First Impressions: Chery Tiggo 9 - Big value, big ambition, but It’s how It drives that surprised us

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a very obvious reason why the Chery Tiggo 9 deserves attention before you have even driven it.

For under RM167,000, here is a proper seven-seat SUV with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, 256 PS, 390 Nm, a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.

Then Chery starts throwing in things like ventilated seats for the first and second rows, massage seats up front, a 14-speaker Sony sound system, 10 airbags and a long list of driver-assistance systems.

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On paper, it almost sounds like someone at Chery forgot to stop ticking boxes. And naturally, when a car gives you this much for the money, the first thought is usually: where is the compromise?

Maybe it feels cheap inside. Maybe the gearbox is clumsy. Maybe the AWD badge is there mostly to look good in the brochure.

After spending two days and one night with the Tiggo 9 on a media drive to Penang and back, including a detour through a sandy off-road section, the surprise was that none of those things really became the story. Instead, what stood out most was just how complete the Tiggo 9 feels.

At around 4.8 metres long and more than 1.9 metres wide, the Tiggo 9 is a genuinely large SUV. This is not one of those compact crossovers with a third row squeezed into the boot just so the brochure can say “seven-seater”.

You notice the size when you are standing next to it, and you definitely notice it when threading through tighter roads around town.

Visually, it carries that size quite well. The front is dominated by a large grille, but the slimmer lighting elements stop the nose from looking too heavy.

Although it might looks skinny from certain angles, the 20-inch wheels fill out the arches nicely, while the full-width rear lighting gives it the sort of broad, expensive-looking stance you would expect from a flagship SUV. It is not a particularly adventurous design, but it does look suitably grown-up.

And that expensive impression continues once you step inside. Chery has become very good at making cabins that look far more expensive than the price tag suggests, and the Tiggo 9 is probably one of its strongest efforts yet. There are still a few reminders of cost control, particularly some of the wood-effect trim and the predictable use of piano black, but overall the cabin feels properly premium.

The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the ventilation is one of those features you really appreciate in Malaysian weather. The massage function is useful too, especially when you are sitting in traffic.

Second-row passengers are not treated like an afterthought either, because they also get ventilated seats, and importantly, you can actually feel them working. Space in the second row is generous enough to properly relax, while the third row can take adults if they are not particularly tall.

Even with all seven seats up, the boot is not completely sacrificed. You can still fit a couple of carry-on-sized bags along with smaller softer luggage, which makes it more usable as a genuine family SUV rather than something that forces you to choose between passengers and bags.

But the strongest impression from this media drive came from behind the wheel. The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces 256 PS and 390 Nm, and it actually feels every bit strong enough for a large seven-seater.

Put your foot down to overtake and the response is immediate. You do not spend a few seconds waiting for the gearbox to wake up or the engine to build momentum. It simply gets on with the job.

What impressed us more was how the engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission worked together. This is an area where some earlier Chinese cars could expose a bit of roughness, particularly at low speeds, but the Tiggo 9 feels significantly more polished. Even while crawling through traffic, the DCT is impressively smooth, and throttle response is easy to judge.

It feels like Chery has been steadily learning how to refine this side of its cars, and fittingly, its flagship is where that progress is easiest to notice. There is also none of that unpleasant engine screaming when you ask for more performance. The engine remains relatively subdued and just quietly delivers the power.

That calmness continues once you settle onto the highway. Over the trip north and back, the Tiggo 9 proved to be a very easy car to cover distance in. It feels planted at speed, the steering has a nice amount of weight, and even the steering wheel itself feels good in your hands thanks to its thickness and general shape.

Noise suppression is another strong point. The laminated glass and overall NVH work mean wind and road noise barely intrude into the cabin at cruising speeds, while the engine fades into the background. It gives the Tiggo 9 the sort of relaxed character that suits a big family SUV very well.

The suspension also deserves credit. Malaysia gives you no shortage of expansion joints, broken tarmac and sudden surface changes, but the Tiggo 9 absorbs most of them quietly. There is no nasty crashing through the cabin, and while the 20-inch wheels do introduce a slight firmness, it is completely acceptable.

Over larger bumps and undulations, the body also settles quickly rather than floating around afterwards. Through faster corners, it remains composed and confident, and while you are always aware that this is a big SUV, it does not feel clumsy.

The brakes initially did not inspire quite the same confidence, but that changed once we discovered that the brake response could be adjusted. Switching to a more responsive setting made a noticeable difference and suited the car much better.

Around town, the Tiggo 9 does feel large, but it is more manageable than you might expect. Visibility is good, and the turning circle is surprisingly tight. We noticed that while moving around Ipoh for lunch, where it was much easier to manoeuvre than its dimensions suggest.

The other important part of this drive was the off-road section. Nobody should mistake the Tiggo 9 for a hardcore off-roader. It is not designed to crawl over giant rocks, smash through deep jungle trails or replace a proper ladder-frame 4x4. But that does not mean the AWD system is just for show.

The sandy track we drove was demanding enough that a front-wheel-drive SUV could realistically have struggled. The Tiggo 9, however, handled it without drama. The AWD system shuffled torque around seamlessly, throttle response remained predictable, and at no point did it feel as though the tyres were desperately hunting for grip.

That is probably the more relevant type of capability for most buyers anyway. Think campsites, sandy access roads, gravel, estate roads, wet grass or the occasional muddy track after heavy rain. For that kind of light-duty off-roading, the Tiggo 9 feels genuinely capable rather than gimmicky.

Back inside, the rest of the equipment continues to strengthen the value argument. The 15.6-inch infotainment display is responsive and easy enough to navigate, while the head-up display is basic but functional. The 14-speaker Sony audio system is also very good, with plenty of bass and clear treble, while the headrest speaker adds a slightly more special touch to the driving experience.

There is also a rear control panel that stays hidden when not in use, which is a neat detail because it keeps the cabin looking clean while still giving passengers access to useful functions when they need them.

So, is there a catch? Not an obvious one from this short first drive. This is still only an initial impression, and there is an even more sophisticated electrified Tiggo 9 CSH sitting higher up Chery's own ladder, but judged purely as the brand's large petrol-powered flagship, the Tiggo 9 earns its position.

The equipment and price will be what initially attracts buyers. That part is easy to understand. Seven seats, AWD, plenty of power and a long list of features for under RM167,000 is already a strong proposition.

But the more convincing part is what happens after you start driving it. The engine is strong, the gearbox is smooth, the ride is comfortable, the cabin stays quiet at speed and the chassis feels composed. Then there is an AWD system that genuinely gives you a little more freedom when the road ends.

That is what makes the Tiggo 9 interesting. It looks expensive, feels good to drive, has enough space for a family and is the kind of SUV you would not mind spending several hours in.

Chery could have made the Tiggo 9 compelling simply by loading it with equipment and pricing it aggressively. Instead, after two days on Malaysian roads and a little bit of sand, it feels like the company has done something harder.

It has made the value feel convincing.

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