The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is the conventional turbo-petrol choice in Chery Australia’s seven-seat large-SUV range. It uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine producing 180kW and 375Nm, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In the current Australian line-up, the Urban is front-wheel drive while the Ultimate adds all-wheel drive. Chery lists Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes, with the AWD version also gaining Snow, Mud and Offroad modes. Official combined fuel consumption is listed at 8.1L/100km for the front-drive configuration and 8.7L/100km for the Ultimate AWD under ADR testing, so buyers who cover high annual kilometres should compare those figures with the electrified Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid as well as other petrol, diesel and hybrid seven-seaters.
Family packaging is one of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s key strengths. It measures 4,720mm long, 1,860mm wide and 1,705mm high, with a 2,710mm wheelbase and three rows of seating. With all seven seats upright, Chery lists 117 litres of luggage capacity measured to the top of the third-row seatback. Folding the third row increases that to 479 litres to the seatback or up to 739 litres when measured to the roof. This makes the vehicle flexible for school runs and holiday travel, although 117 litres is modest when every seat is occupied, so larger families may need to plan luggage carefully or use suitable external carrying solutions. The third row is also worth trying before purchase if adults will use it often.
Equipment levels are a major selling point. The Urban includes 18-inch alloy wheels, dual 12.3-inch digital displays, an eight-speaker Sony sound system, heated and ventilated front seats, a 360-degree around-view monitor and 50W wireless phone charging. The Ultimate adds AWD, 19-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, inbuilt dashcam, retractable cargo cover, illuminated front door sills, third-row air vents, privacy glass and a 10-speaker Sony audio system. The cabin also offers Chery’s voice-command interface and smartphone connectivity, giving the Tiggo 8 Pro Max a technology-focused feel that compares favourably with many mainstream family SUVs. Buyers should remember that the exact feature set depends on grade, so model-level comparisons should not assume every Ultimate item is standard on Urban.
Chery places substantial emphasis on safety. The Tiggo 8 Pro Max carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is equipped with 10 airbags plus a wide range of driver-assistance systems. These include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning and prevention, emergency lane keeping, traffic-jam assist, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, driver monitoring and other assistance functions. The 360-degree camera is particularly useful given the vehicle’s size. As always, assistance systems can support the driver but do not remove the need for careful observation and control.
The biggest decision for Australian shoppers is whether the petrol Tiggo 8 Pro Max fits their use better than an electrified alternative. Its strengths are straightforward refuelling, strong engine output, a well-equipped cabin and AWD availability on the Ultimate. Its compromises include a preference for 95 RON or higher fuel, fuel consumption that is naturally higher than a plug-in hybrid when that hybrid is regularly charged, limited luggage space with all seven seats in use and the driving characteristics of a dual-clutch transmission, which some buyers may want to sample in slow traffic before committing. For families that want a feature-rich seven-seater with conventional petrol convenience and available AWD, the Tiggo 8 Pro Max remains a practical and competitive option in the Australian market.