Chery Tiggo 9 is coming to Malaysia with 256 PS, AWD, and a sub-RM 189k price tag

KUALA LUMPUR: Chery has officially previewed the Tiggo 9 in Malaysia ahead of its imminent launch, giving us a first proper look at the brand's flagship SUV for this market.

Based on the spec sheets revealed at the preview, this is a genuinely substantial machine, and one that looks set to shake up the crowded D-segment SUV space.

Chery has revealed an estimated price of below RM 189,000 for the Tiggo 9, which is a strong opening statement for a fully-loaded AWD SUV of this size and spec level.

The Chery Tiggo 9 comes standard with a 7-year or 150,000 km vehicle warranty paired with a 7-year or 150,000 km engine warranty, which is one of the more reassuring coverage packages in the segment.

Bookings are already open, and Chery has teased an early bird launch package for those who get in early, though the details of that are yet to be revealed.

Here's everything we know so far.

Also Read: Top 5 things to know about the upcoming Chery Tiggo 9

What is the Chery Tiggo 9?

The Tiggo 9 is Chery's flagship SUV, sitting at the top of the Tiggo lineup. It's a large, seven-seat SUV with genuine premium intent, packing a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, a 7-speed DCT, and a full-time AWD system as standard. It's not a budget play.

Chery is clearly positioning this one to compete against the likes of the Mazda CX-8, Kia Sorento, and even fringe territory of the European D-SUV bracket.

Dimensions and specs at a glance

The Tiggo 9 is a big car. At 4,810mm long, 1,925mm wide, and 1,741mm tall with a 2,800mm wheelbase, it's larger than most of its rivals in this segment. Luggage capacity runs from 449 litres up to 2,065 litres with the rear seats folded, and kerb weight sits at 1,887 kg.

Under the bonnet, a 2.0-litre TGDi turbocharged petrol engine produces 256 PS and 390 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and an intelligent AWD system. Chery claims a combined fuel consumption of 8.3L/100km, which is reasonable for the output and drivetrain on offer.

The intelligent AWD system goes beyond simply distributing power between axles. Chery says it features an Integrated Power Brake (IPB) system for better control and an intelligent torque distribution setup designed to enhance stability across varying conditions.

Supporting all that is a 7-mode drive system covering Eco, Normal, Sport on the road side, and Snow, Mud, Sand, and Off-Road for when you venture away from tarmac.

That's a more comprehensive terrain management system than what you'd typically find at this price point.

Exterior

The design language is bold and premium, anchored by a 3D diamond-embossed front grille, dynamic flow DRL lighting, and full LED headlamps with a dynamic exterior lighting effect and automatic activation.

On the flanks, 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 255/50/R20 tyres fill the arches nicely, and hidden flush door handles give it a clean, modern silhouette. Roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, puddle lights, and dual exhaust tailpipes complete the picture out back.

Interior comfort

Inside, Chery has loaded the Tiggo 9 with features that genuinely justify its premium positioning. The driver's seat gets 10-way power adjustment with memory function, while the front passenger seat gets 6-way power adjustment with memory.

Both front seats feature massage and ventilation functions, and notably, second-row seats are also ventilated, which is a fairly rare offering at this tier.

The panoramic sunroof stretches across the roofline to brighten the cabin, while a dual-zone automatic air conditioning system handles the front, and rear passengers get their own dedicated climate control panel. Rounding out the ambience is a 64-colour dynamic ambient lighting system that wraps the cabin in customisable mood lighting.

Technology

The infotainment setup centres around a large 15.6-inch display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, which is the same processor found in some flagship smartphones. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the interface is described as fast and responsive.

A full-colour HD head-up display projects key driving info directly into the driver's sightline. Audio duties are handled by a Sony 14-speaker system that includes headrest speakers for a surround-sound effect in the cabin.

For charging, there's a 50W wireless charging pad with a built-in cooling system to prevent the pad from overheating your phone during long drives, plus a phone reminder alert when you exit the car.

Safety

Chery has equipped the Tiggo 9 with 23 ADAS features covering Level 2.5 autonomous driving support. That's a comprehensive suite by any measure, offering active safety assistance across a wide range of driving scenarios.

The car also comes with an Automatic Parking Assistant (APA) that can detect spaces, steer the car into them automatically, and handle tight or challenging parking situations.

A 540-degree panoramic camera system goes even further, providing a transparent chassis view that lets you see what's directly below the car, useful for navigating narrow roads and rough terrain.

Passive safety is equally thorough, with 10 airbags covering the driver and front passenger, front and middle-row side airbags, far-side and distal airbags, a driver knee airbag, and dual curtain airbags.

The body structure uses 85% high-strength steel combined with 21% hot-formed steel in critical areas, which Chery says improves impact protection while also helping with ride comfort through optimised chassis rigidity.

Pricing and the official launch date haven't been confirmed just yet, but with a preview like this with estimated price, a full launch should be imminent.

Based on the spec sheet alone, the Tiggo 9 arrives as a serious, well-equipped contender. If Chery gets the pricing right, it could be one of the more compelling value propositions in the large SUV segment this year.

We'll have more once the car officially launches.

Also Read: Chery Malaysia now has a boutique showroom inside Pavilion Bukit Jalil