Lexus UX300E vs Chery Tiggo 9

What's the difference?

The Lexus UX300e Sports Luxury nails the luxury and standard features list! It certainly feels like a premium SUV inside and the updated technology and driving range were sorely needed to keep this competitive, but once you start looking at its rivals, which all offer similar specs and better driving ranges, the price point starts to feel a smidge high. However, the ongoing costs and the complimentary bonuses that Lexus throws in, are great.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is outstanding in many ways, especially value and the way it drives. I can only stress the importance of charging this vehicle frequently, however, otherwise it will go from super hybrid to super fuel consumer.

The design hasn’t seen much change and Lexus seems to be encouraging an understated EV design as it looks just like its fuel-based siblings.

I don’t mind that it’s not as futuristic as some of its competitors and that, at first glance, there isn’t anything to set it apart.

The front sports a classic Lexus 'spindle' grille and the external lights are large but the rear side lights jut out rather severely, reminding me too much of its Toyota counterparts.

The rear features a cool LED strip light for the brakes, which elevates its night-time presence.

The sporty-looking 18-inch alloy wheels are a nice touch but the plastic mouldings around the base of the car detract from the premium-level this model sits in. It’s not as slick-looking as it could be.

Having said that, the interior earns back points courtesy of its premium feel with leather-accented trims and Japanese Washi paper influenced accent panels. But there is a lot happening with the dashboard.

It’s a little overwhelming at first because it protrudes well into the cabin and features multiple cutaways, but you get used to it after a while.

There are also little knobs on either side of the instrument panel that look out of place to me and resemble horns.

Chery has crafted a superb-looking SUV here. Sure, the design isn’t ground-breaking or unique, but styling is beautiful from the large grille and multi-spoke wheels to the chrome framed windows and smooth lines of the tailgate.

Our car was painted in 'Aurora Green', which looks stunning in the sunlight. There’s also 'Cosmic Black', 'Star White' and 'Technical Grey'.

The cabin is super modern and luxurious looking, with only a few physical buttons for the hybrid system and climate control. The leather seats are a lovely high-end touch, and while the level of refinement is not up there with the likes of Audi and Lexus flagships the build quality appears to be good.

The Tiggo 9 stretches 4800mm end to end and is 1930mm wide. That classifies it as a large SUV, albeit not an enormous one. A fairly short wheelbase of 2750mm means the cabin space isn’t as voluminous as you might have thought.

As soon as you slide in, you’re reminded that the UX is a small SUV. Even with the driver's seat at its lowest position I still knock my knees on the steering wheel when getting in and out of the car.

The higher door sills also accentuate the penned in feeling despite there being plenty of head- and legroom in the front row! 

Then comes the back seat, which is super tight on space. I’m 168cm (5'6") and my headroom is fine but the legroom sucks. My knees press into the back of the driver’s seat (set for my driving position).

There’s also not a lot of space underneath the seat for toes, so I wouldn’t recommend the UX to anyone who regularly transports tall passengers. 

Having said that the seats in both rows are very comfortable and the leather trims feel lovely to touch. Both front seats are electric with heat and ventilation functions but only the driver’s side enjoys adjustable lumbar support. 

Storage is good throughout the car, which is not usually the case for the small SUV class. Up front you get a glove box, two cupholders, two drink bottle holders and a middle console that opens from both sides, which is handy and cool.

In the rear you get two cupholders in a fold-down armrest and map pockets but no storage bins in either door unfortunately.

Other amenities in the back are very good for this class with the heated outboard seats, directional air vents, reading lights and two USB-C ports.  

On that note, the upgraded multimedia system is now easier to use while on the go, is responsive to touch and looks great.

Some of the information on the system can be annoying to find but the customisations available on the 7.0-inch digital instrument panel more than make up for it.

There is a coloured head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and satellite navigation.

All are easy to use and won’t confuse you too much!

The charging options are great with each row getting two USB-C ports but the front also gets a USB-A port, 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad. You’re seriously spoilt for choice.  

The boot space sits at a small 314L, which is 100L less than the previous model but that’s because Lexus has made a little storage nook underneath the floor for the tyre repair kit and cable pouches.

It's a great boot because it sits high and is easy to access, and I have plenty of room for all of the gear needed for a week’s errands. The hands-free powered tailgate is great, too.

The Chery Tiggo 9 is not overly large and with a relatively short wheelbase the cabin room is adequate but not outstanding. I’m tall at 189cm, but there is still room for me to sit behind my driving position and headroom is good, too. That said, the cabin floor is high which raises the knee height for second row passengers.

The third row is really just for children and for those occasional but unpredictable times when as a parent you’re suddenly thrown into having to transport more kids home or to parties.

Cabin storage is good with door pockets and cupholders front and back, while a large storage area under the centre console is great for loose items or even a handbag or small backpack.

The wireless charger is perfectly situated on top of the console and features a grippy soft surface.

I would have liked more physical dials and buttons for climate and the stereo, which are accessed through the central screen.

Boot space, according to Chery, is larger than it looks, with the manufacturer saying with the third row up there is 143 litres of cargo capacity and with five seats in place it's 819 litres.  

There is only one grade in the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid line-up - the Ultimate - and it lists for $59,990. It’s remarkably affordable compared to many rivals and the value is outstanding.

As you might imagine the Ultimate is fully loaded with features.

There are leather seats - powered adjustable, massaging, heated and ventilated in the front, while the second row outboard seats are heated and ventilated, too.

