New rival coming to challenge Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento? Chery Tiggo 8 L large SUV launches in China but will it see an Australian arrival to top out the Chinese brand's range?

Chery has launched its largest Tiggo-branded SUV in China, the Tiggo 8 L.

The new model sits above the Tiggo 8 Pro Max in terms of size and standard equipment.

Measuring in at 4795mm long by 1930mm wide, the Tiggo 8 L is a significantly different vehicle, sized closer to dedicated three-row SUVs, like the new-generation Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, although it still sits slightly below the Toyota Kluger or Nissan Pathfinder in terms of sheer dimensions.

It tops out the Tiggo range of family-focused mainstream SUVs in its home market of China and is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 187kW and 390Nm.

Interestingly — and unlike the Tiggo 8 Pro Max sold in Australia — the Tiggo 8 L trades the seven-speed dual-clutch out for a new eight-speed torque converter automatic. It is able to be had in either front- or all-wheel drive and with either five- or seven-seat interior configurations.

Thanks to its additional width (the Tiggo 8 L is actually wider than a Santa Fe or Kia Sorento), the interior looks spacious, with luxurious appointments in high grades not seen on local Tiggo products. Examples include a two-tone leather steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, and a massive 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with a resolution exceeding 2k.

To add confusion to the picture, there is also a Tiggo 9 overseas, which is a size smaller than the Tiggo 8 L, akin to a more luxurious version of the 8 Pro Max. However, it is understood this model will only make it to Australia under Chery’s Jaecoo luxury export brand instead.

This leaves room for the 8 L to top out the Tiggo range in the Australian market as a mainstream large SUV. Just-announced pricing for the Tiggo 8 L has it starting from the equivalent of roughly $30,000 in the Chinese domestic market, however the Tiggo 8 Pro Max carries a roughly $10,000 price premium once landed in Australia.

Projected out, the Tiggo 8 L would likely start at a similar price to the top-spec Pro Max in the mid- $50,000 region, making a high-grade version price-equivalent to an entry-level Santa Fe or Kia Sorento.

Chery Australia has been contacted on the possibility of adding the Tiggo 8 L to its range. The Chinese export giant has aggressive expansion plans in Australia, starting with the Omoda E5 EV which has just arrived and the Tiggo 4 small combustion SUV which is set to launch before year’s end.

In 2025, the brand is set to introduce its luxury Jaecoo sub-brand, consisting of the J7 mid-size and J8 upper mid-size SUVs. The brand has promised Jaecoo will be priced above Tiggo but below Lexus or Genesis.

It has ruled out also launching its Jetour sub-brand, which offers retro-styled off-roaders in a similar vein to GWM’s Tank brand. Executives also said no to the Arizzo range of sedans, with the brand’s local managing director telling CarsGuide the business case doesn’t look like it would add up for non-SUV models.

At the launch of the Tiggo 8 Pro Max, the brand described the Tiggo family of SUVs as being able to follow people through every life stage, from university (with a car like the Tiggo 4) to family life, with a car like the Tiggo 8 Pro Max and did not rule out introducing more members of the family both above and below the sizing of the current Australian range. 

Missing from Chery’s local range are hybrids, something the local division is keen to get its hands on, especially since the arrival of the new vehicle emissions standards in Australia which will make it difficult to have a combustion-heavy range going forward, even if their emissions are technically quite low as they are for the current Chery range.

Currently, the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 Pro Max mid-sizers are available as plug-in hybrids in the Chinese domestic market, but there’s no word yet on whether these specific versions will make it to Australia.

Chery’s aggressive expansion is no doubt to capture market share quickly as more Middle Kingdom rivals pour into Australia’s competitive new-car marketplace. On the mainstream front, Chery already rivals MG, BYD and GWM, but will soon also need to face GAC and possibly Geely.