Electrification has taken over the Philippines in many ways.

There are battery-electric vehicles that offer near-silent, zero-emission mobility, along with truly stunning performance. And for those who don’t want to join the electric revolution quite yet, there are the mild hybrids.

These pertain to cars with regular internal combustion engines that have small battery packs to assist with vehicle functions. Unlike a full hybrid, a mild hybrid cannot operate on purely electric power alone.

Chery Auto Philippines has already made waves in this scene with the plug-in hybrid version of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro crossover.

This time, the Chinese carmaker has finally made the mild-hybrid variant of the smaller Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, which had been previewed at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show, available at its showrooms.

48-volt system

The Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid uses a 48-volt belt-starter generator system similar to the one equipped in rivals like the Geely Okavango.

This is combined with the regular Tiggo 7 Pro’s turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine producing 158 PS and 230 Nm of torque. This powerplant is mated to a continuously variable transmission.

The mild-hybrid crossover also features a stop-start system, along with regenerative coasting and braking functions, to help lower fuel consumption.

It will be fairly easy to spot a Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid because it’s only available in white, gray, red, silver and black colors.

Tough looks

The mild-hybrid variant looks almost identical to the regular Tiggo 7 Pro.

Up front are pointed LED headlights that flank a large hexagonal grill. The bumper includes prominent silver trim along the lower grill, along with LED daytime running lights. 

Down the side, the Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid retains the model’s high beltline, with additional character lines to emphasize the front and rear fenders. These are complemented by newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels and a silver roof rack.

And at the back are large LED taillights that span the entire tailgate, which is fully electric. There’s also a sporty wing that the top of the hatch, along with chrome dual exhaust tips.

Techy cabin

Step inside the Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid and it’s much the same as the regular turbo model.

There’s a large 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This also displays the view from the standard 360-degree cameras.

The gauge cluster is a 12.3-inch LCD screen and the crossover is upholstered in black PVC leather.

Other neat touches include electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a panoramic moonroof, wireless phone charging, cruise control and hill-descent control.

Even with the new mild-hybrid system, the Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid offers 475 liters with the rear seats up and 1,500 liters with the rear seats down. Ground clearance is a generous 193 mm.

The Chery Tiggo 7 Hybrid costs ₱1,350,000, which is ₱100,000 more than the non-hybrid model. But Chery Auto Philippines is offering a ₱100,000 discount and instead will sell it at an introductory price of ₱1,250,000.

"With the introduction of the Tiggo 7 Pro Hybrid, we aim to make sustainable driving a norm for every Filipino car buyer," said Rommel Sytin, chair of Chery Auto importer and distributor United Asia Automotive Group Inc.

"And we are doing it by offering a mild hybrid vehicle at a very practical price," he added.

Is this big Chery a better deal now that it’s been electrified?

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