If you’re looking for a family truckster these days, you have a lot of decisions to make.
The mid-sized SUV segment is undeniably one of the most saturated segments of the Australia automotive landscape. Showrooms are literally flooded with them, with almost every brand – from the bargain end of the business to the top end of town – offering their own take on the same theme.
In fact, at last count, there are more than 70 different vehicles classified as mid-sized SUVs currently on sale in Australia, and hundreds of variations when you break down the model ranges. It’s hard to know where to start…
Do you choose to invest more in a trusted brand like Honda and its CR-V, one of the early pioneers of the segment, or take a punt and save some pennies on a newcomer like Chery with its Tiggo 7?
For this test, we’ve ascended to the top of each model range with the flagship CR-V e:HEV RS and the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate as it is the only way to access the most advanced hybrid powertrain technology from each of the respective brands. So, let’s get cracking!
How much?
Both the Honda CR-V and Chery Tiggo 7 play in the same sandpit as five-seat mid-sized SUVs, and feature the most fuel efficient powertrains and all the kit they can throw at them.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2026 Chery Tiggo 7 Urban | $29,990 |
| 2026 Chery Tiggo 7 Ultimate | $33,990 |
| 2026 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban | $39,990 |
| 2026 Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate | $43,990 |
The Tiggo 7 is offered in two model grades – Urban and Ultimate – with the choice of either standard petrol or its new Super Hybrid set-up.
In both cases, it’s a simple $4000 premium for the Ultimate over the Urban which starts at $29,990 in petrol form and $39,990 with the Super Hybrid, including all driveaway costs.
Honda offers a much broader model range with seven unique variants of the CR-V, including the option of a seven-seat configuration in standard front-wheel drive models and two with all-wheel drive but just one – for now – with a hybrid.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi X+ 2WD | $41,900 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi-X7 2WD | $47,300 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi-L 2WD | $49,300 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi-L7 2WD | $53,500 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi-L AWD | $51,800 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V VTi-LX AWD | $57,500 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V e:HEV RS | $59,900 |
Across the board, the CR-V is significantly more expensive to purchase with prices starting at $41,900 driveaway for the entry-level VTi-X+.
For us today, we’re comparing the range-topping Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Ultimate that costs $43,990 driveaway against the CR-V e:HEV RS that costs $59,900 driveaway.
Now, the $16k variance is a big chuck of change in anyone’s books. So, let’s see if the Chery offers more than just an affordable pricetag and if the CR-V can justify its premium.
What do you get?
Both of these vehicles come equipped with a generous level of standard equipment.
Both share the following features:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights and taillights
- Keyless entry
- Power operated tailgate
- Synthetic leather trim
- Heated front seats
- Power windows
- Privacy glass
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Power adjustable driver’s seat
- Ambient interior lighting
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- Wireless phone charger
- USB-A and USB-C power outlets
But each of them also has a few unique elements in their favour. The Chery’s front seats offer ventilation as well as heating, which is nice on a summer’s day, and its twin 12.3-inch digital screens are larger than in the CR-V which has a 10.2-inch unit for the instrument cluster and a 9.0-inch central display for the infotainment touchscreen.
But it’s not all about size, as the Honda’s instrument cluster is clearer, easier to read and less prone to glare under its canopy than the Chery’s more exposed display which doesn’t use its extra real estate very well.
It’s the same with the infotainment screen too, as the Honda has a far more logical menu structure with phone-style widgets for each of its functions as well as a separate display for ventilation settings, physical shortcut buttons and a proper knob to control the volume of the audio system.
Similarly, the CR-V has rotating controls for the air conditioning – for the temperature on each side of the cabin and the fan speed – that are easy to use, while the Chery has a haptic panel on the dashboard that can be hard to see in bright light.
Both have wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple devices but the Chery requires a wired connection for Android Auto. In our experience, the Honda’s connection is more stable and consistent and launches quickly as soon as you start the car (although you have to accept a safety disclaimer first every time), whereas I could connect my iPhone to Bluetooth in the Chery but CarPlay was hit and miss so I reverted to a USB connection.
Both also have eight-speaker Bose audio systems that offer decent sound quality and staging, but the Honda also uses active noise cancelling technology that helps make music or podcasts seem a little clearer and crisper
Are they safe?
Modern safety systems are moving fast, and the fact that the Tiggo 7 is newer than the CR-V is highlighted by their respective features and, consequently, their ANCAP safety ratings.
