Chery debuts big new tri-motor hybrid SUV to rival Toyota Prado

Chery has revealed a new flagship SUV, and it’s set to raise the bar for the Chinese brand’s powertrain and driver-assist technologies.

Dubbed the Chery Tiggo 9L, the new “large family flagship SUV” was revealed at the 2025 Shanghai motor show as the brand’s largest vehicle to date. Though its name is similar to the current Tiggo 9, the two share few similarities.

The Tiggo 9 is currently the largest Chery-branded vehicle at 4820mm in length, and while full specifications for the Tiggo 9L are yet to be confirmed, it’s possible it could eclipse the five-metre mark and enter the realm of the Toyota LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest.

A Chery Australia spokesperson told CarExpert that the brand’s local arm will keep an eye on the Tiggo 9L and other new models revealed in Shanghai (see below).

“We’re interested in all the exciting product that was revealed at the Shanghai show. However, at this early stage there are no confirmed plans [for the local release of the Tiggo 9L],” they said.

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According to Car News China, the Tiggo 9L will be underpinned by Chery’s Kunpeng Super Performance Hybrid CDM-S system, which incorporates three electric motors and will be capable of performing tank turns.

The SUV is also expected to be available in both six- and seven-seat configurations, while its chassis will be supported by a variable damping system.

There’s also Chery’s Falcon 700 driving assistance system, which incorporates roof-mounted LiDAR and several cameras integrated into the front bumper. The Falcon 700 system, along with Falcon 500, can both support Level 2 self-driving capability, which is considered partial automation and is comparable to Tesla Autopilot, for example.

Inside, the Tiggo 9L has a so-called “AI smart cockpit”, which features three large screens including a passenger-oriented entertainment display.

There are also items that appear to be more rugged, like grab handles on either side of the cabin and a peculiar drive mode selector bar on the centre console.

No further details or pricing are currently available, nor a date for a potential market launch. It’s likely the Tiggo 9L will be pricier than the similarly named Tiggo 9 though, which costs between RMB152,900 and 203,900 in China (A$32,795-$43,734).

There’s also the Tiggo 9 C-DM plug in-hybrid (PHEV), which costs between RMB165,900 and 175,900 (A$35,593-A$37,739). Both models are available in five- and seven-seat configurations.

The Tiggo 9L would be best placed to compete with the Prado Hybrid, which is currently produced only in left-hand drive in Japan for the US market, but could also eventually be sold in Australia. It’s powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain outputting 243kW of power and 630Nm of torque.

The Tiggo 9 C-DM, meanwhile, utilises a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 175kW and 385Nm on its own.

It’s mated to a three-speed 3DHT electric motor delivering up to 165kW, with Chery claiming a driving range of more than 1400km without needing to be refuelled or recharged.

Also shown off at the Shanghai show was the Chery Himla ute, a direct rival for not only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, but also other Chinese utes like the GWM Cannon, LDV T60, JAC T9, and MG U9.

Chery says its new Himla light commercial vehicle brand will offer “a full lineup spanning from compact to mid-size and large pickups” powered by petrol, diesel and electric powertrains.

The Himla dual-cab ute shown in Shanghai won’t be sold in Australia, however. Instead, this market will receive a larger PHEV ute to rival the BYD Shark 6, GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV.

They’ll be sold in markets such as Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, as Chery cites data showing the global pickup market is set to reach 5.67 million sales this year, before surpassing 6.3 million units by 2030.

MORE: Chery and Jaecoo unveil three new plug-in hybrid SUVsMORE: Chery Himla pickup revealed as China’s latest HiLux, Ranger rival, more utes to comeMORE: How Toyota could get a Prado Hybrid in AustraliaMORE: Everything Chery