Bucharest, April 2026 – The Romanian car market is welcoming a new major player in the compact SUV segment. Chery, the Chinese giant that achieved the remarkable performance of entering the Top 10 local car brands since the first quarter of this year, has officially launched its "piece de resistance": the new Tiggo 7 HEV (Full-Hybrid).
After an exclusive preview in China, where we had the opportunity to test the model's dynamic capabilities, the new SUV landed on Romanian soil with a clear mission: to offer hybrid efficiency without financial compromises.
The biggest innovation of the Tiggo 7 HEV is the powertrain. Under the hood we find a 1.5-liter turbo engine, coupled to an innovative hybrid transmission, called DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission).
This configuration delivers a total power of 220 horsepower and 215 Nm of torque, figures that promise agile performance both in urban traffic and on the highway. More impressive, however, is the efficiency: the manufacturer declares a combined consumption of just 5.7 liters/100 km (WLTP cycle), an extremely competitive value for an SUV of this size.
The hybrid system automatically manages the transition between the thermal and electric engines, optimizing the flow of energy without requiring the driver's intervention or the need to worry about charging at the outlet.
Chery did not skimp on the features, offering two trim levels for our market: Comfort and Unique. Regardless of the choice, the cabin feels more "premium" than "budget". Passengers are greeted by:
Perhaps the strongest argument of the new Tiggo 7 HEV is its pricing strategy. Chery has announced a special launch price of 28,991 euros (VAT included).
In a market where equivalent full-hybrid SUVs often exceed the 35,000 euro mark, Chery's offering seems designed to give European and Asian competitors a hard time. In addition, the color palette includes sophisticated options such as Emerald Blue or Nasdaq Silver, with the possibility of opting for two-tone variants (contrasting roof), giving the car a modern and distinct visual presence.
The launch of the Tiggo 7 HEV confirms Auto Italia's (official importer) ambitions to transform Chery into a volume brand in Romania. With a solid warranty, a standard equipment that leaves little room for options and a mature hybrid technology, the new Chinese SUV is no longer just an exotic alternative, but a rational choice for the modern family.
It remains to be seen how the traditional leaders of the segment will react to this technological assault coming from the East, but one thing is certain: the Romanian consumer now has a high-performance hybrid option at a price that is hard to ignore.
Do you think the "premium" features and aggressive price will be enough to convince Romanian customers to give up established European brands in favor of this Chinese SUV?