Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV now in SE Asia, is PH next?

Chery expands its lineup of plug-in hybrids with Tiggo 7 PHEV

Chery Auto Philippines distributor United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (UAAGI) has had a pretty busy 2025.

During this year's Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), they launched the Tiggo Cross as their new B-SUV fighter. They also revealed the Tiggo Grand Tour and the Tiggo rEV plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 7-seater models, which are competitively priced against the likes of what BYD is currently offering. Last but not least, the automaker also launched an electrified version of its B-SUV called the Tiggo Cross HEV.

With affordable yet feature-packed vehicles, along with plug-in hybrid models, Chery Auto Philippines has quite the model lineup. But with PHEVs continuing to become more popular, perhaps Chery might want to bring another plug-in hybrid in the not-so-distant future.

Over in Malaysia, Chery has just revealed the Tiggo 7 PHEV, and it looks (and sounds) promising. While the Tiggo rEV is more of a midsize crossover SUV, the Tiggo 7 PHEV is a compact crossover SUV that could take on the likes of the BYD Sealion 6. It's powered by the Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) system, which combines a 1.5L turbocharged engine and an electric motor that gets its juice from an 18.3 kWh battery pack.

The engine alone makes 143 PS with 215 Nm of torque, while the electric motor generates 204 PS and 310 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT) that drives the front wheels. In a nutshell, the 1.5L turbo engine serves more as a range extender for the electric powertrain, resulting in a combined system output of 279 PS with 365 Nm of torque.

On a full charge, Chery says the Tiggo 7 PHEV can cover up to 90 km on electric power alone. But with both the engine and electric motor working in unison, the automaker claims the Tiggo 7 PHEV can do up to 1,200 km. This makes it a close rival to the likes of the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i and the Jaecoo J7.

Recharging the Tiggo 7 PHEV can be done in two ways: a fast DC charger that supports up to 40 kW, which can recharge the battery from 30% to 80% in 19 minutes, and an AC charging port that supports up to 6.6 kW. While not as fast as the DC system, the AC charger can recharge the Tiggo 7 PHEV from 30% to 80% in around three hours. The crossover also supports a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system to power up external devices with ease.

Hop inside, and the Tiggo 7 PHEV comes with plenty of amenities and features. These include leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating & cooling functions, remote engine start, a 50W wireless charging pad, a host of USB-A and USB-C charging ports, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, an 8-speaker sound system from Sony, and an intelligent voice assistant.

With the Tiggo 7 PHEV now available in Malaysia, we're curious if Chery Auto Philippines plans to bring the plug-in hybrid into the country.