Chery TIGGO 8 1.5T PHEV Summit 5dr DHT Review
A plug-in hybrid 7-seat SUV with an absolutely stacked equipment list — but on our wet UK test drive it left us feeling more nervous than relaxed. Final score: 6/10.
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Summit spec highlights
- 19" alloy wheels
- 540-degree panoramic view camera
- Head-up display
- Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
- Driver seat 6-way power adjustment
- Passenger seat 4-way power adjustment
- Heated steering wheel
- Ventilated 1st row seats
- Heated and cooled 1st and 2nd row seats
- Massage for 1st row passenger seat
- 12 speaker SONY audio system
Driving impressions
The first thing you notice is that performance often feels nippy — that instant electric shove is always pleasant around town and when you’re joining faster roads. But dynamically, the overall feel didn’t work for us.
The ride is very soft and the body tends to roll. “Floaty” is the word that kept coming up — it actually reminded us of the old Renault Koleos, and at times it was close to that travel-sick sensation (even as the driver), especially on wetter, uneven roads.
On the motorway the car was also pretty noisy — both road noise and wind noise were there most of the time, which takes the edge off longer journeys.
The biggest concern for us was the steering. It felt weird and not properly connected to what the wheels were doing. On a very wet day it also felt like there was very little grip at points, which combined with that steering feel gave a genuine sense of anxiety/nervousness.
PHEV behaviour in traffic
One thing we really liked: the battery didn’t seem to drop to 0% the way it can in a lot of PHEVs. That meant it always had enough electric assistance for slow crawls and stop/start traffic approaching junctions — and that makes the car feel smoother and more relaxed when traffic gets messy.
Pros & cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very roomy — especially impressive for a 7-seater | Floaty ride with noticeable roll |
| Nippy feel thanks to the electric motor | Steering feels disconnected (confidence hit) |
| Battery reserve stays available for slow traffic crawls | Noisy on the motorway (wind + road noise) |
| Infotainment worked reasonably well; built-in sat nav was fine for testing | Adaptive Cruise Control braking issues |
| Summit comfort kit (heated/ventilated seats; heated/cooled across rows) | Wet-day grip and overall confidence didn’t match expectations |
| Sound system was really good (12-speaker SONY) | — |
Top accessories for a 7-seat PHEV SUV
- Front + rear dash cam (motorway peace of mind)
- Type 2 charging cable (32A) (backup cable for untethered posts)
- Boot organiser (keeps cables, wipes and event gear tidy)
- Rubber floor mats (wet-weather lifesaver)
- Seat-back protectors (if you carry kids or lots of passengers)
- Portable tyre inflator (handy for day trips)
FAQs
What is the Chery TIGGO 8 Summit?
The Summit is a high-spec trim of the TIGGO 8 1.5T PHEV with features like a 540-degree camera, head-up display, wireless phone mirroring, heated/cooled seats and a 12-speaker SONY audio system.
Does it have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Yes — the Summit spec lists wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.
What’s it like in traffic as a PHEV?
We noticed the battery didn’t seem to drop to 0%, so it kept enough electric assistance for slow crawls and stop/start traffic near junctions.
What’s your rating?
Our rating for the Chery TIGGO 8 1.5T PHEV Summit 5dr DHT is 6/10.
Verdict
The Chery TIGGO 8 1.5T PHEV Summit is a bit of a contradiction. On the one hand, it’s very roomy for a 7-seater and the Summit trim is loaded: HUD, 540-degree camera, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, heated and ventilated seats, and a genuinely good SONY sound system.
On the other hand, the way it drives didn’t give us confidence on a wet day. The ride is floaty with noticeable roll, motorway noise is ever-present, the steering felt oddly disconnected, and the adaptive cruise control behaviour was poor. That’s why it lands at a 6/10 for us.
Would we buy one outright? We’re not fully convinced — but if you’re after an affordable 7-seat SUV, there are some strong deals on flexible car subscriptions and short-term car leases right now, and the value proposition will make sense for some buyers.
Specs (as provided)
| Price when new | £36,545 |
|---|---|
| On sale in the UK | Now |
| Engine | 1498cc four-cylinder turbocharged petrol, twin electric motors, 18.4kWh battery |
| Transmission / drive | Automatic gearbox, front-wheel-drive |
| Performance | 201bhp, 269lb ft, 0–62mph 8.5s, 112mph, 201mpg, 31g/km CO2 |
| Weight | 1916kg |
| Dimensions (L/W/H) | 4725 / 1860 / 1705 mm |
