zealand, Lucas Harris. He said:
“The point of that vehicle is not a volume driver – as much as I think it will perform well and is obviously priced very competitively, its actual job is a brand halo to show what we can do. This is a showcase of what Chery can do when they throw all the bells and all the whistles together without being constrained by a lower price point.”
It will have some very stiff competition from the 2026 BYD Sealion 8 PHEV for the mantle of best 7-seater. Expectations are pretty high and we look forward to testing the lofty claims when we get some wheel time. Stay tuned.
