Chery’s surprise: A plug-in family sedan priced like a hybrid

Just as it did two years ago when it entered Israel with prices that undercut competitors, the Chinese automaker Chery is back with another surprise. This time, it’s not with crossovers but with a relatively large plug-in family sedan called the Arrizo 8.

In today’s unusual market, where the prices of popular family cars are at levels once associated with larger sedans—Mazda 3 starts at NIS 156,500, Toyota Corolla was recently sold for nearly NIS 170,000, Hyundai Elantra is priced at NIS 175,000, and Skoda Octavia at NIS 151,000 seems like a rare bargain—a plug-in sedan priced at NIS 174,000 could shake up the market again.

The Arrizo 8 comes in a sedan form with dimensions of 4.78 meters from front to rear, a width of 1.84 meters, and a height of 1.49 meters. Its wheelbase measures 277 cm. These dimensions place it slightly above popular family sedans like the Corolla, Elantra, and Octavia, positioning it between them and larger sedans such as the Sonata and Superb.

The exact trim levels haven't been confirmed yet and might still change, but it's known that the car will feature two screens—one for the dashboard and one for the multimedia system, both 12.3 inches in size, laid out similarly to Hyundai’s current models. It will also have dual-zone climate control with rear seat vents, power-adjustable front seats, two wireless charging pads, drive mode selectors, touch buttons on the steering wheel, and a driver’s environment free of physical switches. It’s unclear if the panoramic glass roof will come standard.

As for the powertrain, it consists of a combination of a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor. According to reports from China, the turbocharged gasoline engine produces 150 hp and 22.4 kgm of torque, while the electric motor adds around 200 hp and 31.6 kgm. As is common in cars that combine gasoline and electric engines, the total power output is not a simple sum of the two figures but rather a combination. Final specs for the European-compliant version, which we will receive, have yet to be released.

In any case, with competitors like the Octavia offering 115 hp, the Elantra 139 hp, and the Corolla (before its import was stopped) 140 hp, the Arrizo 8 is expected to be quicker. One report suggests a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of around seven seconds. The transmission is a dual-clutch automatic.

Equally interesting is the declared electric range of approximately 90 km, after adjusting from the more optimistic 125 km figure based on Chinese standards. In practical terms, this means that if the car can be charged regularly, the average user could get by with daily use without needing the gasoline engine. At the same time, there’s no range anxiety for weekend trips or family vacations.

At the closed event for fleet managers and business partners, Chery’s importer, Frisbee, announced that the car’s price would be NIS 174,000. Today, sedan models are primarily sold to large corporate fleets and leasing companies, but at this price, the Arrizo might attract private customers as well—those who want an electric vehicle but fear range anxiety. Although Kia’s Niro Plus plug-in, launched two years ago at a similar price, failed to significantly impact the private market, the Arrizo’s situation might be different now, especially with the Toyota Corolla no longer being sold.

Additionally, as a plug-in car, it is eligible for tax benefits in company fleets, which could make it much cheaper—by several hundred shekels per month—compared to hybrid family sedans. The taxable benefit for a plug-in car is currently NIS 1,090, whereas for a hybrid car, it’s NIS 540.

The official launch is scheduled for November this year.

Frisbee’s move is intriguing because plug-in cars with long electric ranges form a significant market segment in China, supported by government incentives. Many Chinese manufacturers have versions of these for their 100% electric models, and they are beginning to export them to Europe. Chery’s Arrizo proves that these cars can be sold at competitive prices in the market.