If the Chery Omoda 5 aims for the small SUV segment, then the CKD Chery Tiggo 8 Pro aims for the bigger, plusher side of the market: the 7-seaters. Competition here might be made up of a fewer number of rivals, yet they still pose a formidable challenge.

Whether or not the Tiggo 8 Pro can nick sales away from the Toyota Innova Zenix and Proton X90 is still yet to be seen, but if first impressions count for something, boy do they have a shot.

Confirmed specs for Chery Tiggo 8 Pro in Malaysia

First-up, it's already a known fact that the Tiggo 8 Pro will be locally-assembled (CKD Kulim), just like its stablemate the Omoda 5 is. And at Chery's recent media gathering, we've learnt more of the 7-seater SUV's confirmed specs, as below:

• 2.0-litre, 4-cyl TGDi, 256 PS/390 Nm
• 7-speed DCT
• 19-inch wheels
• Full-LED head- and taillights, DRLs
• 24.5-inch dual-screen setup
• Dual-zone air-conditioning
• Panoramic glass roof

Fitting for a range flagship, the Tiggo 8 Pro will also benefit from the full array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), with these features:

• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Blind Spot Detection (BSD)
• Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow (ACC w/ LSF, 0-180 km/h)
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)
• Integrated Cruise Assist (ICA)
• Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
• 540-degree camera (with underfloor cameras)

First impressions

Where the Omoda 5 impresses, the Tiggo 8 Pro brings things up a notch or two. First thing we noticed are the seats: they're perhaps some of the plushest units around. They're also heated and ventilated as well, which helps in bumping up the whole luxury arrangement too.

Also read: More than a match for Proton X50? Here are the confirmed specs for CKD Chery Omoda 5

At least for me, I find the Tiggo 8 Pro's cabin to be more 'complete' than the Omoda 5's minimalist take. Something about the centre-stack I reckon; it's 'filled in' here with the buttons, plus the two central cupholders help in the practical side of things too.

Build quality as a whole is great (switchgears in particular feel more solid than in the Omoda 5), and that also extends to the screens and upholstery.

Meanwhile, its spaciousness is a net positive - a conventional profile without an angular roof is recipe for good headroom, and that's what you'll find inside. Legroom is equally plenty too, so if you're looking for space in your next purchase, keep the Tiggo 8 Pro in your shopping list...

Also read: Review: 2023 Proton X90 in Malaysia; Not the finest hour it could've been

The drive however isn't what we can comment on extensively at point of publication. Our time behind the wheel of it was short, and at most we can tell you that it's pretty quiet. A comprehensive review will come as soon as we get a press loaner.

Conclusion

Certainly, there's quite a bit to look forward to in Chery's re-entry into Malaysia. The Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5 has both done enough to keep people interested; and we're eager too to see how well it'll take on the regular stalwarts in our automotive landscape.

For that to happen though, there needs to be a bit of waiting, but not for long - Chery will be organising their brand launch next week (along with these two models), so stay tuned...