The Chery scores a maximum five stars versus the Honda’s four-star score, but that is primarily because it ticks a few more boxes against ANCAP’s criteria for safety assistance such as door opening warning, rear occupant detection and a more advanced driver attention monitoring system.
| Category | Chery Tiggo 7 CSH | Honda CR-V e:HEV RS |
|---|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 82 per cent | 88 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 86 per cent | 88 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 80 per cent | 76 per cent |
| Safety assist | 82 per cent | 68 per cent |
Otherwise, both feature a comprehensive suite of advanced driver aids:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistance
- Traffic jam assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Blind spot monitoring
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Driver attention monitoring
- Tyre pressure monitors
- Front and rear parking sensors
- 360-degree parking display
In the real world, the Honda’s suite of systems – dubbed Smart Sensing – is calibrated better and is far less intrusive than in the Chery which, while significantly improved over previous generations, still tends to tug at the wheel while trying to maintain its position in the centre of a lane and slows down unnecessarily through gentle bends when the cruise control is activated. The driver attention monitor also acts far too quickly when glancing at, or adjusting anything, on the central touch screen.
Both vehicles are also equipped with eight airbags, including a centre airbag between the front seat occupants and a a driver’s knee airbag, and have ISOFIX mounting points on the outboard rear seats for child restraints with top tethers.
Dig a little deeper into the physical crash test results and the CR-V scores higher for its structural integrity in both adult and child protection.
What are they like inside?
As far as family cars go, both the Chery Tiggo 7 and Honda CR-V get the fundamental basics right with plenty of space for five, decent cargo carrying capacity and plenty of conveniences.
The CR-V is fractionally larger in its overall dimensions and rides on a longer wheelbase compared to the Tiggo 7 which gives it a slight advantage in terms of rear seat space and significantly more room in the boot, but its wheel arches are more intrusive while the Chery has a flatter load area.
Both provide acres of space in the back with good leg and toe room, rear air vents, USB power outlets and fold down centre arm rest with additional cupholders. But the Tiggo is more practical when carrying three across the bench with a flatter floor whereas the CR-V’s transmission tunnel is a little higher and more intrusive.
For those in the front, both have supportive and comfortable seats that offer plenty of adjustment to suit a myriad of drivers and excellent vision both front and rear.
The CR-V’s dashboard layout is more conservative in its overall design with a traditional cowl for the instrument cluster and a tablet-style infotainment screen protruding from the top whereas the Tiggo has a modern floating twin-screen configuration. As mentioned previously, the Honda’s screens are easier to read and use, as well as less prone to glare in bright sunlight.
The overall quality of materials is also slightly better in the Honda, and the centre console is easier to access with cupholders behind the gear lever and a larger tray with its wireless phone charger at the front.
But the Tiggo 7 has an additional space underneath that’s big enough for a small handbag and features a glass hammer/belt cutting tool which is unique and, potentially, life saving in the event of an accident.
| Dimensions | Chery Tiggo 7 CSH | Honda CR-V e:HEV RS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4535mm | 4704mm |
| Width | 1864mm | 1866mm |
| Height | 1702mm | 1681mm |
| Wheelbase | 2653mm | 2701mm |
| Cargo capacity | 356L | 581L |
What’s under the bonnet?
Here’s where things diverge a little more between these two as the Chery Tiggo 7 is a plug-in hybrid that promises to be more efficient and can drive longer distances using its electric motor while the Honda CR-V is powered by a more conventional series hybrid drivetrain.
| Specifications | Chery Tiggo 7 CSH | Honda CR-V e:HEV RS |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L 4cyl turbo-petrol | 2.0L 4cyl petrol |
| Engine outputs | 105kW 215Nm |
N/A |
| Electric motor outputs | 150kW 310Nm |
N/A |
| System outputs | N/A | 135kW 335Nm |
| Battery | 18.4kWh LFP | 1.5kWh li-ion |
| Transmission | Single-speed ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission’ | e-CVT |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1788kg | 1771kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 1.4L/100km | 5.5L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 5.2L/100km | 5.6L/100km |
| Electric driving range (PHEV) | 93km (NEDC) | N/A |
| Fuel tank capacity | 60L | 57L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 33g/km | 125g/km |
| Emissions standard | N/A | Euro 6b |
| Braked tow capacity | 750kg | 750kg |
The Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid pairs a 1.5-litre turbo charged four-cylinder petrol engine with a single electric motor housed within its single speed transmission that drives the front wheels and features a decent 18.4kWh lithium-iron phosphate battery.
