Jaecoo J8 vs Chery Tiggo 9: Premium Chinese SUVs Go Head-to-Head

Abu Dhabi: Among the several top Chinese brands that are aggressively expanding into the UAE market is the Chery group. Entered in 2023, it is starting to make inroads into the key segment of the market. To further offer wider choice to buyers in the Emirates, the group has introduced its upmarket sub-brand Jaecoo in mid-2025, offering premium adventure and off-road SUVs with luxurious touches.  Essentially, the Jaecoo is their premium off-road brand, and Chery represents family cars.

Two highly capable seven-seater SUVs, the Jaecoo J8 and the Chery Tiggo 9, use the same basic parts, as they belong to the same group. But in real life, you will find they are a lot different in the way they look and also cater to two sets of buyers.  The J8 is stronger and rugged, suitable for off-roading, whereas the Tiggo 9 looks like your everyday city car, promising family comfort. normal and focuses on family comfort. Both have lots of features at lower prices than Japanese or Korean SUVs.

We compared them in detail to tell you what you’re getting. This comparison is curious as both cars are from the same company, but you get to choose between two different styles. Do you want the J8 that looks more off-road? Or the Tiggo 9, that's all about comfort and space? The engines are the same. The major difference is in their appearance and features inside and out. Anyone out in the market looking for a seven-seater SUV and is fine with a Chinese brand should explore them. This review will offer you a complete understanding and help you make an informed decision.

How they Stack Up 

If you’re wondering what Jaecoo stands for, the name is a mix of two meanings. J stands for Joyful, and eco means ecological. Cherry started it in 2023 as a premium brand to offer something more than just an urban vehicle. And, so it promises superior off-road capabilities, and it entered the UAE in mid-2025. At first glance at the J8, you notice its off-road readiness. The square body shape, protective plastic around the wheels, roof rails, and rugged and strong front appearance design. Not just the exterior, but the cabin too is a complement to its character with equipment. Jaecoo aspires to be a lifestyle brand, not just a cheap option.

The Tiggo 9, which entered the UAE market a little early in late 2024, is your everyday, city SUV that does the job well for its intended purpose. Positioned above it is the Tiggo 8 Pro; there isn’t anything radical in terms of design, but rather modern and contemporary. With a clear focus on family buyers, with practicality and comfort at the centre of it.

The major rivals of both of these SUVs are models like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Nissan X-Trail, and Mitsubishi Outlander. But they’re approximately AED 20,000-40,000 less than those cars. That price drop gets you many features and hence could be a bargain deal for several buyers. 

Price Comparison

The prices are close. The Tiggo 9 costs a bit more for the basic model. But the gap is small. Both have two models with small price jumps.

Variant	Jaecoo J8 (AED)	Chery Tiggo 9 (AED)
Base Model	1,21,900	1,19,900
Top Trim	1,47,990	1,39,900

Dimensions Comparison

Size-wise, these SUVs are almost the same. The Tiggo 9 is slightly longer and wider. But you can't really notice when standing side by side.

Dimension	Jaecoo J8	Chery Tiggo 9
Length	4,820mm	4,810mm
Width	1,930mm	1,925mm
Height	1,699mm	1,742mm
Wheelbase	2,820mm	2,800mm
Ground Clearance	180mm	205mm
Fuel Tank	65L	65L
Boot Space	275 (all rows up)	200L (all rows up)
Wheel Size	18/19 inches	18/19 inches

 The wheelbase is the same, which directly translates into an identical cabin size. That 2,820mm wheelbase is big, and assures decent leg room in the second row, which is a big plus for families. The third row works for adults on short trips, ideal for kids.

The J8 sits 20mm higher off the ground. This is the main size difference. That higher position fits its off-road look. It also helps with speed bumps on our roads. It can handle rough ground better. Boot space with all three rows up is small on both. The J8 has 275 litres. The Tiggo 9 has 192 litres. Fold down the third row and both give you over 800 litres. Both SUVs are big cars. Parking them in tight spots is a bit of a challenge, but it can be overcome with practice. The 360-degree camera helps on higher models. But you need to feel comfortable driving something this big.

Powertrain Comparison

Here's where they're the same. Both SUVs use the same 2.0-litre turbo engine. Both use an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power, fuel use, and driving feel are the same.

Specification	Jaecoo J8 2025	Chery Tiggo 9 2025
Engine Options	2.0L Turbocharged petrol 4-cylinder	2.0L Turbo petrol, 1.5L Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Power (hp)	261 hp	254-257 hp (Petrol), 375 hp (Hybrid combined)
Torque (Nm)	400 Nm	390-400 Nm (Petrol), 610 Nm (Hybrid)
Transmission	7-speed DCT	8-speed Automatic
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive (AWD)	FWD or AWD (variant dependent)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h	8-9 seconds	About 7.9 seconds (Petrol), ~8 seconds (Hybrid)
Top Speed	205 km/h	205 km/h
Seating Capacity	5 seats	7 seats (three-row layout)
Fuel Tank Capacity	Approx. 50 liters	Approx. 60 liters

The 2.0-litre turbo is common in both SUVs. The engine has decent power for highway passing. The J8 has all-wheel drive on higher models. It's not a serious off-road system like the Land Cruiser. But it helps in sand, mud, or rain. The Tiggo 9 has front-wheel drive , which is fine for family use.

On UAE highways, both SUVs drive well at triple-digit speeds. The suspension absorbs road bumps just fine. You feel the soft ride with comfort and ease.

In city traffic, there are relatively bigger SUVs. The steering is light with little feel. The body leans in corners. But keep in mind, both of these SUVs are comfort-oriented family cars, not the high-end sporty ones. Still, the buyers who are mostly family in this category would like the practicality more than their driving excitement, which suits the buyers’ priorities for practicality over excitement.

Features Comparison

One of the strongest areas of the Chinese brands. They’re known for offering some of the coolest features, and also those you won’t find in this price point. One of the USP, they want to attract buyers. This is visible in both SUVs, as they are packed with lots of equipment. On Japanese cars, you'd pay much more for this for sure. The differences between J8 and Tiggo 9 are small. Mostly about styling, not big features.

Exterior

Feature	Jaecoo J8	Chery Tiggo 9
Headlights	LED with DRLs	LED with DRLs
Fog Lights	LED	LED
Tail Lights	LED 3D	LED
Wheels	18/19-inch alloy	18/19-inch alloy
Roof Rails	Standard (functional)	Standard (decorative)
Design	Rugged, boxy, off-road inspired	Elegant, flowing, family SUV
Colors	6 options	5 options

 The J8's exterior design is adventurous, with protective plastic around wheels, metal plates front and back, and roof rails that are useful for cargo. The square shape and tall stance make it look like a conventional SUV. The Tiggo 9 is softer-looking. There is chrome on the grille, and the windows also look good. The smooth lines and back spoiler make it more aerodynamic, appear modern and family-friendly with no aggressive design elements.

Interior and Comfort

Feature	Jaecoo J8	Chery Tiggo 9
Upholstery	Leatherette / Nappa leather	Leatherette / Leather
Seating	5+2 configuration	5+2 or 6+1 configuration
Driver Seat	6-way power with memory	8-way power
Climate Control	Dual-zone automatic	Tri-zone automatic
Infotainment	13.2-inch touchscreen	13.2-inch touchscreen
Digital Cluster	10.25-inch	10.25-inch
Steering	Leather multifunction	Leather multifunction
Sunroof	Panoramic	Panoramic
Audio	8 speakers	8 speakers / Sony (top trim)

We agree that the interiors of both the SUVs feel well laid out with good quality, considering the price point. The large touchscreen is the main thing on the dashboard, which attracts attention. It runs Chery's latest software, and is a lot easier to handle with decent graphics. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work fine, you won’t complain, though. Physical buttons for air conditioning are there. You don't need to dig through screens for basic things.

The J8's interior has brown and black colours like outdoor gear. The seats are comfortable with good side support. The second row slides and tilts back. This helps share space between the second and third rows. The third row is reached by folding the second-row seats forward. Getting back there isn't hard. But tall adults find the space tight.

The Tiggo 9 has a six-seat option with captain's chairs in the second row. This layout makes third-row access easier. It also feels more expensive. The tri-zone air conditioning lets back passengers control their temperature. The Sony audio on the top model is good enough for quality sounds in the cabin. The material quality in both is considerate, the soft plastic on the upper dashboard and harder plastic lower down. The leather on the top models feels real but not premium grade. The stitching is neat, and panel gaps are tight. The overall built quality suggests that it can last longer and much better than earlier Chinese cars, a significant jump in terms of quality.

