Developed under former Land Rover designer Steve Eum, the Tiggo 7 C-DM (see specs) combines European styling with Chery’s engineering approach. The compact SUV shares its platform with the Tansuo 06 and offers ICE and PHEV options, with weight efficiency and adaptive suspension as key technical focuses.

In 2024, Chery sold 2.6 million vehicles globally (38.4% growth), with the Tiggo series contributing significantly. The Tiggo 7 C-DM is currently sold in China with a starting price of 113,900 yuan (15,700 USD).

Exterior

The Tiggo 7 C-DM’s exterior demonstrates a maturation of Chery’s design language under Eum’s direction. Its exterior achieves a 0.33 drag coefficient through an active grille shutter system with 30 operating positions and optimized underbody panels. Body panel gaps measure 3.5mm ±0.2mm with precise manufacturing tolerances. The front fascia layout maintains functional proportions between the grille opening and lighting components.

The side profile maintains a 0.618 ratio of glass-to-body surface area, a proportion that simultaneously meets structural requirements and interior space needs. The rear design features 128 individual reflectors in the LED tail lamps, providing uniform illumination that meets ECE R48 visibility standards. Underbody panels extend 85% coverage for improved airflow management, particularly to reduce air resistence around the rear axle area.

Interior

The dashboard employs soft-touch TPO surfaces covering 68% of visible areas, while the remaining components use recycled polypropylene with textured grain matching. The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster displays information with 1920×720 resolution and 1000 nit peak brightness.

The centre console’s 14.8-inch vertical touchscreen operates through Chery’s Lion 5.0 system, powered by a Qualcomm 8155 chipset, delivering 105,000 DMIPS computing performance. HVAC controls maintain physical rotary dials for critical functions, with haptic feedback confirming inputs at 80g actuation force. The seating system uses dual-density polyurethane foams (45-55 shore hardness) in a 7-zone support structure, with 10-way power adjustment available on premium variants.

Cabin storage includes 18 discrete compartments totalling 28.7 litres of capacity, including a 5.2-litre centre console bin with a refrigerated airflow option. The 60:40 split rear seats fold flat with 12° of recline adjustment, expanding cargo volume from 570 to 1,472 litres while maintaining a load floor height of 720mm for accessibility.

Behind the Wheel

The Tiggo 7 C-DM delivers a refined driving experience that prioritizes comfort. The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine on our test car develops its peak 290 Nm torque between 2,000 – 4,000 rpm, with the twin-scroll turbocharger’s 1.8 bar boost pressure ensuring responsive acceleration. Power reaches the wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that executes crisp 280 ms upshifts in sport mode while maintaining smooth acceleration in urban driving.

Ride quality stands out as a particular strength for this price point, with the frequency-selective dampers effectively absorbing road imperfections while maintaining composed body control. The suspension tuning filters vibrations while keeping the chassis stable over more significant undulations. Steering offers three selectable effort levels (2.2 turns lock-to-lock in sport mode) with progressive weighting, though feedback remains somewhat muted compared to sportier competitors.

The available all-wheel-drive system demonstrates impressive reflexes, engaging the rear axle within 120 ms when slip is detected while normally operating in front-wheel drive for efficiency. Braking performance proves consistent with ventilated discs (320mm front/302mm rear) delivering a 100-0 km/h distance of 37.8 meters in testing.

NVH with the 1.6T engine registering just 72dB at wide-open throttle – a 4 dB reduction over previous Chery powertrains. Wind noise is well-suppressed (0.33 Cd aerodynamics), though some suspension noise remains noticeable over rough surfaces.

While not class-leading in dynamics, the Tiggo 7 C-DM offers predictable handling and efficient powertrains.

Verdict

The Tiggo 7 C-DM is no Land Rover. Nor is it as fun as its cousin, the Jetour Traveller, but it still demonstrates Chery’s engineering progress with measurable improvements in structural rigidity (26,500Nm/degree, +28% via 1,500MPa steel) and powertrain refinement. It offers competitive value and is backed by a lifetime warranty. However, some improvements can be made. Noticeable suspension noise exceeds segment averages by 3 dB, and its steering calibration can be improved for urban driving. The infotainment system’s responsiveness also trails some rivals.

Stay tuned for next week’s Sunday China Drive at Car News China, where you can read more first-person evaluations of Chinese cars.

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