MG S9 vs Chery Tiggo 8 – which is best?

These two newcomers give you some fresh choices if you want a large family car with a premium-feeling interior. Both give you seven seats and versatility for relatively little money, but neither skimp on standard equipment or warranty cover. Here’s how to decide between MG’s S9 and Chery’s Tiggo 8 SUVs.

MG S9 vs Chery Tiggo 8 compared

Styling

The S9 is MG’s largest car yet and it certainly doesn’t shy away. Its high-set, sharp headlights frame a large, wide grille that’ll suck up all the plankton in your local area. There are some bold creases in the MG’s profile, and the rear end features a fancy-looking full-width light bar and split top-level brake lights that make the back of the S9 look pleasingly chunky. Almost truck-like.

Chery’s front-end styling also uses twinkly LED headlights and a sizeable grille. It’s very Audi-like but also a bit more conservative than the sharper S9. That’s true of the whole car – the Tiggo 8 looks handsome and very SUV-like, but it isn’t the most outrageously styled seven-seater on the market.

Interior and technology

The S9 uses broadly the same dashboard layout as the smaller HS, which puts two similarly sized screens next to each other above a row of physical keys and a wide centre console. There are more physical buttons on the steering wheel. A wide range of textured surfaces helps give the S9 a premium first impression, although the perceived quality is several notches above the actual quality – some of the plastics feel a little cheaper than they look.

Chery’s interior build quality feels a step up from the MG, with more of the materials feeling authentic and more of the physical controls feeling solid. Mind you, there aren’t as many physical controls as the MG, and the haptic touch panels on the steering wheel can occasionally be pressed accidentally.

The Tiggo 8’s larger touchscreen has more features to play with than the MG’s simpler system. At first, the Chery’s infotainment system can be overwhelming, but you’ll become increasingly familiar with the various menus and screens if you actually live with the car. Chery’s screen is faster and crisper than MG’s, as well.

Dimensions and practicality

The MG S9 is considerably larger than the Tiggo 8 in every dimension, but it doesn’t feel considerably larger inside. The third-row seats aren’t noticeably more spacious than the Tiggo’s, and their shape means anyone sat there will have their knees uncomfortably high. Adults can fit a bit more easily in the third row of the Tiggo 8.

Both offer plenty of middle-row space for occupants to stretch out in. A couple of quirks to mention, though: it’s easier to access the Tiggo 8’s third row from the driver’s side, which isn’t super convenient in a right-hand-drive market. Meanwhile, the S9’s electric seat folding (only on one side, curiously) is so fast that you can imagine a young child being injured by it.

The difference looks huge in the boot space figures, and the S9 will have the edge on the Tiggo 8 because it’s longer – but not by the amount quoted. MG’s figures are to the roofline whereas Chery’s 117 and 494-litre figures are measured to the parcel shelf. For those times when you need van-like carrying capacity, the S9 is unsurprisingly the better choice. Its 2,093 litres is comparable to a genuine van.

It’s worth pointing out that an average UK parking space is 4.8 metres long, so parking the S9 could potentially be more frustrating or difficult than parking the Tiggo 8.

Engine, range and performance

If you solely want a petrol car and don’t want to recharge a battery from the mains, you’ll be better off with the Tiggo 8. Chery gives you the choice of petrol or plug-in-hybrid engines (the plug-in option is far better if you can charge reliably), while the S9 is only available as a plug-in hybrid. We’ve compared the plug-in versions of each car here in more detail.

The MG has a slightly larger battery and goes further on a charge as a result – although both give you enough electric range for commuting or local journeys without using a drop of fuel. MG quotes fuel economy figures for when you’re using the battery power and when you’re not, and the 42mpg figure for an S9 with an empty battery is pretty good for a car of this size and weight. For context, the petrol Tiggo 8 returns around 35mpg without the weight of a battery pack to lug around.

Chery’s Super Hybrid system prioritises battery power as often as possible, which boosts refinement. MG’s powertrain juggles the two power sources more regularly, and you’ll probably hear the engine more often. Thankfully the engine is buried right at the front of the car and there’s a lot of space between you and it, so it’s never ear-splittingly noisy.

The Chery is more comfortable. On bumpy roads you might feel jostled around in the MG, whereas the Chery smooths out road surfaces well.

Value

Both of these cars are available for under £30,000 for low-mileage used examples, which is strong value for money considering how much space and technology is on offer. You also get a seven-year warranty with both. The Chery has been out longer and has proved immensely popular, so there are far more Tiggo 8s for sale at the time of writing.

Which is best?

The MG S9 stacks up very well on paper, giving you a little more electric range and boot space. Its simpler interior will also appeal if you’re feeling a bit frazzled just looking at the Tiggo 8’s vast screen.

But the Tiggo 8 serves up a better driving experience and a more premium interior. Considering the size difference, the Tiggo 8 doesn’t feel that much smaller inside, yet it’ll be a whole lot easier to manoeuvre and park. The Chery is our favourite flavour of these two.

Shop used Chery Tiggo 8 cars for sale at Motorpoint, or read our Chery Tiggo 8 review. Alternatively, check out more plug-in-hybrid seven-seaters here.