Chery Tiggo X7 revealed, Australian launch under consideration

The Chery Tiggo X7 SUV has been revealed as the first of a range of new ‘X’-badged models from the Chinese car giant, wearing boxy, rugged styling and promising more off-road ability.

The X in its name denotes an off-road focus, even though the X7 uses unibody construction in contrast with similarly sized off-roaders such as the GWM Tank 300, which use more rugged body-on-frame construction.

Chery’s Omoda brand also revealed the Omoda X concept car, another rugged SUV, in China earlier this month.

Closer to a showroom model, the automaker said the Tiggo X7 will offer ‘enhanced’ mechanical all-terrain capability as part of its off-road pitch, with its unique styling setting it apart from the standard Tiggo 7 SUV.

While not confirmed for Australia, right-hand drive production has been confirmed after Chery South Africa told CarMag it plans to launch the Tiggo X7 there in the third quarter (July-September) of 2027.

“Tiggo X7 is yet to be confirmed for Australia, but a number of international models are currently under consideration,” a spokesperson from Chery Australia told CarExpert.

The Tiggo X7 is expected to use a heavily upgraded version of the Chery T1X platform underpinning the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 already sold in Australia, and slots between them in terms of size.

The X7 measures 4636mm long, 1970mm wide and 1788mm tall, while its 2700mm wheelbase is six millimetres longer than the Tiggo 8’s, and 47mm more than the Tiggo 7’s.

It will offer more than 200mm of ground clearance, compared with 184mm for the Tiggo 7 in Australia, with drive modes including Eco, Comfort and Sport, as well as Sand, Mud, Snow, Rock, Mountain and Water Wading, allowing it to ford up to 700mm of water.

The X7 will also offer a 22-degree approach angle and a 26-degree departure angle, and a crawl control function, with the front end featuring prominent recovery hooks as part of the rugged look. It also rides on all-terrain tyres.

Chery's French arm has confirmed it'll be offered with both two- and four-wheel drive, plus hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. However, these haven't been detailed in full, apart from their use of a 115kW/220Nm combustion engine.

The current Tiggo 7 is offered in Australia with a 108kW/210Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Higher model grades are offered with a PHEV, with the 1.5-litre petrol engine teamed with an 18.3kWh battery giving the SUV 93km of electric range under the NEDC cycle.

The same ‘Super Hybrid’ PHEV setup is standard across the Tiggo 8 range, with the larger Tiggo 9 also sold here exclusively as a PHEV.

The Tiggo X7 cabin, not yet shown, is expected to share many of its key features with the regular Tiggo 7, which was just updated in the UK after being on sale there for less than 12 months.

These include a new landscape-oriented centre touchscreen appearing larger than the current 12.3-inch version in Australian models, with the X7 also offering a digital instrument cluster, electric seats, ambient lighting and AI-based personalisation.

South Africa’s CarMag also reported the tailgate can open upwards, but can also swing sideways, although it hasn't specified whether it swings towards the kerb or into traffic for right-hand drive versions.

The X7 will also have a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat and a height-adjustable boot floor.

Chery isn't the only brand expanding its mid-size SUV lineup with a boxier, more rugged model, with GWM's new-generation Haval H7 – due in Australia before the end of the year – following a similar formula while also offering a PHEV powertrain.

MORE: Explore the Chery showroom