Both have big glass roofs that make the cabin feel open. The glass goes over the second row, and most passengers will be thrilled. The ambient lighting with many colours is standard, and gives the cabin a cosy feel at night. Storage space in the cabin is sufficient, which includes big door pockets, cupholders, and a centre console big enough for many phones. USB charging ports are everywhere, even for third-row passengers.

Safety and Driver Assist

Feature	Jaecoo J8	Chery Tiggo 9
Airbags	6	6
ABS/ESC	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Standard (AWD)	Not available
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Parking Sensors	Front and rear	Front and rear
Camera	360-degree	360-degree
Blind Spot Monitor	Standard	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard (top trim)	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard (top trim)	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	Standard
Automatic Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Tire Pressure Monitoring	Standard	Standard

With regards to safety, both of them are fairly well-equipped, and you pretty much get everything that one would want in such an SUV. The six airbags are standard for the front, side, and curtain areas. The electronic stability control, ABS with brake help, and traction control are basic features.

The advanced driver help systems match what you find on expensive Japanese cars. Then comes the adaptive cruise control for relaxed highway driving. Likewise, lane keeping assist gives gentle steering to keep you in your lane. But you still need to pay attention, though, it's not fully independent. Another feature useful on the highway is the blind spot monitoring, as traffic moves fast and people change lanes a lot. The system warns you about cars in your blind spots. It shows clear lights on the side mirrors. The rear cross-traffic alert helps when reversing out of a parking space, as it warns about cars coming.

The 360-degree camera is another important feature that is standard on both SUVs. The top-down view makes parking easier. Individual camera views help in tight spaces, and the quality of images is sort of fine; don’t expect to be at par with premium systems.

The J8's AWD model has hill descent control for off-road, to help you control speed automatically when going down steep hills. You just steer; apparently, most drivers don’t use it, but it's there if you go to rough areas. The forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking gives extra safety. The system watches traffic ahead. It can apply the brakes if it sees a crash coming. It's not perfect and sometimes gives false warnings. But it's better to have it.

What Makes Them Work in the UAE

The J8 and Tiggo 9 easily handle the basic things that matter here for the buyers in this segment. For example, the air conditioning is strong and cools the cabin fast. Something a must for our usually intense summer heat, and so do the ventilated seats on top models keep you comfortable even when parked in the sun. And, additionally, you have a remote start through the phone app that lets you cool the car before getting in, something useful during certain times of the day.

You can also feel comfortable with the fact that the interior materials are of decent quality and handle heat well. The leather doesn't crack early, looks like the plastic parts don't fade or bend. Given how common dust and sand is in the UAE, keeping the interior clean won’t be a problem.

Another expectation is taking on speed bumps and rough roads easily, which is where the ground clearance matters, which, quite frankly, is just fine on both SUVs. But both clear normal obstacles without scraping. The underbody protection is decent, and the metal plates protect important parts.

One area you may not feel adequate is the service networks, after-sales and parts availability. But considering the brand is not very old, and in the process of expanding, over time, this issue may get resolved with an extensive network. The routine maintenance costs are reasonable. You won't wait weeks for parts or pay high prices. However, what you get instead is a long warranty of five years or 150,000 km coverage, which should make your ownership peaceful.

Which One Should You Choose?

The decision comes down to your needs and how you use your SUV.

Choose the Jaecoo J8 if you want adventure styling that stands out. The tough, boxy design makes a statement even if you never go off-road; higher ground clearance, easy to park and takes on rough roads and sandy driving.

Choose the Chery Tiggo 9 if you are looking for an SUV that serves you and your family with comfort and refinement. It feels more polished inside with better materials, and features like front-wheel drive are taken on paved roads, saving money with slightly better fuel economy. The J8 feels adventurous and capable. The Tiggo 9 feels like a comfortable living room on wheels. Both handle basic family duties well. Your choice depends on which personality fits your lifestyle better.

Conclusion

In the fast-growing SUV market in the UAE, there is plenty to choose from today than ever. Anyone in the market right now to buy an SUV really has a lot going on, and many options to consider. In such a market scenario, you get a new Chinese brand with two compelling choices that come with their strengths and advantages. The Jaecoo J8 and Chery Tiggo 9 show Chinese automaker makers entering premium territory with generous equipment and seven-seat practicality at prices AED 30,000-40,000 below Japanese competitors.

Test drive both alongside Japanese alternatives. Compare total ownership costs, not just purchase prices. Consider how long you'll keep the vehicle and whether resale value matters to your planning.