Disclosure: Chery Auto Philippines lent us a Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T for eight days with a full tank of gas. Additional fuel and toll fees were paid by the writer using his personal money. Jetour Auto Philippines likewise invited the writer to an all-expense paid trip to China which included a visit of the Chery Auto manufacturing facilities.

Something about the tag “Made in China” turns many car buyers off. 

Geopolitics aside, Chinese-built cars have long suffered from the negative impressions that they are disposable after five years (or sooner), that they’ll break down at the most inopportune time, and that they have parts and warranty issues that are not worth the hassle, even for the lower price you will pay for one.

But we think those who still harbor these convictions have either never owned a modern-day Chinese car, or have gotten so badly burnt by one in a past purchase from a decade ago that they swore off buying another, no matter how much better these cars have become over the years.

A lot can happen in a decade

I just returned from China, where I visited the Chery factory in Wuhu. I saw how much cleaner, highly automated, and more modern its facilities are compared to some Japanese car manufacturing plants I’ve visited. Clearly, this brand is geared toward mass production efficiency. 

Now why is this important in a car review? The Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T is a product of the brand’s newfound focus on design and build quality. During our visit, we saw Tiggo 8s lined up and being assembled inside the Chery factory. Knowing how a vehicle is made and the prevailing conditions of the factory it came from addresses about 50% of naysayers' concerns. 

The other 50% is now a question on durability and after-sales, two equally important considerations when purchasing a car. 

For years, the mid-size seven-seater SUV category has been ruled by the Toyota Fortuner, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the Ford Everest, the Isuzu D-Max, and the Nissan Terra. And now that China wants a piece of the pie, models like the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO are making headway  into the already crowded and highly competitive segment. And it is not surprising why. 

Does the job well

Size-wise, it sits between your typical five-seater crossover and seven-seater SUV. As such, it has avoided the pitfalls of truck-like sizing that 7-seater Pickup Platform Vehicles (PPVs) have been known for. It is not as bulky as PPVs but is more spacious and just as driveable as a crossover. 

With its unibody construction, the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T rides like a typical crossover. The light steering makes the vehicle easy to maneuver, even in tight spaces or parking lots. The ride is surprisingly smooth and comfortable, unlike PPVs that jiggle on the road like their pickup cousins. 

Space-wise, there is a refreshingly accommodating layout in the second row with 5’7” people like me having enough knee and shoulder room for comfortable long journeys.

The third row has been carefully thought of as well. With angled seat cushions that support the occupants’ thighs, you’ll enjoy comfort and support if you get banished to the back end of the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T. Granted, you’re of average height, of course. This isn’t a school bus, after all. 

A valiant attempt at "Premium"

But if the practicality of this seven-seater doesn’t sway you, perhaps its interior finish might. Leatherette in striking tan hues envelop the seats and door cards of the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO. Along with the soft-touch dashboard and touchpoints, these materials give off a premium, lounge-like vibe similar to the SsangYong Rexton (Specs | News) if you’ve ever seen one in person. 

And that’s just the thing with these non-Japanese nameplates. They offer that bit more often at a lower price than the legacy brands. And how can you blame car buyers who just want more value for their money? 

Worth your Peso

Speaking of value, we haven’t even touched on the long laundry list of tech features in the Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T. Let’s jot some of the notable ones down:

• An 8-speaker audio system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• An animated full-LCD instrument cluster

• Automatic tailgate

• 6-way Power Seats with driver seat memory

• Automatic Dual Zone Climate Control

• Keyless Entry

• Headlight Follow Me Home

• Electronic Lumbar Support

• Seat Ventilation

• Wireless Mobile Charging

• Ambient lighting

• Panoramic sunroof

If we’re strictly talking about bells and whistles, many of these features would only be present in Japanese SUVs at a higher price point. Anything close to the ₱1,698,000 SRP of the Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T would likely be near bare and devoid of top-of-the-line tech or might even be equipped with a manual gearbox and even drum brakes at the rear. Contrast that with the Chery’s seven-speed Dual Clutch Transmission and all-wheel disc brakes at Japanese entry-level prices, and you’ll appreciate how far ahead the Chinese have pulled away from the Japanese marques. 

While PPVs, by their very nature, are supposed to be sturdier and tougher, have more ground clearance and wading depth, and are served well by their more utilitarian CRDi Turbo Diesels, seven-seat crossovers like the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T offer more refinement with their unibody construction and smoother-operating turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection mills. 

Rated for 197 PS and 290 Nm of torque that surges as early as 2,000 rpm, the Chery Tiggo PRO 1.6-liter Euro V engine is as modern as any current-day gasoline engine should be. And it’s not just Chinese crossovers that sport a 1.6-liter turbo lump; even some European brands have a similar setup in their crossovers. So no news here.

All out on safety

What does raise some eyebrows is that the Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T is loaded with a slew of safety and driver-assist features that could put Japanese models to shame. Just look at these standard safety inclusions:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking

• Front and Rear Radar

• Rear Cross Traffic Assist

• Lane Departure Warning

• Lane Keeping Assistance

• Traffic Jam Assistance

• Traffic Sign Recognition

• Intelligent High Beam Control

• Blind Spot Detection

• Door opening Warning

• Integrated Cruise Assist

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Hill Descent Control

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System

• Six airbags

• Roundview Monitor

Again, the Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T is priced at ₱1,698,000. Some Japanese five-seat crossovers offer similar kits priced higher than this. Just let that sink in for a moment.

The coup de grâce

And to add a cherry on top of the ice cream, the Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T also comes with three years of free Preventive Maintenance Service, three-year roadside assistance, a five-year or 150,000-km General Warranty, and a 10-year or 1,000,000-km engine warranty.

Now if there’s anything this company is doing that should prove how sturdy their models’ mechanicals are, this is it. It’s like Chery Auto Philippines betting on its own products and services and basically putting money where its mouth is. 

Alas, despite the unparalleled value, competitive pricing, and reassurances by Chery Auto Philippines itself on the Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T, there are still some shortcomings you will likely encounter while owning one. The usual piano black plastics have begun showing scratches, and the seat leathers have started to squeak as they rub against each other. And this unit, in particular, has only traveled 13,000 kilometers. 

Granted, these two issues also occur in Japanese crossovers. So again, no news there, and no car is perfect after all. 

Wouldn't you like to know

This brings us to this question: Should you consider a Chery Tiggo 8 PRO 1.6T, much less buy one? Our answer is yes on both counts.

Logic dictates this Chery has everything going for it - price, value, spec, and after-sales. How can you not have this on your radar? 

But then again, if your line of reasoning involves so-called patriotism, a strong distrust of anything coming from China, or an experience that made you swear you would never allow yourself to go within 10 feet of another Chinese-built car, that’s another story altogether.