Chery Tiggo 9 vs Toyota Corolla
Verdict
The Chery Tiggo 9 is the bigger, stronger family car here: RM166,800 buys a D-segment SUV with seven seats, AWD, 251 hp and 390 Nm, plus a 448-2,065-litre boot. The Toyota Corolla is RM144,800, a C-segment sedan with five seats, 137 hp, 172 Nm and a 470-litre boot. For Malaysian buyers, this is less about close rivals on shape and more about use case: the Tiggo 9 gives space, pace and kit; the Corolla is cheaper, lighter and easier-sized.
Tiggo 9
Pick the Chery Tiggo 9 if you need seven seats, AWD, much stronger performance and the flexibility of a large SUV body.
Corolla
Pick the Toyota Corolla if you want the lower purchase price, lighter sedan footprint and 5-star Euro NCAP, ANCAP and ASEAN NCAP ratings.
Key differences
- Price: Chery Tiggo 9 RM166,800; Toyota Corolla RM144,800
- Power and torque: Chery Tiggo 9 251 hp/390 Nm; Toyota Corolla 137 hp/172 Nm
- Body and seating: Chery Tiggo 9 D-segment SUV with 7 seats; Toyota Corolla C-segment sedan with 5 seats
- Drivetrain: Chery Tiggo 9 AWD; Toyota Corolla FWD
- Boot space: Chery Tiggo 9 448-2,065 litres; Toyota Corolla 470 litres
- Size and weight: Chery Tiggo 9 4,810 mm long/1,887 kg; Toyota Corolla 4,630 mm long/1,365 kg
Tiggo 9
- Much stronger 2.0-litre turbo output at 251 hp and 390 Nm
- Seven seats, AWD and a large expandable boot
- More active safety and convenience kit, including AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, HUD and powered boot
- RM22,000 more expensive to buy
- Bigger and much heavier at 4,810 mm long and 1,887 kg
- No Euro NCAP, ANCAP or ASEAN NCAP rating shown, while the Corolla has 5-star ratings
Corolla
- Lower RM144,800 price and lower RM279 annual road tax
- Lighter and smaller, at 1,365 kg and 4,630 mm long
- 5-star Euro NCAP, ANCAP and ASEAN NCAP ratings
- Far less output, with 137 hp and 172 Nm against the Tiggo 9’s 251 hp and 390 Nm
- Five seats only, versus seven in the Tiggo 9
- Lacks listed AEB, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, HUD and automatic parking
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 166,800 | RM 144,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | D-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| 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 | 1,798 cc |
| Horsepower | 251 hp✓ | 137 hp |
| Torque | 390 Nm✓ | 172 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 80.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed DCT | 7 Speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| 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 | 4,630 mm |
| Width | 1,925 mm | 1,780 mm |
| Height | 1,741 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 1,887 kg | 1,365 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 65 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 448-2065 litres | 470 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R20 | 225/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R20 | 225/45R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Full Size | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Kumho Ecsta PS71 | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Rear Side, Front Center Airbag, Driver's Knee Airbag, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, 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 | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer middle row passenger seats, third row seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Automatic LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Bi-LED Projector with Auto 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 Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents with Heating & Ventilation | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Second Row | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| 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 | 9.0" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 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 Start |
| 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 Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 7 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year or one million km warranty for the engine | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 439 | RM 279✓ |
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.
Tiggo 9 vs Corolla FAQ
Is the Chery Tiggo 9 or Toyota Corolla better?
The Chery Tiggo 9 is better for space, power and equipment, with seven seats, AWD and 251 hp. The Toyota Corolla is better if you want the cheaper, lighter sedan with 5-star safety ratings.
What is the price difference?
The Chery Tiggo 9 costs RM166,800, while the Toyota Corolla costs RM144,800. That makes the Chery RM22,000 dearer.
Which has more boot space?
The Toyota Corolla has 470 litres as a sedan boot. The Chery Tiggo 9 starts slightly lower at 448 litres, but expands to 2,065 litres with seats folded, so it is far more flexible.