Chery is not a new brand to the domestic car market. Now under the United Asia Automotive Group, it is back to give car buyers inexpensive options. With their range of Tiggo models, they’re competing in the more popular but demanding segments of the market.
In the seven-seater MPV/crossover category, the Chery Tiggo Grand Tour is easily the most value-for-money proposition. It’s got an SUV silhouette with almost the same dimensions, which makes it an appealing choice. With its passenger capacity and versatility, some are even considering it for their fleet of car rentals or ride-sharing vehicles.
Styling
It won’t turn heads because it looks just like any other SUV. That’s not saying it looks bad. But for a front-wheel-driven, multi-purpose vehicle, mistaking it for a muscular SUV is a compliment. Those who will give it a second look will notice its panoramic glass roof with sunroof and roof rails, as well as the distinct DRL LED headlamps and taillights. They’ll also spot the 18-inch, two-tone, multispoke alloy wheels.
If they look inside, they’d be impressed with the expansive layout and the premium synthetic leather seats. Sure, the two rear seats are cramped and missing A/C vents, but those seated there will get some sun and a good view of the sky. Overall, compared to its competitors, it’s sophisticated, even luxurious.
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Interior
The seats are comfortable and chic, and the material feels and looks like leather. Technologies available are on par with vehicles with a higher price tag. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and the usual wireless Chinese-spec Baidu Carlife app that could be converted to wireless Android Auto with an aftermarket dongle.
At the flick of a toggle, the 10.5-inch HD infotainment touchscreen gives a 3-D 360 degree view to help maneuver around tight spaces. It’s automatically activated when the turn signal is triggered at low speed, or programmed to turn on at certain steering angle inputs. A trivial thing I love is the build quality of the sunvisors. They positively fold up or down with multiple detents. It gets an additional 0.5 points just for that.
The Tiggo is loaded with tech, yet it still gets physical buttons on the steering wheel and well-placed toggles dedicated to essential functions. The second and third row seats fold flat to give you enough space for maybe four balikbayan boxes, or a full-sized bicycle. The powered tailgate makes it convenient when accessing all that rear cargo space.
Engine performance
Chery can offer its Tiggo models at accessible prices by sharing the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder 16-valve engine across the lineup. They add a turbo or a hybrid drivetrain in some models, and because of the lower displacement, it sits in a lower tax bracket. The hybrid models get further reductions on excise taxes.
The dual-clutch transmission on the Tiggo Grand Tour makes it unexpectedly fun to drive. It’s like driving a manual transmission that shifts for you without using a clutch pedal. There are only two automatic drive modes, Eco mode and Power mode, so the distinction is easy to make. Eco mode languidly shifts gears, but not in a bad way. It doesn’t coast in neutral to save on gas like other DCT vehicles; it just holds it in an appropriate gear for the driving conditions. The Power mode upshifts late and aggressively downshifts with matching revs when needed. In manual mode, it’s easy to shift gears quickly and seamlessly using the huge gear-selector knob. It’s a shame it does not have paddle shifters.
The economical 146hp engine has enough torque to pull the hefty seven-seater up steep inclines, but that gets tricky with the dual-clutch transmission. The electronic parking brake’s auto hold comes in handy for that. It also has a hill-descent assistance feature that most in the same industry segment don’t have.
Ride and handling
Even with passengers and cargo, the ride is balanced. Not squishy, but not stiff either. Maybe a little sporty because it has a subtle squat when accelerating hard, and just a little body roll on turns. There’s only a mild dive when braking hard and downshifting quickly. For our road conditions, it has almost perfectly balanced MacPherson struts on the front and rear torsion beam suspension.
Wrapped with leather, the steering wheel is fully adjustable. The electric power steering feel is configured automatically with the drive modes, soft for Eco mode or stiff for Power mode. The perceived steering assistance can be locked to a preferred norm regardless of the drive mode.
Extra features
Programmable keyless entry and exit used to be available only for more expensive vehicles, yet it’s standard for the Grand Tour. Same for the dual-zone climate controls. Should you arrive at your parking spot drenched from a sudden downpour, the heated front seats might be a useful feature. A decent eight-speaker stereo system is standard, as well as four SRS airbags. Tire temperature and pressure monitoring are available in real time on the seven-inch instrument cluster screen.
Verdict
Technology-packed and amenity-rich, yet without the added costs, this is a terrific value MPV that doesn’t look like a cheap ‘mom mobile.’ A dad reminiscing about his autocross racing days will not be bored driving his kids to school on this people-carrier/cargo-hauler.
Chery makes its buyers love their journeys by extending worry-free ownership. They get a five-year or 150,000km bumper-to-bumper warranty. They’d appreciate the three-year or 60,000km free PMS, and three-year free roadside assistance. This is fuss-free driving enjoyment that doesn’t disturb the wallet.
SPECS: 2026 Chery Tiggo Grand Tour
Price: P1,088,000
Powertrain: 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline turbo
Transmission: Six-speed, dual-clutch
Layout: Front-wheel drive, front engine
Power: 146hp
Torque: 210Nm
Seating: 7
Score: 8/10
More photos of the 2026 Chery Tiggo Grand Tour:
