Verdict
At RM129,400, the Tiggo 7 is just RM600 above the RM128,800 Sportage, yet it brings plug-in-hybrid hardware: an 18.3-kWh battery, 90 km EV range and 40-kW DC charging. Its 201-hp motor and 310 Nm add figures the Kia’s 154-hp, 192-Nm petrol drivetrain cannot match. Eight airbags and adaptive cruise add substance too. The Sportage answers with a 587-litre boot, 112 litres more, and a 2,755-mm wheelbase. Buyers unable to charge regularly may favour its naturally aspirated 2.0 litre setup, but its RM440 annual road tax is RM320 higher.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 7 if you can charge at home or work and want 90 km of EV range, eight airbags and a far richer driver-assistance suite.
Pick the Kia Sportage if a 587-litre boot, longer 2,755-mm wheelbase and a space-saver spare matter more than plug-in capability.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 7 RM129,400; Kia Sportage RM128,800.
- Powertrain: Tiggo 7 has a 1,498 cc plug-in hybrid with one 201-hp, 310-Nm motor; Sportage has a 1,999 cc naturally aspirated petrol engine rated at 154 hp and…
- EV hardware: Tiggo 7 has an 18.3-kWh battery, 90 km EV range, 6.6-kW AC and 40-kW DC charging; Sportage has no motor, battery, EV range or charging provision.
- Practicality: Tiggo 7 has a 475-litre boot and 2,670-mm wheelbase; Sportage has a 587-litre boot and 2,755-mm wheelbase.
- Safety equipment: Tiggo 7 has eight airbags, blind-spot information, autonomous braking and lane-keeping assist; Sportage has six airbags and no listed…
- Warranty and road tax: Tiggo 7 gets seven years/150,000 km warranty and RM120 annual road tax; Sportage gets five years/100,000 km warranty and RM440 road tax.
Tiggo 7
- 90 km EV range with 6.6-kW AC and 40-kW DC charging.
- Eight airbags, autonomous braking and lane-keeping assist.
- Ventilated and heated power front seats, panoramic sunroof and 360-degree camera.
- 475-litre boot is 112 litres smaller than the Sportage's.
- At 1,795 kg, it is 217 kg heavier than the Sportage.
- Tyre repair kit instead of the Sportage's space-saver spare.
Sportage
- 587-litre boot and 2,755-mm wheelbase.
- Space-saver spare tyre.
- 154-hp petrol engine is rated 15 hp above the Tiggo 7's 139-hp engine.
- RM440 annual road tax is RM320 higher.
- Six airbags versus eight, with no listed autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist or blind-spot information.
- Manual front-seat adjustment versus the Tiggo 7's powered, heated and ventilated front seats.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM129,400 | RM128,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120✓ | RM440 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing with Plug-in Hybrid Assistance | 16-Valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,498 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 139 hp at 5,500 rpm | 154 hp at 6,200 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 215 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ | 192 Nm at 4,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 77 mm × 80.5 mm | 81 mm × 97 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5 | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 201 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 310 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 18.3 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 90 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 40 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | DHT | 6-Speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Hyundai |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,553 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,862 mm | 1,865 mm |
| Height | 1,696 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm | 2,755 mm |
| Weight | 1,795 kg | 1,578 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 475 litres | 587 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 235/65R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/60R18 | 235/65R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Maxxis Victra Sport 5 SUV | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Aero Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Aero Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual For Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear seats | Available for 2 Outer 2nd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | Available for all seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 6-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat with Memory, 4-way Power Adjustable Passenger Seat, Ventilated and Heated | Manual Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 1 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | — |
| Audio | 12.3" Touchscreen Display, Sony Premium Audio with 8 Speakers, Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto | 12.3" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver Side Auto Down |
| Engine Start | Keyless (Depress Brake Pedal) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km battery and drive unit warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Tiggo 7 & Sportage for sale
Tiggo 7 vs Sportage FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 7 or Kia Sportage better?
The Tiggo 7 is the better-equipped choice for buyers who can use its 90 km EV range and want active safety features. The Sportage is better for luggage capacity, with a 587-litre boot against 475 litres.
What is the price difference?
The Kia Sportage costs RM128,800 and the Chery Tiggo 7 costs RM129,400, so the Tiggo 7 is RM600 more expensive.
Which has the larger boot?
The Kia Sportage has the larger boot at 587 litres, 112 litres ahead of the Chery Tiggo 7's 475 litres. It also has a space-saver spare tyre, while the Tiggo 7 uses a tyre repair kit.
