Comparison: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro vs Proton X90 Flagship - Which is the better sub-RM 160k 3-row D-SUV?
CY Foong · Dec 13, 2024 09:30 AM
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We have seen this rivalry coming, but pitting a Chery against a Proton is not new in the 3-row segment. 15 years ago, the rivalry between the Chinese and Malaysian carmakers came to a head in the then-popular MPV segment.
The Proton Exora dominated the market with its sheer space, abundant features, and affordable price. Meanwhile, the Chery Eastar presented a larger and more powerful powertrain for just RM 10,000 more than the top-of-the-range Exora.
That presented the Eastar as the first successful Chinese car to hit the Malaysian market, something that its successor, the Maxime could not emulate. The Exora itself soldiered on for 14 years until its demise in October 2023 with 196,583 units sold.
Today, the MPV market is not as immensely popular as it was back in 2009 when the Exora and Eastar vied for attention. However, its successors in the three-row vehicle segment mirror certain aspects albeit in different packages. Tastes may have changed but there is still a demand for 3-row vehicles among families and those who simply needed the extra space.
Both the Proton X90 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro are vastly bigger than the Exora and Eastarâa whole segment, mind you, as the pair of SUVs are in the D-segment. Still, both models are more affordably priced than their peers from Japan and Korea. The top-of-the-line X90 Flagship is priced from RM 152,800, while the lone Tiggo 8 Pro is priced from RM 159,800.
Both SUVs are locally assembled (CKD) here at Tanjung Malim and Kulim respectively. We have driven both the X90 and Tiggo 8 Pro individually so you can check out both reviews at their respective blue links.
Looks â Tiggo 8 shines
Modern Chinese cars have come a long way from being shoddy carbon copies of established cars from Japan and the West, with both the Tiggo 8 Pro and X90 proving the case. While the X90 wears a Malaysian badge, its underpinnings are largely carried over from the Geely Haoyue, which I would argue makes it Chinese underneath.
The Tiggo 8 Pro gives off a sense of opulence with the chrome trims and a dazzling bejewelled-like front grille. The rear has a sense of sportiness with the quad tailpipe treatment, but it is still a rather elegant-looking SUV.
Meanwhile, the X90 also shines its way with an equally bedazzled front grille but is more boxy in appearance compared to the Tiggo 8 Pro. That gives it some brownie points in trying to bring back the days of a traditional angular SUV of the past but the overall execution looks rather plain.
Even stepping inside, the X90 looks more conservative than the Tiggo 8 Pro. The buttons and switches on the X90 are well laid out and easy to reach but it doesnât quite show off the premium feeling of an SUV of its class, let alone one that costs RM 150k.
On the other hand, the Tiggo 8 Proâs interior does not look like a RM 160k SUV but something that costs even more. The quality of the materials used along with the switches feel more at home in a car that would have a three-pointed star on the steering wheel (at least on first impression) and yet, here they are, laid neatly in a Chinese SUV a fraction of the cost.
Sony-branded speakers and quilted leather seats are among the features standard on the lone Tiggo 8 Pro variant. Those are high marks compared to the features offered on the most expensive Proton model which has no proper in-car connectivity like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Clearly, the Tiggo 8 Pro hits right off the mark in terms of appearance alone. Chery has presented itself very well with high-quality materials and a luxurious-looking SUV for an exceptionally reasonable price. The Tiggo 8 Pro easily wins this round of initial impressions.
Versatility â X90 swallows all
Dimension comparison
Model
Tiggo 8 Pro
Proton X90
Length
4,722 mm
4,830 mm
Width
1,860 mm
1,900 mm
Height
1,705 mm
1,764 mm
Wheelbase
2,710 mm
2,805 mm
Dimensionally, the X90 is bigger than the Tiggo 8 Pro and the Flagship is the only variant in the X90 lineup to feature a pair of captain chairs in the middle row instead of a bench seat.
Though the X90 Flagship can only fit a maximum of 6 passengers, one fewer than the Tiggo 8 Pro, the empty space between the two captain chairs means it is easier to get into the third row.
Though both SUVs have the availability of a pair of extra seats in the rear, we never used them throughout the comparison review. So, they mainly laid flat as our luggage and equipment filled the back.
Still, if youâre looking for which of the two has better versatility, it would be the X90 not just because of its size but the way some compartments are designed. Take, for example, the storage below the centre console.
Both SUVs have this feature but only the X90âs is easy to reach and has a larger opening. It is nearly hidden from view in the Tiggo 8 Pro, kind of like an afterthought. Nevertheless, both SUVs held up well in boot volume and other storage features but the X90 wins here to settle the score at a draw, for now.
Power â Tiggo 8 Pro pulls ahead but...
The Proton X90 is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre TGDI 3-pot 48V mild-hybrid powertrain that makes 190 PS and 300 Nm. The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro has a larger turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder unit that produces 256 PS and 390 Nm, the latter proudly displayed on its tailgate.
If this were Top Trumps, the Tiggo 8 Pro wins by a long shot but what impresses on paper does not necessarily shine in the real world.
The Tiggo 8 Pro is hampered by poor calibration on the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a jumpy accelerator. It is nigh impossible to set off a smooth start while gently pressing on the throttle does nothing to make the car move even an inch.
