Chery’s new family SUV can convert into a ute on demand, and it could come to local showrooms as the brand’s second dual-cab.
Chery has unveiled the 2027 Tiggo V, a three-row family SUV with a removable canopy that can convert into a dual-cab ute.
The Tiggo V is based on the same car-derived ‘monocoque’ underpinnings as Chery’s family SUV range, rather than the off-road-focused, heavy-duty ladder frame of the brand’s upcoming ‘KP31’ plug-in hybrid ute.
Its party piece is a detachable “rear body shell” that, with the third row of seats removed, creates an open ute tub with a visual-effect sports bar, split from the rest of the interior with adjustable dividers.
Six configurations of the Tiggo V are possible, including a camper, though no images have been released of layouts beyond the ute and SUV. It appears seven- and eight-seat configurations are available, with a two- or three-seat second-row bench.
Chery Australia is yet to confirm the Tiggo V for local showrooms, though it has expressed interest in the vehicle as an alternative to the KP31 – only its codename for now – for buyers who don’t need to tow or go off-road.
“Certainly, the more lifestyle-focused monocoque [ute], I think has a place. It’s just not before this one [KP31],” Chery Australia chief operating officer Lucas Harris told Drive.
Limited details of how the rear canopy is removed, where it is stowed, and other information on how it operates have been revealed.
It is also unclear if the Tiggo V can be driven with seven seats fitted but the rear canopy detached, but it is believed it is possible to drive with the rear divider removed, in order to load longer items.
Chery has confirmed a wheelbase of 2800mm – 50mm longer than that of the brand’s current largest vehicle sold in Australia, the Tiggo 9 seven-seat SUV, though still shorter than conventional dual-cabs (a dual-cab Toyota HiLux quotes 3085mm).
It’s not clear how large the Tiggo V’s tray is, nor how much weight it can carry.
It will be offered in non-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, though it is unclear which engines they will use, how much power they will produce, and how large their batteries will be.
Using the Tiggo 9 and other models on the Tiggo V’s underpinnings as a guide, expect the hybrid to pair 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine to two electric motors with front-wheel drive, or three motors with all-wheel drive, and a 34kWh battery pack.
The Tiggo 9 claims 315kW with all-wheel drive, and a 170km electric-only driving range in NEDC lab testing.
Details of the non-hybrid version are yet to be published. The Tiggo 9 is available overseas with a 187kW/390Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive.
Chery has confirmed a 700mm water wading depth and 6.0L/100km fuel consumption in the plug-in hybrid – likely calculated with a flat battery – against 650km and 7.84L/100km, respectively, from the non-hybrid, likely petrol-driven version.
Ground clearance is quoted at 220mm across the range, and Chery claims the Tiggo V can climb a 30-degree slope.
Previewed by the T1TP concept last year, the Tiggo V wears an updated version of Chery’s current styling cues, expected to mirror future generations of the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 SUVs on sale in Australia.
The example on the stand at the Beijing motor show, where the car was revealed, was shod in 19-inch wheels with Pirelli all-terrain tyres.
A glimpse at its interior given at the car’s reveal shows two large displays for infotainment and instruments, a steering wheel shared with other Chery SUVs, and what appears to a a row of physical shortcut buttons below the centre display.
The variant of the Tiggo V highlighted at the Beijing show is fitted with second-row ‘captain’s chairs’, leaving only four seats when the third row is removed, but it appears there is a three-seat second-row bench.
Interior features highlighted by Chery include a fridge under the second-row climate-control vents, plus air vents in the third row, and a 360-degree camera with an ‘underfloor’ view. Automatic parking is also available.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
