Verdict
At RM166,800, the Chery Tiggo 9 undercuts the Kia Sorento by RM44,698 while bringing 251 hp, 390 Nm and all-wheel drive against 177 hp, 232 Nm and front-wheel drive. It also has a far more useful 448-litre boot versus 187 litres, plus a 15.6-inch screen and 14-speaker Sony audio. The Kia counters with a 2,815 mm wheelbase, 15 mm longer than the Chery’s, and a 168 kg lower kerb weight. For Malaysian families, the Tiggo’s RM439 annual road tax versus RM838 makes the cheaper, stronger choice hard to ignore.
Pick the Chery Tiggo 9 if you want 251 hp and 390 Nm, all-wheel drive, a 448-litre boot and a seven-year/150,000 km warranty for RM44,698 less.
Pick the Kia Sorento if you prefer its 168 kg lower weight, 2,815 mm wheelbase and conventional six-speed automatic.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 9 RM166,800; Kia Sorento RM211,498.
- Power and torque: Chery Tiggo 9 251 hp and 390 Nm; Kia Sorento 177 hp and 232 Nm.
- Driveline: Chery Tiggo 9 all-wheel drive; Kia Sorento front-wheel drive.
- Boot space: Chery Tiggo 9 448-2,065 litres; Kia Sorento 187 litres.
- Kerb weight: Chery Tiggo 9 1,887 kg; Kia Sorento 1,719 kg.
- Warranty: Chery Tiggo 9 seven years/150,000 km; Kia Sorento five years/100,000 km.
Tiggo 9
- 251 hp and 390 Nm with all-wheel drive.
- 448-litre boot, expanding to 2,065 litres.
- Seven-year/150,000 km warranty, plus 10-year or one million km engine cover.
- 1,887 kg kerb weight is 168 kg heavier than the Sorento.
- 2,800 mm wheelbase is 15 mm shorter than the Sorento’s.
- 65-litre fuel tank is 2 litres smaller than the Sorento’s.
Sorento
- 1,719 kg kerb weight is 168 kg lower.
- 2,815 mm wheelbase is 15 mm longer.
- Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and front foglamps.
- 177 hp and 232 Nm trail the Tiggo 9’s 251 hp and 390 Nm.
- Front-wheel drive versus the Tiggo 9’s all-wheel drive.
- 187-litre boot is much smaller than the Tiggo 9’s 448 litres.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM166,800✓ | RM211,498 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM838 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,497 cc |
| Horsepower | 251 hp✓ | 177 hp |
| Torque | 390 Nm✓ | 232 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 88.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed DCT | 6-Speed Automatic |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Kia |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | 8.3 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,810 mm | 4,810 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,741 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,887 kg | 1,719 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 67 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 448-2065 litres✓ | 187 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 235/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 235/60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Goodyear EfficientGrip SUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Rear Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats, third row seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats in Second and Third Row |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Driver Attention Warning |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector with Automatic High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats, Driver Side Memory with Heating, Ventilation & Massaging | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 60:40 Split-folding Second Row, 50:50 Split-folding Third Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents with Heating & Ventilation | Second Row Vents, Third Row Vents with Blower Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Second Row | 1 Front, 1 Second Row, 1 Boot, 3 Front USB, 1 Second Row USB, 2 Third Row USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 14-speaker Sony Sound System | 10.25" Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation, with Proximity Sensor Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year or one million km warranty for the engine | — |
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 9 & Sorento for sale
Tiggo 9 vs Sorento FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 9 or Kia Sorento better?
The Tiggo 9 is the stronger buy on these specifications: it has 74 hp and 158 Nm more, all-wheel drive, a 448-litre boot and longer warranty cover. Choose the Sorento for its lower 1,719 kg weight and slightly longer wheelbase.
What is the price difference?
The Chery Tiggo 9 costs RM44,698 less than the Kia Sorento. It also carries lower annual road tax: RM439 versus RM838.
Which has more luggage space?
The Chery Tiggo 9 does, with 448 litres available in the boot and up to 2,065 litres with the seats folded. The Kia Sorento lists 187 litres.