AS the largest model in the Tiggo family in Malaysia, the seven-seater Tiggo 9 sports utility vehicle (SUV) takes aim at buyers seeking added space, kit and performance, without paying a pretty penny commanded by more established premium brands.
Locally assembled in Malaysia, the Tiggo 9 comes in a single all-wheel-drive specification that’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 256PS and 390Nm, and all that twist is managed by a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
At RM166,800 on-the-road without insurance, the Tiggo 9 offers a considerable amount of vehicle for the money that is backed by an impressive seven-year or 150,000km vehicle warranty, a ten-year or 1,000,000km engine warranty and five years of free service under the launch package.
The first impression from behind the wheel is effortless, with the 2.0-litre engine providing plenty of torque without needing encouragement to get this 1,887kg (kerb) SUV moving.
Throttle response is reasonably sharp, and there is a healthy surge when the accelerator is pushed harder to make overtaking on Malaysian highways a straightforward affair.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is generally smooth at low speeds, though there can occasionally be a slight pause before the transmission decides what to do, particularly when moving away from a junction or crawling in traffic.
Once underway, however, the shifts become considerably cleaner, and the transmission does a good job of keeping the engine within its useful power band.
At legal speeds, it settles into a comfortable rhythm with the engine remaining relatively unobtrusive, and the cabin does a commendable job of keeping wind and road noise away from occupants.
This is undoubtedly helped by the double-glazed acoustic glass, which gives the Tiggo 9 a nice touch of refinement that’s not always expected at this price point.
The suspension is similarly tuned towards comfort, and broken surfaces are dealt with reasonably well.
The long 2,800mm wheelbase helps the vehicle maintain its composure over undulating roads; however, some movement from the chassis can be felt, but it is not excessive during normal driving.
Push harder, and the Tiggo 9’s limitations become apparent.
Although there’s plenty of power, it doesn’t seem to be encouraging enough for exploitation – particularly on tight and/or twisted roads.
The suspension allows more body movement than preferred from a vehicle with this much performance.
This isn’t to say that the Tiggo 9 is unstable; rather, there seems to be a noticeable disparity between how the engine encourages drivers and the way the chassis responds when tapping into its performance.
The steering is nicely weighted, with heft increasing at higher speeds, and while the light steering feel is welcomed at low speeds for the sake of manoeuvrability that makes this sizeable SUV easy to operate, there is unfortunately a lack of feel coming through to the driver.
Steering accuracy is sufficient, but the feedback just seems more synthetic than real in a sense that drivers would be able to tell where the front wheels are pointed.
Braking could also be similarly described, even though it has a good amount of initial bite that intuitively increases the abuse on the disc brakes the deeper the brake pedal travels.
This is one of the few areas the Tiggo 9 manages to shine with its ability to bleed speed rapidly despite its size.
Predominantly, the Tiggo 9’s preferred environment is highways, instead of back roads, with an obvious preference for cruising at speed and providing plenty of comfort rather than carving up corners.
It is, after all, a seven-seater family SUV and has thus been designed accordingly.
Drivers will note having a commanding seating position without feeling excessively high, and the front seats are among the more comfortable features of the vehicle.
Both front occupants receive ventilation, heating and massage functions, while the driver gets ten-way powered adjustability with memory function.
Even the second row bench is equally well catered for with ventilation, dedicated rear air vents, privacy glass and window shades that make it a pleasant place to spend time, particularly in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate.
The third row is a different proposition, and with most vehicles in this class, these seats are better suited to children or more compact adults since legroom is limited, thus suitable for shorter journeys.
In this regard, the Tiggo 9 should be better viewed as a 5+2 rather than a full-time seven-seater.
Fold down the third row and the boot opens up to 448 litres of luggage space, and if there’s a need for more, dropping the second row will expand that volume to 2,065 litres.
