2025 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV Review

In recent years, the competition in Malaysia's C-Segment SUV market has become increasingly fierce. Consumers are pursuing both fuel economy and practicality, while also demanding higher standards for intelligent features and driving experience. As a key model under Chery, the 2025 Tiggo 7 PHEV enters the market with its flexibility of "fuel or electric," a pure electric range of 90km, and rich intelligent configurations. Its core selling points lie in balancing low-cost daily pure electric commuting with worry-free long-distance travel within the same price range. This test drive aims to verify whether its performance, space practicality, and features can meet the core needs of local family users.

In terms of appearance, the 2025 Tiggo 7 PHEV has an overall design style that leans toward stability without losing its youthful vibe. The front face features a large-sized blacked-out grille, paired with through-type LED daytime running lights, giving it a high level of recognition; the side profile of the car has smooth lines, and the 255/60 R18 tire specification belongs to the wider size range for C-Segment SUVs, enhancing the visual sense of stability. At the rear, the blacked-out taillight groups echo the front light groups, and the silver skid plate beneath the rear bumper enhances the rugged character of the SUV. The lighting system comes standard with LED headlights and an automatic headlight function across all trim levels. In actual use, the lights respond quickly and offer sufficient coverage for daily commuting needs.

Entering the cabin, the first noticeable feature is the 24.6-inch curved dual screens, which boast high clarity and smooth operation, meeting mainstream standards. The interior materials mainly consist of soft-touch plastics and leather wrapping, with the central console area using piano black accents. The overall texture stands out among models in the same price range. In terms of features, the front seats support six-way electric adjustment (with memory function for the driver’s seat) and four-way electric adjustment for the passenger seat, both equipped with ventilation functions, which are very practical in Malaysia's hot climate. Standard features include rear air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and ISO FIX child seat mounts, showing attention to detail. The intelligent driving assistance system includes ACC adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, lane departure warning, and autonomous emergency braking, effectively reducing the driving burden during highway or city commuting.

In terms of space, the dimensions of the vehicle are 4553mm x 1862mm x 1696mm, with a wheelbase of 2670mm. The front-row seating provides ample space, with a height of 175cm test driver leaving a headroom of one fist and two fingers of clearance after adjusting the seat. The legroom in the back row is about two fists, and the headroom is one fist, ensuring that even when three adults are seated at the back, it doesn’t feel cramped. The trunk capacity is 475L, and it can be further expanded by folding down the rear seats, which is sufficient to accommodate family travel luggage or a stroller. For storage, the door storage slots, central armrest box, and front cup holders are all relatively spacious, making it convenient to store daily small items.

As for the power system, the combination of a 1.5T turbocharged engine and a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers a total system power of 205kW and a combined torque of 365N·m. In pure electric mode, the start is smooth, and the acceleration response is quick, suitable for short city commutes. In hybrid mode, when the accelerator is pressed deeply, the engine and motor work together to deliver power, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.3 seconds. In actual experience, power reserves are sufficient for overtaking, and there is still some acceleration capability when driving up to 120km/h on the highway. The driving modes include pure electric, hybrid, and sport options. In sport mode, throttle response is more sensitive, suitable for scenarios requiring rapid acceleration.

The handling and chassis performance align with the positioning of a family SUV. The combination of front MacPherson struts and rear multi-link independent suspension effectively filters out small vibrations when dealing with bumpy roads. The vehicle maintains a reasonable body roll during high-speed cornering, with an overall preference for a comfort-oriented setup. The steering wheel offers moderate resistance, features minimal play, and provides a light steering feel during daily driving. At high speeds, the steering becomes heavier automatically, ensuring good stability. In terms of fuel consumption, the pure electric range of 90km essentially meets the daily commuting needs of most users. When the battery is depleted, the combined fuel consumption is about 7L/100km, making it more economical than similar fuel-powered SUVs. Fast charging allows the battery to reach 80% in 0.3 hours, while slow charging fully charges it in 8.5 hours, offering high convenience in charging.

The vehicle pays close attention to driving comfort details. Tire and wind noise are well controlled below 60 km/h, and while wind noise slightly increases at high speeds of up to 120 km/h, it remains within an acceptable range. The seats are softly padded yet adequately supportive, making prolonged sitting less tiring. The energy recovery system offers three adjustable levels, with the lowest level providing a gliding sensation similar to that of fuel-powered vehicles and without a pronounced dragging effect.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV lie in its "dual support" powertrain, extensive intelligent configurations, and practical space utilization. Compared with competitors in the same class, features like ventilated seats, curved dual screens, and the L2 intelligent driving assistance system are considered premium configurations. Moreover, the price of RM 129,800 offers considerable value for money. This car is well-suited for family users who value fuel economy, spatial practicality, and intelligent features, especially those who commute short distances daily and occasionally go on long trips. Overall, it demonstrates outstanding balance and is a worthwhile choice in the C-Segment PHEV SUV market.