There are big screens - a 15.6-inch media display and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as well as a head-up display. There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat nav, a 12-speaker Sony sound system and digital radio.

There are LED headlights and tail-lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, privacy glass and a power tailgate. 

The UX300e has a fully electric powertrain with a 72.8kWh lithium-ion battery that’s located on the front axle.

The power and torque remain unchanged at 150kW and 300Nm but that’s enough to produce a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.5-seconds. Plenty of oomph for city-slickers and open-roaders to boot.

The update sees the battery increase in capacity by 34 per cent which means the driving range has jumped from 305km to 440km.

That's still a bit lower than some of the UX's competitors but it certainly helps ease range anxiety! And unlike some of its rivals, the UX300e only sports a front-wheel drive drivetrain.

The Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid has three electric motors (two at the front and one at the rear), plus a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The combined output is a whopping 315kW and 580Nm.

A dedicated hybrid transmission sends drive to all four wheels. 

My energy consumption sat at an average of 19.5kWh, which is decent considering all of the open-road driving I did.

There are four levels of regenerative braking to help conserve battery percentage but even on the firmest setting, it’s not super noticeable.

When you’re at full charge, multiple notifications and sound alerts pop up on the instrument panel stating ‘Regenerative Braking Limited Press Brake to Decelerate’. It’s quite an intrusive feature but disappears after 20 to 30km.

Despite the bigger battery size, the UX300e can only accept up to 6.6kW on AC charging, whereas, all of its rivals can accept 11kW. On a 240-volt AC charger, expect to see a charge time of nine and a half hours to get to 80 per cent.

Curiously, the UX features two charging ports, on the right-hand-side, there is a Type 2 port and, on the left, a CHAdeMo port, which allows for faster charging.

You'd think it would be easier to simply add the CCS enhancement on the Type 2 port but still, expect to get from 10-80 per cent in 80-minutes on a 50kW fast charger.

The Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid. There’s a fuel tank for petrol (95 RON minimum) and a charging flap for you to fill up the 34kWh battery.

Super hybrids are so-called because of their relatively big batteries and longer ranges. Chery says on a full 70-litre tank and charged battery the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid has a range of 1250km (NEDC). The WLPT range isn’t given but while it will still be impressive it would be less than the NEDC. The same goes for the electric-only range of 170km (NEDC).

If you keep the battery charged, fuel consumption is outstanding. In our short time with the car the trip computer was reporting an average 1.4L/100km, which is exactly the manufacturer's claim.

I noticed that once battery charge fell below 20 per cent the fuel economy worsened to 7.1L/100km.

The battery has a 71kW DC charging capacity however and will fill up fast.  But you will have to top up frequently to get the good fuel economy.   

The UX300e comes into its own when you’re zipping around tight city streets. The power is responsive and the steering crisp with excellent cornering capabilities.

It feels well-placed on the road most of the time but can move around when it gets hit by high winds.

While the power is steady, the tyres can lose a little traction if you’re too quick to accelerate from a full stop.

The ride comfort is also very good with the new acoustic glass and extra insulation around the bonnet and wheel wells providing a whisper quiet cabin space.

The suspension is well-cushioned but not floaty and you won’t wince when you hit a bump, but occasionally you get a thump-thump shudder through the frame on certain rough road surfaces.

It’s not a massive size and you’ll be thankful for that when it comes time to park because it is seriously easy to slide into a spot!

The 360-degree view camera system is top-notch providing clear graphics and a cool feature where the car becomes invisible in the video feed, which makes it even easier to see all around you. Coupled with the front and rear parking sensors, you’re set.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid drives silently and smoothly with strong acceleration just like an electric car for the most part while in the city at lower speeds.

Hills and higher speeds call on the engine to help but even then the transition is almost imperceptible. 

A comfortable ride with well set up suspension, light and accurate steering make for an impressive and effortless driving experience.

There are downsides, like the brake pedal feel. As in many hybrids there’s a ‘wooden’ sensation and I felt I needed to depress the brake pedal harder and longer to pull up at times. This is a heavy vehicle at 2200kg and brake response could be better.

The active safety tech is also intrusive, as is the case with so many cars these days, but the alerts and warnings can be turned off. 

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP yet, but the safety tech is in abundance with everything from AEB, front and rear cross-traffic alerts with braking, lane keeping assistance and blind-spot warning.

For child seats there are three top tether anchor points and two ISOFIX points in the second row only.

There are also 10 airbags onboard.

I’ve mentioned the intrusive safety alerts in the driving section, and while they can be turned off, they can also be life saving.

The UX comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty but the battery is covered by a 10-year or up to 160,000km warranty, which is better than most in this class.

This also comes with a five-year capped-priced servicing plan where services cost a flat $295, which is good but the servicing intervals are more in line with a fuel-based car at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first. It’s typical to see intervals stretched out at every two years for an EV.

Lexus also throws in a few sweeteners for owners with three-year complimentary subscriptions to both ChargeFox and Lexus Connected Services, as well as, installation of an at-home wall charger. It’s not often you see the word ‘complimentary’ coupled with a luxury brand, so that’s a nice touch.

The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery has an eight-year unlimited-kilometre warranty.

There’s also roadside assistance and capped price servicing for seven years at $3174, or an average of $453 per year.

Chery's national dealer network consists of 86 sites, including 21 in Melbourne, 20 in Sydney and 12 in Brisbane.