For those long trips, the Tiggo 9’s cabin is easy to live in, with the dashboard being dominated by a large 15.6-inch 2.5K touchscreen at the centre, supported by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor and having wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while a 14-speaker Sony sound system adds to the audio ambience.
The head-up display is another welcome addition, allowing drivers to reduce the need to look down at the instrument cluster for basic driving information, although much of the vehicle’s functions remain buried within the touchscreen’s menus.
Much of the Tiggo 9 ‘s provisions make this SUV one that’s hard to ignore, with the inclusion of a panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, wireless charging, powered boot, power-adjustable steering column, automatic climate controls and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems.
Such assistance systems included within Chery’s ADAS (Advanced Driver Aid System) 2.5 package comprise 23 functions, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot detection, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic braking, traffic jam assist and automatic park assist, as well as 10 airbags, among others.
Having an all-wheel-drive drivetrain, Chery has also included seven drive modes which most Malaysian owners will ever need, but they do give the AWD system a broader operating window that includes Eco and Normal modes for everyday duties.
In Sport mode, this sharpens throttle response but, again, the Tiggo 9’s suspension just doesn’t seem willing to handle what the engine’s pushing out.
Regardless, there are also Snow, Sand, Mud and Off Road modes that will help owners deal with lower-grip surfaces, although the Tiggo 9 will most likely remain a road-biased SUV 99% of the time.
Although the Tiggo 9 is rich in provisions and has its obvious shortcomings that would have allowed owners to properly exploit its performance, its asking price does seem to melt away the negatives thanks to its asking price.
To reiterate, for what potential owners will pay for, the Tiggo 9 is able to seat seven, and there’s plenty of accessible power from the 2.0-litre turbocharged mill.
Adding to this is the AWD system that helps to ensure traction, stylish 20-inch wheels to match this SUV’s overall size, an extensive list of equipment, plenty of safety systems, and a cabin that feels considerably more expensive than its price suggests.
Clearly, Chery has concentrated on the things that most family SUV buyers will appreciate, such as a quiet, comfortable, spacious cabin, a comfort-tuned suspension system to match and enough performance to make long-distance travels feel effortless.
Simply put, the Tiggo 9 is designed to carry family and friends rather than entertain its drivers on twisting mountain roads, and although there are some points this SUV could be improved upon, it is starting to make more established luxury brands take a glance.
SPECIFICATIONS
Chery Tiggo 9 AWD
Engine: 1,998cc, 16-valve DOHC, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with direct injection and variable valve timing
Maximum power: 256PS at 5,500rpm
Maximum torque: 390Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 7-speed wet dual-clutch automatic
Fuel tank: 65 litres
Drivetrain: Intelligent all-wheel drive
Acceleration (0-100kph): 8.0 seconds
Top speed: 210kph
Fuel consumption: 8.3 litres per 100km
Suspension: Front MacPherson struts; rear multi-link
Brakes: Front ventilated discs; rear solid discs
Wheels and tyres: 20-inch alloy wheels; 245/50 tyres
Kerb weight: 1,887kg
Boot space: 448 litres (2,065 litres with second and third rows folded)
Features: Ten airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, traction control, hill-start assist, 360-degree panoramic camera, intelligent all-wheel drive, seven driving modes, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, lane departure prevention, emergency lane keeping assist, lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic braking, rear collision warning, door open warning, traffic jam assist, integrated cruise assist, intelligent high-beam control, traffic sign recognition, speed limit assist, driver monitoring system, automatic park assist, 15.6-inch 2.5K touchscreen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, head-up display, 14-speaker Sony premium audio system with headrest speakers, wireless charging, panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, privacy glass, rear window shades, powered tailgate, ten-way electric driver's seat with memory, powered front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, front-seat massage function, heated and ventilated second-row seats, power-adjustable steering column, keyless entry and push-button start.
Price (OTR without insurance): RM166,800
Warranty: Seven years or 150,000km vehicle warranty; ten years or 1,000,000km engine warranty; five years free service under launch package.
