Three days with the Chery Tiggo 9 in Kostanay turned out to be nothing like a typical test drive. A Kursiv Avto journalist tested the brand's flagship model and also helped a friend move to the new Kunai microdistrict, which is actively growing outside the city. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

As a result, the large seven-seat crossover made nine trips, carrying clothes, appliances, furniture, and household items, and even some furniture, and between them managed to visit several villages in the region.

The crossover has a 2-liter turbo engine with 245 hp and 375 Nm of torque. It works with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the car has all-wheel drive.

The friend's family is large – three children, so a lot of things accumulated. The Tiggo 9 was loaded almost to the brim, but even with heavy cargo, the car continued to drive back and forth calmly.

For those who like bigger engines, two liters may seem insufficient. However, this is more a matter of personal preference. In Sport mode, the Tiggo 9 confidently handled full load and caused no problems over all nine trips.

The move was not the only test. Over three days, the car went to the region several times. The longest trip was 95 km, with about 70 km on field roads.

On good dirt roads, the Tiggo 9 held its pace confidently. On one section, the speed reached 134 km/h, while the suspension handled the ribbed road quite confidently. Fuel consumption was also a pleasant surprise. Over three days, the onboard computer showed an average of 8.2 liters per 100 km. The trips were quite active, and the manufacturer's claimed combined consumption is 8.3 liters.

When overtaking, the crossover sometimes needs a short pause before active acceleration. However, in Sport mode, the response becomes noticeably sharper, and after several trips, the turbo engine's character is well understood.

Multimedia deserves special mention. The large 15.6-inch screen works quickly, the interface does not make you wait, and navigation prompts can be output through speakers in the headrest. So the navigator's voice does not have to sound throughout the cabin. The equipment also includes a head-up display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

There is also a less noticeable but useful function – when reverse gear is engaged, the car automatically activates the hazard lights. This is especially useful in Kazakhstan, since its use is required by traffic rules when reversing.

The third row is also equipped with an electric drive for the second row to access passengers. The solution is convenient, but not the fastest: the seat must first be moved, then returned, and when getting out, repeat the procedure. In this case, for some car owners, a simple manual mechanism could be more practical.

One oddity was also found. The driver's seat memory did not save the selected position, so the setting had to be repeated before each trip. Perhaps the problem was specific to the test car – no mass complaints about this feature were found online.

After three days and nine trips, the impression of the Tiggo 9 is quite holistic. This is not the case where a car looks beautiful in the parking lot, and its capabilities end after the first serious route. On the contrary, the Tiggo 9 shows that behind the striking appearance is a very practical car designed for real loads and long trips.

There are 7 seats, all-wheel drive, 200 mm of ground clearance, and cargo space from 200 to 2150 liters depending on the seat position. The curb weight is 1974 kg, and the gross weight is 2587 kg.

At the same time, the Tiggo 9 is literally packed with electronic assistants. Around-view camera, blind spot monitoring, collision warning, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, and other systems significantly reduce the driver's workload.

And this is where a small side effect arises. After several days with such a set of assistants, switching to a simpler car becomes unusual. Less and less is required from the driver – the main thing is to turn the steering wheel in time and stop at red lights.

Earlier, Kursiv Avto reported on a trip to the distant bank of the Tobol River in the updated Changan CS75 Plus.