When I was young, I would always get the worst fuel economy in any of the cars that was shared among the rest of the family. And now as I’m in my late 50s, I still get the worst fuel economy among identical cars I drive with my media colleagues. While my colleagues could achieve 8-9 kms/liter with a certain car, I would get 6-7 km/l with the same car. Blame my always-in-a-hurry driving style for my perennially poor fuel consumption.
Which brings me to the new Chery Tiggo ReV plug-in hybrid SUV (priced at PHP 1,648,000). I drove it from Quezon City to Subic. My fuel consumption? 38 kms/l. I was amazed—until I found out two of my colleagues in identical cars on the same drive achieved close to 150 kms/l! They were the outliers, though. The rest of the convoy were not so far from my average, which is phenomenal by any standard.
The Chery Tiggo ReV can achieve this incredible fuel economy because it can travel up to 130 kilometers on pure electric mode—which is how we all managed to arrive at SCTEX before the gasoline engine kicked in (meaning we didn’t consume a drop of fuel from QC to Pampanga). Regenerative braking charged the battery further throughout the drive, which is why my vehicle only consumed P247 (roughly just four liters) of premium fuel from Petron Commonwealth Avenue to Petron Subic (a distance of roughly 160 kilometers and filling up in both Petron stations).
Chery claims that the Tiggo ReV can travel 1,400 kilometers on one tankful and with a full charge. That equates to roughly 30 km/l, easily attainable based on our experience. Now imagine if you keep the battery charged (and keeping in mind the Tiggo ReV can travel 130 kilometers on pure EV mode). You’ll practically never use fuel in your day to day home-office-home drive.
But fuel economy is not the only strong point of the Chery Tiggo ReV. It also greatly improves on two of the weakest aspects I’ve noticed in many Chinese cars I’ve driven since they started arriving in 2018-2019—too soft suspension and transmission shift lag.
Let me rephrase myself. The Tiggo ReV does not improve the typical Chinese car’s transmission and suspension—it perfects it. Chinese cars have always looked European (because they employ European designers who have worked for German luxury car brands). But the Tiggo ReV is the first Chinese car I’ve driven that looks AND feels like a German car, especially in the smoothness and responsiveness of the gearshifts and in the perfect blend of suppleness and firmness in the suspension.
And it’s not imaginative overreaching. I drove three 7 Series BMWs (735i, X7, and i7) to Subic just a week before the Tiggo ReV drive to the same destination. And while I marveled at the German cars’ luxurious ride and silent, effortless power, the Tiggo ReV delivered almost exactly the same smooth ride and effortless power delivery. Yet another impressive aspect of this vehicle is how smoothly and silently the engine cuts in and out without you even hearing or feeling it—so very premium.
The same applies to the steering. The electric power assist varies from high assist during slow or parking speeds to low assist on the highway gives excellent feedback. The Eco and Sport driving modes also made a convincing difference. Whoever dialed in the chassis dynamics of the Chery Tiggo ReV must’ve had a long seat time in a BMW or Audi.
Style-wise, the Tiggo ReV (first seen at MIAS last April) replaces the Tiggo 8 Pro. The two midsize 7-seater vehicles resemble each other when viewed from the side, but everything else is completely different, with the Tiggo ReV looking decidedly more elegant. Furthering the luxury cues are flush external door handles that pop out when you approach the car, again reminding me of the three BMWs I drove just the week before.
The ReV uses an updated 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine mated to dual motors, which, with the 18.66 kWh lithium-ion battery, comprise the Chery Dual-Motor (CD-M) hybrid system. Shifting is via column-mounted shifter, again giving me a sense of déjà vu as all the 7 Series BMWs I drove the week prior had similar column-mounted shifters. The Tiggo ReV’s total output is a healthy 154hp and 220Nm of torque. It has a long 2,820 mm wheelbase and a healthy 200 mm of ground clearance.
Inside the spacious and very European-like cabin, you’ll find a 15.6-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, a premium Sony 8-speaker sound system, ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, wireless charger, panoramic sunroof, and USB-C/A ports front and rear.
The feel and aesthetics of the interior are more German than Japanese or Korean, right down to the stitching of the leather on the seats and steering wheel, the Bentley-like knurled aluminum finish on the drive mode knob and EV mode switch, and the beautiful satin aluminum trim on the power window and door lock switches, inner door handles, as well as on the steering wheel, dashboard and console. Very, very premium. There are even front passenger seat power adjustment buttons on the side of the right front seatbacks, so a chauffeur (or rear passenger) can easily move the front seat forward to give extra room for the rear passenger.
Safety features? The Tiggo ReV has multiple airbags, ABS, EBD, VSC, Brake Assist, 360° camera, and ISOFIX seat anchors. Advanced driver-assist safety (ADAS) features such as Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise, and other advanced functions are standard.
Downsides? The fold-flat third-row seats share the same shortcoming that afflicts most 7-seaters: it’s best for short trips or for kids on that family trip to Baguio or the beach. There are also no AC vents for third-row passengers, although they do have their own cupholders and speakers.
The warranty covers 8 years for the high-voltage battery, 5 years bumper‑to‑bumper, and 3 years free preventive maintenance and roadside assistance.
The similarly priced BYD Seal might be the current toast of the town, and while it’s also a Euro-styled plug-in hybrid like the Tiggo ReV, it’s strictly a 5-seater. Which makes the consumer the ultimate winner in having another exceptional entry into the relatively affordable hybrid or plug-in hybrid genre—and with a more flexible 7-seater configuration to boot.
Ultimately, the Chery Tiggo ReV delivers an ideal mix of ultra-fuel-efficient hybrid economy, premium features, solid driving dynamics, elegant styling, and seven-seat practicality—all for under PHP 1.7 million. It’s one of the smartest buys on the road today.