One needs to press the pedal harder which would result in lunging the SUV forward, an unforgivable reaction for a vehicle of this price range.
Despite the lower output, the X90 is the one we unanimously prefer to get behind the wheel of between the two SUVs. Granted, the 7-speed DCT is not entirely smooth either but it is a lot more manageable. In fact, being more gentle with the accelerator pedal provides a much more enjoyable and smoother ride.
Sure, the Tiggo 8 Pro could win in a drag race between the two (completely irrelevant to our comparison, so we didnât test them out) but realistically, power isnât that important when it comes to an SUV. Rather it isâŠ
Comfort â X90 wafts away
The highways are where this pair of SUVs, both flagship models of their respective brands, would be fully utilised. Whether itâs to travel back to hometowns or ferrying a large group across states, both SUVs present very decent levels of comfort but one stood out from the rest.
The Tiggo 8 Pro with all of its plush bells and whistles already convinced some buyers as they are a common sight on our roads. I wonder if badge snobbery is the other reason they chose this over the X90 because it is not the most comfortable SUV of the two.
I am not saying that it is uncomfortable but when sitting back to back between it and its closest rival, the X90 is the one that I would rather be in for long journeys. The suspension and damping on the Tiggo 8 Pro are firm and there are minor scuttles as it goes over the mild undulations of the highway but where the SUV deducts its comfort points are in the seats.
At first glance, the brown quilted leather seats look good with adequate bolstering and better support for the lower parts of the body. However, the leather material used is not breathable and I found myself sweating the longer I sat on them and no, the A/C is blowing cooly.
Granted, the front seats are ventilated but the leather material used is not exactly well-suited for Malaysia's humid weather.
That said, the X90 seats are not entirely perfect with the front seats having poor lower thigh support, meaning long-distance driving can be rather tiring. Even if the front seats are basically reused for the middle row in the Flagshipâs captain chairs, it does its job in rear passenger comfort a lot better than the Tiggo 8 Pro.
The materials used are of better breathability and because the throttle is easier to modulate, the X90 is more relaxing to be in during long-distance driving. While Protonâs ride and handling are often remarked as the best in the segment, itâs no exaggeration in this comparison when I say that it is as impressive as an established rival costing more than RM 200k.
Fuel consumption â X90 sips through
During our time with both SUVs, we travelled around 380 km, a journey that also brought us from KL to Melaka and back for a few days. When we first collected the SUVs, we filled their tanks to the brim and did not refuel them when returning them.
We didn't need to calculate the estimated consumption as our respective fuel gauges revealed which one of the two is a heavy drinker and it is the higher output Tiggo 8 Pro.
Both SUVs have a similar fuel tank size (X90: 60 L, Tiggo 8: 57 L) but even in their standalone reviews, the Tiggo 8 Pro is still the thirstier SUV (13.3 L/100 km) than the X90 (10.19 L/100 km).
But this comparison isnât over just yet because if youâre curious how this pair of Chinese D-segment SUVs compare with an established rival that is priced RM 100,000 more, then you might want to hold on for this.
A wildcard challenger appears!
Besides our pair of rivals, we also brought along a Korean outsider who showed the two Chinese SUVs here how a proper D-segment SUV would behave. The Kia Sorento 2.2D AWD is a commendable SUV, regardless of segment and though it is overlooked mainly for its steep price tag (CKD, RM 255,228), it is here to teach the more affordable rivals what they can aspire to be.
The Sorento casts a presence that is grand but also subtle at the same time. There is no bedazzling front grille even on this top-of-the-range variant and rather than being showy with its equipment and features, it proves itself through its powertrain.
The 2.2-litre turbodiesel inline-4 (202 PS/440 Nm) has less power output than the Tiggo 8 Pro but the 8-speed DCT automatic transmission here is as smooth as butter. Tap the accelerator and it responds ever so gently; gun it harder and it brings out a surprisingly athletic side.
Still, the Sorento is not the main star here with a RM 250k price tag that puts it out of consideration among its more affordable rivals. As an aspirational D-segment SUV, it ticks a lot of boxes but there are also some traits which are commendable for our Chinese duo.
Verdict
The Tiggo 8 Pro seems to have all the bases covered to win over buyers just by glancing over the spec sheets and viewing at the showroom. It is more powerful than even a RM 250k Korean, packs a lot of great features, and looks and feels well put together, all for RM 155k which seems like a great bargain.
However, all of that and the kitchen sink seem like window dressing because once you familiarise yourself with it, the Tiggo 8 Pro unravels itself as a bit unfinished. The luxurious seats are not as comfortable as you might think while the powertrains are a huge miss in refinement.
The Proton X90 doesnât stand out as much as the Tiggo 8 Pro with a plain exterior design, an interior that feels a class lower than even the cheaper X70 as well as lacking certain features like proper in-car connectivity, and a 3-cylinder engine that most Malaysians are still feeling rather hesitant to accept.
Yet, the Flagship variant is the only one with a pair of captain chairs within its price range that is also offered on the even more expensive Sorento and handles just as well for less. The X90 makes more sense as a large family hauler and a long-distance cruiser than the Tiggo 8 Pro.
Clearly, the second Chery vs Proton 3-row showdown ends with a 3-2 victory for the Malaysian Tiger.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.