Power turned-up as Chery prices boosted Tiggo 7 Pro Max

Less than two months after making its first South African showing at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring, Chery has confirmed price and specification details of the powered-up Tiggo 7 Pro Max.

What has changed?

Joining the facelift Tiggo 8 Pro Max that until now had been the sole Max-badged model, the new flagship Tiggo 7 not only receives a completely different drivetrain from regular Pro, but also subtle changes inside and out.

The first all-wheel-drive Chery to be offered in South Africa ahead of the all-paw gripping Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s debut at the end of the year, the Max’s aesthetics tweaks comprise a new front bumper with gloss black and chrome detailing, a new diamond-pattern grille and sealed intakes on the flanks of the bumper furnished with blue accents.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Boosted Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max debuts at Kyalami Festival of Motoring

Riding on model specific 18-inch alloy wheels or 19-inches in the case of the all-wheel-drive, Chery has gone further by giving the Tiggo 7 Max a new LED headlight design not offered on the Tiggo 7 Pro, while also adding a standard electric tailgate, Max badging and a new indicator animation.

Inside, the equally extensive changes comprise a new steering wheel, the dashboard from the Tiggo 8 Pro Max and a brand-new dual 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and infotainment system.

Similar to its senior sibling, the Max takes leaves of the Audi-style climate control panel as a result of the new centre console housing the mousepad-like gear lever, a rotary dial for the new drive mode selector and physical switchgear.

Spec

On the specification front, the Distinction and Executive trim level denominators from the Tiggo 7 Pro have both been carried, albeit in a three model execution as only the latter receives the option of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive setup.

The respective features list from the Tiggo 7 Pro is, therefore almost identical, meaning the Distinction boasts dual-zone climate control with rear vents, charger, ambient lighting, the dual infotainment system and instrument cluster, cruise control and push-button start as well as:

• sport seats with electrical assistance for the driver’s chair;
• cruise control;
• rear parking sensors with a reverse camera;
• tyre pressure monitor;
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert;
• Hill Start Assist; and
• Blind Spot Detection.

Compared to the Tiggo 7 Pro though, both Max model get an eight as opposed to six airbags, an upgraded 50-watt wireless smartphone charger, N95 air filtration and two addition speakers on the Sony sound system for a total of eight.

Building on the Distinction, the Executive carries over the panoramic sunroof and electric passenger’s side, as well as the following safety and driver assistance systems;

• Forward Collion Warning;
• Adaptive Cruise Control;
• Lane Change Assist;
• Autonomous Emergency Braking;
• Driver Attention Alert;
• 360-degree surround-view camera system; and
• Lane Departure Warning.

That punch

As indicated, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max reserves the biggest alteration from the Pro for underneath its bonnet where the 1.5 T-GDI engine as been replaced by the 1.6 T-GDI from the Tiggo 8 Pro.

This means an increase in power from 108 kW to 145 kW together with a torque hike from 210 Nm to 290 Nm. Also gone is the CVT replaced by a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

While no performance or fuel consumption figures were divulged, the inclusion of the all-wheel-drive has resulted in three additional settings for the mentioned drive mode selector, namely Eco, Normal, Sport, Snow, Mud and Off-Road.

Colours and price

In total, the Tiggo 7 Pro Max can be finished in a total of seven mono-tone colour; silver, Caledon Ash, Khaki White, Blood Red, Vanilla Blue and Carbon Crystel Black, or two dual-tone options contrasted with a Carbon Crystal Black roof; Khaki White and Blood Red.

Taking-up station above the Tiggo 7 Pro, all three Tiggo 7 Pro Max model’s sticker prices include a five-year/150 000 km warranty, a five-year/60 000 km service plan and Chery’s ground-breaking ten-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty.

• Tiggo 7 Pro Distinction CVT – R442 900
• Tiggo 7 Pro Executive CVT – R477 900
• Tiggo 7 Pro Max Distinction DCT – R529 900
• Tiggo 7 Pro Max Executive DCT – R559 900
• Tiggo 7 Pro Max Executive DCT AWD – R609 900

NOW READ: WATCH: SA-bound Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max revealed in Shanghai