7 Places: Chery's hit in Israel gets an update and price increase

When Chery launched in Israel in November 2022, it did things a bit differently from the other Chinese brands we’ve seen before and since—offering only gasoline vehicles, targeting two hot and in-demand categories: mid-sized crossovers with the Tiggo 7 Pro and 7-seater crossovers with the Tiggo 8 Pro.

The trick up their sleeve combined generous equipment, a five-year warranty, and a price that no European, Korean, or Japanese competitor could match. Success didn’t take long, and after leading the market in 2023 and becoming the best-selling 7-seater, the pace has slowed this year, with 2,781 units of the Tiggo 8 sold compared to 3,365 units of the Mitsubishi Outlander and 894 units of the Skoda Kodiaq (before its model change).

Now, as mentioned, the facelifted model is starting to be marketed, including an update of the vehicle’s features. The "Luxury Pure" trim level, which was the entry-level version, has been removed from the lineup. In the "Noble" trim level, the car now receives a Sony sound system (still with 8 speakers), the number of airbags increases from 6 to 9, the wireless charging pad has been improved to 50W output, and the 360-degree cameras, dashboard, and multimedia screen are now connected into one curved unit. The facelift adds a new trim level called "Ultimate," which includes memory settings for the driver's seat, ventilation for the front seats, and wine-colored leatherette upholstery (black in the "Noble" trim level).

When it first entered Israel, the Chery 8 Pro was priced at a market-breaking NIS 168,000 for the base version. Even later, when that version disappeared and the price stabilized at NIS 175,000 for the base version that replaced it (Luxury Pure), it was still significantly cheaper than competitors. Now, with no entry-level version at all, the price advantage has narrowed even further, and its price will start at NIS 185,000 for the Noble trim level (with no price change) and NIS 188,000 for the Ultimate. It’s become more expensive, but still NIS 5,000 cheaper than its closest competitor, the entry-level version of the Mitsubishi Outlander, which will also soon undergo a facelift.

The second model receiving a facelift is the Tiggo 7 Pro. The 5-seater model, intended to compete with crossovers like the Kia Seltos, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, or Chevrolet Trax, has not achieved the success of its bigger sibling. This year, its delivery pace stands at 1,302 units compared to the 2,572 units recorded by the Kia Seltos.

In its case, the additional features for the entry-level "Comfort" trim include automatic light control. Here, too, the multimedia system (now 12.3 inches instead of 10) and dashboard are connected, with a 50W wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate control, and more. The "Noble" trim level also includes the Sony sound system with 8 speakers, memory settings for the driver's seat and mirrors, a full-size spare wheel, and more.

In its case, the prices remain unchanged— NIS 159,950 for the Comfort trim level, which will be the entry version, and for the Noble trim level, you’ll need to jump to NIS 159,990.