Chery provides outputs for the different elements of the powertrain, claiming the petrol engine produces 105kW and 215Nm on its own while the electric motor generates 150kW and 310Nm, but does not provide a maximum combined output.
With Honda it’s the opposite. It does not provide separate outputs for its 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine or the two electric motors that are sandwiched within its continuously variable transmission (CVT), nor does it officially release the capacity of its lithium-ion battery pack. Instead, it says the system delivers combined maximum outputs of 135kW and 335Nm.
As far as fuel efficiency is concerned, Chery claims the Tiggo 7 has an average consumption figure of just 1.4L/100km but that figure is unrealistic and more a byproduct of how plug-in hybrids are tested with a full battery pack. It also says it can theoretically travel up to 93km on electric power alone.
The reality, in both cases, is a fair bit different. In our experience, it’s not hard to achieve around 50km of everyday driving around town using just the battery pack, which is slightly more than the average daily commute for most Australians.
One of the key reasons why it won’t drive much further than that is the battery management system maintains at least 25 per cent capacity so it can use the electric motor all the time, especially at low speeds and moving away from a standstill.
If you install a charger at home and top-up every day then the Tiggo 7 could potentially keep you away from the service station for weeks or even months at a time.
But if you don’t replenish the battery often or have a longer commute that includes highway driving then the petrol engine has to do a lot of the heavy lifting. And, at the end of our week-long test period where we left the system to fend for itself and didn’t replenish the battery, the end result was much closer with the Chery recording an average figure of 5.2L/100km while the Honda was almost bang-on its claim at 5.6L/100km.
How do they drive?
Chinese car makers like Chery are making massive inroads and the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid is a fantastic example of how rapidly they are improving. It’s a good car, but…
The Honda CR-V is a reminder of what a great car can be in terms of fundamental engineering elements like ride and handling, steering feel and overall comfort.
It feels more solid and secure on the road, the steering is more natural and it soaks up bumps and road irregularities with much more finesse.
It is also quieter, thanks in part to using active noise cancelling technology that reduces wind and road noise by introducing counter frequencies through the audio system, and feels more refined.
The Tiggo 7 isn’t far off in most areas, but the steering is way too light and digital, the suspension pitches more over bumps and rolls through corners and the braking feel is fairly wooden when using the electric motor to regenerate power under light loads.
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A little fine tuning would make a massive difference.
It is noticeably quicker though if you ask for everything the petrol and electric motors have under acceleration, but then the Maxxis tyres scrabble for grip and the steering wheel tugs with torque steer.
Cost of ownership
At face value, the Chery Tiggo 7 looks enticing with a seven year, unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assistance and capped price servicing and longer 15,000km service intervals, compared to Honda’s standard five-year coverage.
| Servicing and Warranty | Chery Tiggo 7 CSH | Honda CR-V e:HEV RS |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 12 months, then service-activated | 5 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years | 7 years |
| Average annual service cost | $453.45 | $199 |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3174.15 | $995 |
However, Chery only offers roadside assistance for the first 12 months which is re-activated each year if you maintain the vehicle within its dealer network, and the more complex nature of the plug-in hybrid powertrain means it costs over two-and-a-half times as much to service each year than the CR-V.
Honda owners, meanwhile, can get an extra three years warranty coverage – extending the total period to eight years – if the vehicle is maintained properly within the Honda network and the vehicle meets certain criteria at the end of the regular period.
Another factor to consider – and one that might vanquish the Honda’s premium pricetag – is depreciation. According to Redbook’s resale ratings, the CR-V is expected to retain 58.5 percent of its original value after the first three years while the Tiggo 7 will hold just 38 per cent.
So, with an eye on the future, the Honda is expected to be worth $35,000 in three years while the Chery will be worth around $17,000.
CarExpert’s Pick
This is a tougher contest than we expected, even without taking into account the significant purchase price difference between the Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid and the Honda CR-V.
The CR-V is undeniably a better car in terms of the quality of its engineering and overall refinement, and ticks every box required for modern family life with a spacious and flexible cabin, thoughtful conveniences and up-to-the-minute tech. It’s the better long term option.
But is it a family holiday to Europe better than the Tiggo 7 today? That’s a tough one to answer, because the Chinese newcomer is more than a match in terms of space and features, has a better safety score even if its systems aren’t as well calibrated and it has the potential to be a cheaper to run if you use its plug-in powertrain properly.
That’s a $16,000 question…
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MORE: Explore the Honda CR-V showroom