By OPC Contributor, PJ Smith
I couldn’t help but smirk as I passed a Chery QQ on the N2 on my way into town. 2008 wasn’t that long ago – that’s when Chery launched the little QQ as SA’s then cheapest car. But on this day, riding high in the new Tiggo 7 Pro Max 290T AWD it certainly feels as if that was a lifetime ago.
It’s safe to say that Chery has taken a very successful second bite of the, well, cherry in the SA car market and with this new Tiggo 7 Pro Max things look set on only getting better for the Chinese manufacturer.
Kitted with 19-inch alloy wheels complete with red brake calipers, a diamond grill and a bold front design it most certainly has a presence on the road. The cabin feels super lux with soft touch materials with ambient lighting and a dash aglow with modern tech which, in all honesty, can become very overwhelming thanks to the plethora of driver monitoring systems.
As fantastic as the 10.25″ inch floating touch screen is I am going to moan about the lack of physical buttons. I know, I know we’re all about touch screens and digital and the future and so on, but try adjusting the aircon temperature without taking your eyes off the road. Very distracting. And what’s more, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max will TELL you that you’re not paying attention! Whose fault is that? I need physical buttons for such simple tasks.
Touch screen issues aside though, I thoroughly enjoyed the 145kw 1.6 litre TGDI turbocharged engine paired with that smooth shifting 7 speed DCT box. Overtaking was a breeze and the cabin noise is at an absolute minimum. Loved that for me.
Thankfully, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max came into my life at a time when lots of things needed moving and here is where she truly shines. There is ample space for both passengers with storage space aplenty for drinks and keys and it even has a wireless charger for extra convenience. That boot! My word. 626 litres proved to be more than enough to get things moved from point A to point B.
While we’re talking about the interior, I realised that I am a sucker for a panoramic sunroof. Let the sunshine in is what I say! It just creates a feeling of openness without having nature, and potential criminals, fully intrude my personal space. But it’s at night where my passengers really started ooh’ing and aah’ing because the Tiggo 7 just looks amazing after sunset. With a solid light bar across the rear of the vehicle, LED lighting front and back and the Tiggo name illuminated from the mirror light it creates the impression of driving a much more luxurious vehicle than its price tag leads you to believe.
It is clear to see why Chery ended April 2024 as the 6th best selling brand in SA. The package is beautifully put together with a decent service plan and warranty, but the jury is most definitely still out on long term ownership, after sales service, parts availability and the cost of ownership once the service plan runs out. I suppose only time will tell.