- Price: NIS 245,000
- Competitors: JAC 8, Škoda Kodiaq
- Pros: Equipment, practicality, performance, quiet ride, electric range, fuel efficiency
- Cons: Ride comfort and handling, ergonomics
- Rating: 8/10
Only three years after landing in Israel, Chinese automaker Chery is already ranked among the country’s top three car brands—a far shorter time than it took Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and Škoda to reach the top.
Unsurprisingly, in a country with the highest average number of children per family in the OECD, Chery’s best-selling model in Israel is the Tiggo 8 Pro, a 7-seat crossover. 2025 vehicle registration records show nearly 7,000 of these, mainly in the plug-in hybrid version.
With a base price of NIS 190,000 for the plug-in version, the Tiggo 8 easily outpaced the segment’s bestsellers, including the Mitsubishi Outlander, Škoda Kodiaq, Nissan X-Trail, and Peugeot 5008. But Chery isn’t stopping there: It also targets customers who find the Tiggo 8 too simple or “too Chinese,” as well as those still spending NIS 300,000 and up on Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and Toyota Highlander hybrids.
Enter the Tiggo 9. Larger, better equipped, and aiming to project a more premium feel, it combines a powerful plug-in system with a bigger battery, offering a combined official range of 148 km and all-wheel drive. The price rises to NIS 245,000—already in the territory of the Exceed, but still about NIS 70,000 cheaper than base Santa Fe, Sorento, and Highlander models, and comparable to a less-equipped Kodiaq.
Design: Measuring 4.81 meters long, 1.925 meters wide, 1.74 meters tall, with a 2.8-meter wheelbase, the Tiggo 9 is larger than the 8 in every dimension: 8.5 cm longer, 6.5 cm wider, 4 cm taller, and 9 cm longer in wheelbase. The design is rounded and fuller, yet still conservative; within Chery’s lineup, premium designs are reserved for the JAC and Omoda brands. The Tiggo 9 is dignified, though very traditional.
Interior: The Tiggo 9’s interior shows where the money went, with upgraded materials and quality, ambient lighting, and generous equipment, some of it first seen at this price level, such as ventilated rear seats.
Some features feel over the top: Front seats have full electric adjustment (massage, ventilation, heating), and the rear seats also have electric adjustment, which can be slow—for example, folding them to access the third row. A manual lever would be far more efficient, even if less luxurious. The driver benefits from speakers and a microphone in the armrest, making hands-free calls exceptionally clear.
Front seat controls are conveniently placed on the doors, inspired by Mercedes. Unfortunately, climate and other system controls are primarily touchscreen-based. While a strip of touch buttons exists at the bottom for AC, once Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is active, it disappears, requiring several taps to adjust climate settings.
Front seats are comfortable, the second row is spacious for knees and head but slightly low. There is a control screen for ventilation and heating, plus three AC outlets, both central and in the side pillars, ensuring rear passengers receive adequate airflow.
The third row, despite electric folding, is mainly suitable for children and teenagers. Adults can fit, but it’s tight. It offers separate lighting and small storage compartments. Legroom is limited.
Trunk: Officially 143 liters with all seats in use, but it feels larger and practical. However, there is no spare wheel beneath.
Safety: Ten airbags, autonomous emergency braking forward and backward, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, door-open warnings, automatic high beams, and more. The Tiggo 9 has not yet been tested in the European crash tests. Safety alerts are mostly unobtrusive, except for refusal to move in a parking lot without the seatbelt fastened.
Equipment: One trim, Noble, includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display, Sony audio with 14 speakers, wireless phone charging, electric and massaging front seats, electric second-row seats, leather upholstery, remote start, keyless entry, 20-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, powered tailgate, and surround-view cameras.
Engine and Performance: The powertrain combines a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine with three electric motors—two front, one rear. Petrol engine produces 143 hp, front electric motors 222 hp, rear electric motor 238 hp, totaling 428 hp. There is a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Three driving modes are available—eco, comfort, and sport—even via a physical button. Eco mode is slightly sluggish to conserve battery. Sport mode unleashes all 400 hp for rapid, smooth acceleration, overtaking, and mountain driving. The large 2.2-ton vehicle accelerates quickly and quietly, with performance uncommon in this segment, even rivaling electric vehicles.
Electric: Battery capacity 34.46 kWh, slow charging 6.6 kW (3.3 kW practical in Israel), requiring around 10 hours for a nearly empty battery. Fast charging at 71 kW is possible.
Fuel Efficiency: Officially, 148 km electric range, 59 km/l fuel efficiency with full battery, 15 km/l without. In testing, 120 km electric range was achieved under mixed traffic. With a charged battery in hybrid mode, 170 km were achieved before dropping to 16%, recording combined fuel efficiency of 40 km/l. Without charging, efficiency was 15 km/l. Daily charging at home or work can save thousands of NIS annually.
Ride and Handling: Quieter than the Tiggo 8, but urban bumps are noticeable. Soft suspension improves comfort on smooth roads but creates jolts on uneven surfaces. Grip is good, AWD helps, but soft, vague steering and body roll contrast with engine power. Despite AWD, no spare tire, and 18.3 cm ground clearance, it’s not an off-road vehicle—slightly better than FWD competitors on mud but best on asphalt.
Bottom Line: Chery needs to address ergonomics and road handling shortcomings. Hyundai and Kia hired foreign engineers; Toyota upgraded only after becoming the world’s largest automaker. Even so, the Tiggo 9 is impressive in equipment, performance, and refinement, with an efficient powertrain offering excellent driving performance and potential fuel savings if charging is available.
Notably, its main rival, the JAC 8 Plug-In, offers a base version with the same drivetrain for NIS 230,000. Together, they may dominate the remaining European, Korean, and Japanese competitors in this segment.
Chery Tiggo 9: Technical Specs
- Engine: 1,500 cc turbo petrol + 3 electric motors, 428 hp combined
- Transmission: 3-speed automatic, AWD
Electric:
- Battery: 34.46 kWh
- Slow charging: 6.6 kW
- Fast charging: 71 kW
Performance (manufacturer):
- 0–100 km/h: 5.4 sec
- Top speed: 180 km/h
- Electric range (manufacturer): 148 km
- Electric range (test): 120 km
- Fuel efficiency hybrid, battery full (manufacturer): 59 km/l
- Fuel efficiency hybrid, battery full (test): 40 km/l
- Fuel efficiency hybrid, battery empty (manufacturer): 15 km/l
- Fuel efficiency hybrid, battery empty (test): 14 km/l
Dimensions:
- Length: 4.81 m
- Width: 1.925 m
- Height: 1.74 m
- Wheelbase: 2.8 m
- Trunk volume (7 seats up): 143 L
- Curb weight: 2,308 kg
Safety:
- Euro NCAP crash test: Not yet tested
- Active safety: Emergency braking forward and backward, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beam, door-open warning
Warranty:
- 5 years for vehicle, 8 years for battery, or up to 150,000 km