The Australian lineup for the Chery Tiggo 9 could soon expand with the addition of a more affordable front-wheel drive variant.
Australian Government certification documents confirm road-use approval for a new version of the plug-in hybrid SUV featuring front-wheel drive rather than the current all-wheel drive configuration.
A spokesperson for Chery Australia said the variant is still being evaluated for local release.
“The T9 front-wheel drive is under review for the market,” the spokesperson said.
The Tiggo 9 was launched in Australia last year in a single plug-in hybrid variant, the Super Hybrid Ultimate AWD, priced from $59,990 before on-road costs. A front-drive version could give the large SUV a lower starting price and broaden its appeal.
Potential pricing gap in the lineup
Currently, the Tiggo 9 sits above the smaller Chery Tiggo 8 in Chery’s Australian SUV range.
The Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is priced between $45,990 and $49,990 drive-away, leaving a sizeable gap between it and the Tiggo 9. A front-wheel drive Tiggo 9 could potentially slot between the two models, offering buyers a larger SUV at a more accessible price point.
In terms of dimensions, the Tiggo 9 measures 4800mm long and 1930mm wide, riding on a 2750mm wheelbase, making it one of the largest SUVs offered by the brand in Australia.
By comparison, the Tiggo 8 measures 4724mm long and 1865mm wide, with a 2694mm wheelbase, despite being marketed as a large SUV in its own right.
Revised plug-in hybrid powertrain
The new front-wheel drive version would retain the Tiggo 9’s plug-in hybrid setup but with fewer electric motors.
It continues to use a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder petrol engine, paired with two electric motors integrated within the transmission. These motors produce 75kW and 90kW respectively.
The existing all-wheel drive Tiggo 9 uses a third electric motor mounted on the rear axle, which has been removed in the front-drive version.
Chery currently quotes a combined system output of 315kW for the AWD Tiggo 9, though certification documents do not list a total system output for the new front-wheel drive variant.
2026 Chery Tiggo 9 performance & specs
Powering the potential new front-wheel drive variant of the Tiggo 9 is the same turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder petrol engine used in the all-wheel drive version, paired with a plug-in hybrid system.
In this configuration, the petrol engine works with two electric motors integrated within the transmission, producing 75kW and 90kW respectively. Unlike the existing Tiggo 9 AWD, the front-wheel drive model removes the third rear-mounted electric motor, which is responsible for driving the rear axle.
| Specifications | Chery Tiggo 9 |
| Engine | 1.5L Turbo-petrol |
| Battery | 34.3kWh |
| Combined Power | 315kW |
| Combined Torque | 580Nm |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Electric Range | 170km |
| Combined Fuel consumption | 1.4L/100km |
The current AWD Tiggo 9 produces a combined system output of 315kW, though official documents do not yet list the total system output for the front-wheel drive version.
Sales context in Australia
Sales figures suggest the Tiggo 9 still has room to grow in Australia. During the first two months of 2026, the Chery Tiggo 8 recorded 697 deliveries, comfortably ahead of the Tiggo 9 with 262 units.
However, the flagship SUV is still outperforming some models from Chery’s sister brands. The petrol-powered Jaecoo J8 recorded 146 deliveries, while the plug-in hybrid Omoda 9 managed 115 units over the same period.
If approved for Australia, the new front-wheel drive Tiggo 9 could strengthen the brand’s position in the increasingly competitive large SUV segment by offering a larger plug-in hybrid option at a lower entry price.
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