The Chery Tiggo 9 Elite Super Hybrid comes with passive entry/start, walk-away locking, remote start, a 15.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio, USB outlets, a smartphone charger, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, powered and heated front seats offering driver’s side massaging, artificial leather upholstery, 360-degree camera views, a panoramic sunroof with sunshade, side rear window shades, front acoustic glass, a powered tailgate, roof rails and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Plus, all of the essential advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) tech is present, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

The Ultimate switches to real leather trim, adds a head-up display, ventilated, massaging and auxiliary control features to the front passenger seat, as well as heated/vented middle-row outboard seating, a heated steering wheel, improved audio, 20-inch alloys and more.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid’s interior is large and generously equipped, with lots of space up front, on big, sumptuous bucket seats.

Other plus points include a good driving position, storage aplenty, ample ventilation and a high sense of quality.

A huge 15.6-inch touchscreen impresses with its clear markings, configurable on-screen short cuts and a fast, easy operation. But no buttons make for distracting, fiddly and frustrating menu-diving to operate the Tiggo 4’s multimedia, climate, audio and vehicle settings functions. And the ‘Hello Chery’s interface is largely useless.

The spacious second row consists of a 60/40 bench seat that slides and reclines, and there are lots of standard amenities including USB ports, separate climate controls, a centre armrest with cupholders, overhead lighting and even four air vents.

But sliding both halves of the heavy bench is tiring, whilst access to the third row is compromised by the seating being left in its native left-hand-drive configuration, meaning only the smaller seat on the right lifts and tilts forward to allow for easier entry and egress. That’s the road side.

Once sat in the two-person third row, there’s reasonable comfort even for adults as long as the occupants in the middle-row seat ahead slide theirs forward as required. You’ll also find reclinable backrests, cupholders, ventilation, storage and lighting.

Note, however, there are no provisions for child seats. Nor can the left passenger exit without assistance since only the right seat ahead has a release lever, again forcing people to alight into the traffic.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Elite Super Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that uses a 105kW/215Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, mated to two front electric motors (one making 75kW/170Nm and the other 90kW/220Nm), for a combined total of 225kW of power and 450Nm of torque, delivered to the front wheels via a three-speed dedicated-hybrid transmission.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Ultimate Super Hybrid adds a 175kW/310Nm electric motor to the rear axle for all-wheel drive, for a combined total of 315kW of power and 580Nm of torque.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is a seven-seater large SUV.

Both model grades – the Elite and Ultimate – are fitted with heavily bolstered front seats that are electrically adjustable and heated, while the driver’s side includes massaging and preferred-setting memory functions.

The Ultimate replaces the artificial leather trim with real leather, adds ventilation and massaging features to the front passenger seat, as well as heated/vented middle-row outboard seating.

Speaking of which, the middle-row bench seats three people, and is divided into a 60/40 split, with both portions sliding and reclining.

However, Chery hasn’t bothered engineering the middle seats for right-hand drive (RHD) markets, meaning only the smaller seat tips forward to allow easiest entry and egress. This is dangerous as children are forced to clamber out onto the trafficked road side.

When folded, the bulkier left backrest is too high for most people to traverse. And dragging the base forward to create a slim gap to squeeze past is a heavy workout.

A trio of child-seat tether latches are incorporated in the middle-row only, while each outboard position offers ISOFIX latches.

Note, however, there are no provisions for child seats in the third row. Nor can the left passenger exit without assistance since only the right seat ahead has a release lever, again forcing people to alight into the traffic.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Elite Super Hybrid with a turbo-petrol engine and two electric motors can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h (0-100km/h) in around 8.0 seconds, on the way to a top speed of about 200km/h.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Ultimate Super Hybrid with a turbo-petrol engine and three electric motors for all-wheel drive can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h (0-100km/h) in around 5.5 seconds, on the way to a top speed of about 205km/h.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Elite Super Hybrid averages 1.5L/100km on the combined fuel consumption cycle, for a carbon-dioxide emissions rating of 35 grams/km.

Featuring a 19kWh Lithium-ion battery allows for 90km of EV-only range, or 1250km all up, though these use the less-accurate NEDC and not WLTP testing. Its electricity consumption is 15.6kWh/100km.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Ultimate Super Hybrid upgrades to a 34kWh battery pack, that provides 170km of EV-only range, while maintaining a 1250km range combined on the NEDC cycle. Its electricity consumption is 19.0kWh/100km.

In hybrid mode, the Ultimate averages just 1.4L/100km on the combined fuel-consumption cycle, for a carbon-dioxide emissions rating of 32 grams/km.