Flagship of Chinese make’s selection has latest drivetrain tech.

ANOTHER family bus with electric assist aimed at the sensible sector is inbound.

Chery has confirmed the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid large SUV, will release next month, initially from $66,990, initial orders with an incentive.

The new flagship SUV for the Chinese brand has seven seats and all-wheel drive as standard, plus a PHEV system offering up to 170km of pure electric driving range, and a combined range of up to 1250km with a full battery and fuel tank.

Those counts might not prove necessarily wholly useful in real life as they come from using the NEDC calculation that will be exempt here from end of 2025, on grounds it is unreliable.

After December 31 the WLTP scale preferred by NZ legislators for several years, but ignored by many Chinese makes - in part because many have regional offices in Australia, where NEDC is still prominent - will be mandated. WLTP was created because it is far more accurate.

Chery’s PHEV drivetrain incorporates a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with two electric motors on the front axle as well as a single e-motor at the rear.

The total system outputs are quoted at 315kW of power and 580Nm of torque. The electric motors are fed by a 34kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Like the related Omoda 9 already in the market, the Tiggo 9 will be offered in a single, highly-specified variant dubbed the Ultimate AWD CSH.

That brings six-way powered front seats with massage, heating and cooling (that facility also for outboard rear seats), a 14-speaker audio, head up display, 20 inch wheels, a powered sunroof, a powered tailgate and LED headlamps among numerous inclusions.

It is the first Chery model here to offer an Automatic Parking Assist function, which can park the vehicle in parallel and perpendicular parking spaces.

It has a full complement of 10 airbags (including front centre, driver’s knee and rear side airbags) is augmented by a suite of driver assistance functions including autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning.

“This is the ultimate SUV in Chery’s lineup,” said Lucas Harris, Chief Operating Officer Chery Australia and New Zealand.

“The Tiggo 9’s combination of modern design, performance, and advanced features will provide drivers with excellent value and a truly extraordinary driving experience.”

As with the wider Chery range, the Tiggo 9 will be backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with seven years of capped-price servicing and seven years of roadside assistance. An eight-year hybrid battery warranty also provides.

Chery is offering a “special pre-order bonus”, effective as of yesterday and running to November 30, when it will match customer deposits of “anywhere between $500-$2000”.