Chery gives the Tiggo 7 an off-road makeover

Chery has revealed the Tiggo X7, a rugged SUV based on the Tiggo 7 that adds off-road hardware, towing capability and outdoor styling to the brand’s mid-size family model.

We attended the preview event in China, where the presentation concentrated on how families would use the car rather than on mechanical detail. Chery built it around distance from home, starting with city driving up to 100km, then trips of 100 to 200km, longer drives of 200 to 500km and finally journeys beyond 500km, with a set of features attached to each.

Chery hasn’t released powertrain details or dimensions, and hasn’t said whether the X7 will offer all-wheel drive. Ground clearance is quoted at more than 200mm and wading depth at up to 700mm. There are 10 drive modes, split into three for daily driving, six for outdoor use and one emergency mode, along with off-road crawl control and a 540-degree camera system that adds a view beneath the car to the usual surround-view cameras. Towing capacity is up to 1500kg, and Chery says it will offer a range of outdoor accessories.

The styling moves well away from the road-focused Tiggo 7. The X7 has a squared-off nose, a tall flat bonnet with CHERY lettering across it, chunky wheel arch cladding and side steps. The car on stage wore all-terrain tyres, roof rails and contrasting front recovery points.

For town use it gets automated parking, remote parking from outside the car, and what Chery calls Super Intelligent Valet Parking, which lets the driver summon the car with one tap on a phone. Safety equipment includes a driver assistance suite, dual-spectrum headlamps designed for rain and fog, and a tyre blowout mitigation system.

Inside, Chery is promoting what it calls six dimensions of cabin comfort. Air filtration uses a metal-organic framework (MOF) filter, a water ion generator manages humidity, and a triple-damper climate control system keeps the temperature steady. The cabin also monitors CO2 levels and adjusts air circulation automatically, gets additional sound insulation, and uses AI learning with personal profiles to remember each driver’s settings. The second-row seats fold with one touch to free up space for luggage and camping gear.

Chery positions the X7 as the adventure-focused partner to the all-new Tiggo 7, which concentrates on comfort and everyday driving.

The Tiggo X7 is yet to be confirmed for New Zealand, and Chery says further details will be released later.