Double Honors at Carwow: Chery TIGGO8 Tops the “Car of the Year” Rankings as Its Hybrid Tech Earns Global Acclaim

On November 20, Chery TIGGO8 secured a double victory in the UK, underscoring its strong market appeal. Just two months after its launch, the model scooped up the "2026 Car of the Year" award from Carwow, a leading UK automotive vertical media outlet. Meanwhile, its plug-in hybrid variant, TIGGO8 CSH, was crowned "Hybrid Hero" for its exceptional performance, outshining new offerings from several luxury brands.

Live at the Award Ceremony

TIGGO8 featured on Carwow's recommendation page

The recognition is driven by Carwow's impartial evaluation and a strong endorsement from Editor-in-Chief Mat Watson. “It feels premium — almost too good to be true. You get every luxury feature you could want, yet it costs about the same as a European hatchback,” he remarked. After testing 42 models this year, he added TIGGO8 to his “Buy” list — only the sixth vehicle to receive this rating, with the previous ones all being traditional luxury brands.

Designed for the global market, TIGGO8 excels in every aspect. Its spacious and flexible design caters perfectly to large families. The versatile 5+2 seating layout offers 12 different configurations, while the massive 1,930-liter cargo space effortlessly handles everything from daily commutes and family trips to camping gear, strollers, and even surfboards or bicycles. Inside, the cabin is appointed with soft-touch materials on 78.9% of surfaces. It offers practical comfort through features like a 10-point massage and power leg rest for the front passenger, complemented by a premium audio system with a driver's headrest speaker and 12 speakers in total. This creates a personal haven of comfort for every occupant.

TIGGO8 is a showcase of Chery's core strengths in powertrain and intelligent technology. Its "Hybrid Hero"-winning Chery Super Hybrid (CSH) system is built around a fifth-generation dedicated hybrid engine with 44.5% thermal efficiency, a stepless electric DHT gearbox, and a dedicated hybrid battery. This setup delivers a comprehensive range of over 1,100 km while maintaining a low fuel consumption of just 5.19 L/100 km even when the battery is depleted. The system also ensures superior safety with a 2-millisecond high-voltage cutoff and offers an extensive operating temperature range from -35°C to 60°C, making it perfectly adaptable to diverse climates and challenging road conditions. On the intelligence front, a standard Qualcomm 8155 chip enables a swift system response under 30ms. A 15.6-inch ultra-narrow-frame HD screen and a 540° panoramic view camera enhance both safety and convenience, truly putting "technology in the service of travel" into practice.

TIGGO8 CSH earns 5-star Euro NCAP rating

TIGGO8 leaves no detail overlooked when it comes to safety. Its body structure is fortified with 65% high-strength and hot-formed steel, reaching 1,500 MPa in key areas for maximum rigidity. This passive safety is complemented by a comprehensive set of 10 airbags, including far-side and knee units, contributing to its top-tier, five-star ratings in global tests like Euro NCAP and ANCAP. Active safety is equally robust, with 19 ADAS features that assist with driving, reversing, and parking—from Lane Departure Control to Autonomous Emergency Braking. This integrated approach safeguards both occupants and pedestrians, fully embodying Chery's "Safety, for Family" ethos.

TIGGO8's standout performance in the UK is no coincidence but a direct result of Chery's strategic European playbook. Recognizing the UK's role as Europe's largest right-hand-drive market and a crucial gateway for global expansion and deep cultivation in the region, Chery entered with a deliberate dual-track approach: offering proven fuel-powered models to attract traditional buyers, while simultaneously launching hybrids like TIGGO8 CSH to gain an edge in the market's transition. This strategy has successfully created a differentiated and competitive product lineup.

TIGGO8 debuts at the UK launch event

Chery is steadily expanding its European footprint from the UK into more markets. As Zhu Shaodong, Executive Vice President of Chery International, stated at the UK launch: “We are committed to the principle of ‘In UK, for UK.’ This means not only introducing quality products but also deeply integrating into the local ecosystem through R&D, production, customer service, and social responsibility—advancing our ESG goals and truly putting down roots to serve the community.” Chery's deepening presence in Europe is injecting new vitality into the automotive market, demonstrating the strength and confidence required to lead the industry's next wave.