New Chery Tiggo 8 vs used Volvo XC90: which posh seven-seater should you buy? 

The Volvo XC90 is one of our favourite posh seven-seat SUVs, but there are a few Chinese competitors coming to market which seem to do a similar thing for a lot less cash.

Take the Chery Tiggo 8 for example. It looks pretty premium on the face of it, offers seating for seven and costs about half of the equivalent XC90. To get a Volvo for the same money, you’ll have to look at a five-year-old used example.

But should you buy a brand-new Chery, or a second-hand Volvo? Let’s compare the two side-by-side to see what you get for your money.

New Chery Tiggo 8 vs used Volvo XC90: prices and deals

Let’s start by picking the right Chery. The Tiggo 8 starts from just under £29,000 with the base 1.6-litre engine, but we’d avoid this one because it’s noisy and pretty uneconomical.

The pick of the range is the Tiggo 8 plug-in hybrid, which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine paired to an electric motor. It’s much smoother and more refined than the petrol, and it still only costs £33,545. We’d also spend an extra £3,000 to upgrade to the top-spec Summit model, which comes with:

• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Massaging front passenger seat
• Heated steering wheel
• Surround-view camera
• Adaptive cruise control

So in short the best Tiggo 8 is the most expensive one, because you get all the luxury features of a more expensive car in a cheaper package. Through Carwow you can also save around £3,000 on this model at the time of writing, bringing the price down to around £33,500.

But what about the Volvo? Well for just under £35,000, we found a top-spec Inscription Pro model from 2021 with the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid engine. It’s got 51,000 miles on the clock, and comes with:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Heated front seats
• Massaging front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Reversing camera

So the two cars are quite evenly matched in terms of kit, although the Chery has a couple more features as standard. First blow goes to the Tiggo 8.

New Chery Tiggo 8 vs used Volvo XC90: design and desirability

This is where the Volvo starts to claw back points, because you can’t deny that it is effortlessly cool.

It’s hard to believe that this design dates back to 2018, because it still looks fresh. The “Thor’s Hammer” headlights are a staple of Volvo models, and still look good to this day, and the subtle creases make it look muscular and purposeful.

It’s not like the Chery Tiggo 8 looks cheap though, far from it. The big, studded grille and sleek headlights give it a much more premium appearance than the price tag would suggest. It’s just missing that wow-factor you get from the XC90. The Tiggo 8 looks like a car cosplaying as being posh, whereas the Volvo is the real deal.

New Chery Tiggo 8 vs used Volvo XC90: interior and practicality

Inside, you would never guess that the Chery Tiggo 8 is a sub-£40,000 car. It looks and feels much more expensive than this, putting some more prestigious brands to shame.

The dashboard, door cards and centre console are all covered in soft-touch materials with nice stitching, and the control stalks feel more solid than they do on a BMW X3. The 15.6-inch central screen is also bright, clear and easy to use, although it would be nice to have some proper buttons for the climate control.

This is a criticism we have of the XC90 as well, and that car’s 12.3-inch touchscreen is a tad smaller than the Chery’s. It has a trick up its sleeve though, and that’s Google integration. You have apps like Spotify and Google Maps built in, negating the need to connect your phone to the car.

The interior is also nicer than the Chery’s, especially this car with its light leather. It has a minimalist look while still being stylish, and the open-pore wood is also lovely. It feels like the more premium product of these two, which is why a new one costs twice as much.

In terms of practicality, these two cars are quite evenly matched. With the third row folded down, you get 700 litres of boot space in the Chery Tiggo 8. The Volvo has 680 litres of space, but with all seven seats in place the XC90 offers more carrying capacity – 302 litres to the Chery’s 117 litres.

The third row in the Volvo is also the most spacious for passengers, although the two cars are pretty much the same for second-row occupants.

Overall the XC90 is slightly more practical, unless outright carrying capacity is the most important factor.

New Chery Tiggo 8 vs used Volvo XC90: engines and driving

Out on the road you can see where Volvo has spent the money on the suspension setup, because it is super-comfy and relaxing to drive. It may not be as fun as something like a BMW X5, but the air suspension does a fantastic job of soaking up bumps in the road and it’s whisper-quiet on the motorway.

This example has the 390hp plug-in hybrid engine which feels rapid, but it’ll only do 27 miles on electric power alone. That’s not great by modern standards, and falls almost 309 miles short of the Tiggo 8’s electric range.

The Chery’s hybrid engine is excellent. With 204hp on tap it may not be as quick as the Volo, but it’s still punchy enough and it switches from petrol to EV mode seamlessly.

Unfortunately, the suspension isn’t as impressive as the engine. This is where the Tiggo 8 falls down, because it wobbles over bumps and the vague steering doesn’t inspire much confidence through the bends. If you’re after a new SUV for similar money which is better to drive, check out a Skoda Kodiaq.

Final verdict: which car should you buy?

If you’re after a stylish, premium, spacious and comfortable family SUV for less than £40,000, a used Volvo XC90 is a great option. The car hasn’t changed a great deal over the last eight years, so buying one second hand makes a lot of sense over spending upwards of £70,000 on a new one.

However, there are drawbacks of buying a used car over a new one. With over 50,000 miles on the clock, this XC90 has seen some use. This means it won’t have that same “new car feeling” you might be after, with signs of wear and tear an inevitability. It’ll also be out of the manufacturer’s warranty, meaning you could be on the hook for any repair bills.

And this is where the Chery Tiggo 8 starts to look very appealing. You’re getting a brand-new car with all the same luxury features, an interior which feels almost as posh and it comes with a seven-year warranty. It may not be as nice to drive, but if you want something posh, well-equipped and new for under £40,000, it’s easy to recommend this car. That’s why we crowned it Car Of The Year for 2026.

So if you don’t mind owning something pre-loved, and want a posh, stylish and comfortable SUV, buy a used Volvo XC90. If that new car smell is important to you, and you want something with a warranty, the Chery Tiggo 8 is a great way to get similar amounts of luxury at a great price.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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