Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV: Changing of the VANGUARD

The Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV – or CSH Vanguard AWD to use its full name – is pulling off something marvellous. Chery has been around since 1997. But the products it’s putting out nowadays are scarcely recognisable to those of its humble beginnings. The Chinese brand has genuine premium pretensions, and it is going about its business cleverly and with a bit of style.

Crucially, for the all-inclusive Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV, it still retails for less than a million rand – R989 900 to be exact. This fulfils a significant psychologically threshold for buyers. But it also represents a welcome change from traditional premium manufacturers who see fit to charge more for every single nice-to-have. Better still, because it is a plug-in hybrid, it has a claimed cruising range north of 1 100 km range. So says the on-board computer as we begin our evaluation …

CHERY TIGGO 9 PHEV CSH VANGUARD AWD

Let’s begin with the tremendous power the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV produces. Under the bonnet sits a turbocharged 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine working in concert with an electric motor. CSH stands for ‘Chery Super Hybrid’ technology, and 455 kW of power and 920 Nm of torque is the outcome of their efforts. These are simply staggering figures that best even the Omoda C9 PHEV that shares the same basic dual-energy drivetrain.

And let us assure you it does feel this powerful as you power along, but without being too bonkers. The resulting performance is seriously brisk – zero to 100 km/h in less than 5.0 seconds. And tractability from any speed that will put drivers of internal combustion engine (ICE) sports cars in the corner crying for their mommies. Furthermore, the 34.5-kWh battery pack offers an all-electric range of up to 160 km. As a result, while the battery is topped up (above 33%), the claimed consumption of the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV is just 1.4 l/100 km.

QUIET CRUISING FOR DAYS

Of course, once the battery is depleted to below one third, the performance pulls back, and the fuel usage increases. We pegged it to around 6.5 l/100 km when there’s minimal battery to rely on. Even so, for a full-size seven-seater family SUV of this weight and luxury, that’s still mighty impressive. We’d wager an equivalent diesel model would consume well into double digits. Not great ahead of our predicted record fuel price increases in April 2026.

However, in real-world driving, the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV prefers to not discharge its battery entirely. And it does so by steadily using the ICE to keep the battery charged up. As a result, you don’t really know how far it will go on EV only or ICE only. Plus, rather frustratingly, the on-board computers refrain from giving you detailed figures of this split. Instead, it refers only to energy and fuel consumption over the last 50 km. So, barring an economy run where we drain the tank entirely, we can’t really give you definitive consumption figures.  

CHERY TIGGO 9 PHEV COMBINED FORCES

Nevertheless, through Cape Town’s sprawling traffic, you can keep the ICE from firing with a gentle foot. But on extra-urban road, the petrol engine automatically takes over propulsion duties as speeds build. But when you combine the dual-energy drivetrain the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV really shines. And the top-of-range’s all-wheel drive system delegates torque instantly between all four wheels. You feel this most often accelerating out of a junction as the wheels chirp under the torque demand.

As mentioned, recharging the battery on the move is a civilised affair that most often than takes place quietly in the background. Of course, you can top up your battery at a public charger, or at home through a regular wall plug or home wall-box charger if you choose to fit one. This is almost certainly the best option, to keep the battery brimmed and have the petrol ICE as your failsafe.

SEVEN-SEATER LUXURY

Step inside, and you’re greeted by what can only be described as an opulent cabin that punches well above its sub-million price tag. The soft-touch surfaces extend across the dashboard and into the door cards. The seats are finished in soft, quilted leather. And the heat/cool/massage functionality is a highlight. There really is nothing but comfort inside a Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV.

Moreover, it clearly draws inspiration from a certain Stuttgart-based luxury carmaker. There is a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen, 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 360-degree panoramic cameras. Not to mention the brilliant 14-speaker Sony audio system, head-up display and more electronics than you can shake a stick at. Personally, we believe the self-driving technology could do with recalibration. It sometimes over-slows the car through subtle bends and this can be frustrating. But thankfully you don’t need to drive with the systems activated all the time.

CHERY TIGGO 9 PHEV CSH VANGUARD AWD VERDICT

As we’ve highlighted throughout the piece, the Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV is a highly compelling proposition. The ride quality is superbly judged and its dual-energy powertrain delivers in spades. As a result – along with the Omoda C9 – this is one the first Chinese offerings the genuinely identifies as premium in the South African market. And at R989 900 it is actually pretty affordable compared to long-established car brands who expect you to plough through an expensive and extensive options list for your troubles. How far Chery has come in just three decades. Another one of those overnight sensations that’s been 30 years in the making …

CHERY TIGGO 9 PHEV CSH VANGUARD AWD FIGURES

• Engine: 1.5-litre turbo petrol + electric assist
• Power: 455 kW (combined)
• Torque: 920 Nm (combined)
• Drivetrain: Hybrid, all-wheel drive
• 0-100 km/h: 4.9 sec (claimed)
• Fuel Consumption: 1.4 l/100 km (PHEV cycle)
• Electric-only range: 160 km (claimed)
• Total range: 1 100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R989 900