In a result that has sent ripples through the automotive world, a Chinese vehicle has driven off with one of the industry's most coveted accolades. The Chery Tiggo 8 has been officially crowned the Car of the Year 2026 by the renowned experts at Carwow.
A Surprise Winner Against Established Giants
The award, announced on 28 November 2025, saw the Tiggo 8 outperform and outscore a host of established premium brands, including household names like Audi, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz. The team at Carwow tests hundreds of vehicles annually to determine the ultimate winner, making this victory a significant milestone for Chinese automotive manufacturing on the global stage.
Mat Watson, Chief Content Officer at Carwow, did not hold back in his praise for the champion SUV. He stated that the vehicle seemed "almost too good to be true", a sentiment largely driven by its astonishing value proposition.
Unbeatable Value and Premium Features
The most compelling fact for British car buyers is the price. The Chery Tiggo 8 comes with a price tag ranging from £28,545 to £36,545. This makes it a staggering £50,000 cheaper than its direct aesthetic rival, the Audi Q7.
For that money, buyers get a generously proportioned family vehicle packed with features:
- A spacious seven-seater configuration.
- A fuel-efficient 1.6L Turbo petrol engine that delivers up to 36.2mpg.
- Two large 15.6-inch LCD displays that, according to Chery, put all key vehicle information at the driver's fingertips.
- A choice of sophisticated colours including Arctic White and Fossil Grey.
Watson summarised the car's appeal by saying, "If a Chinese car was ever going to conquer the market, it should be this one. It’s unbeatable value and feels like so much more than a budget family bus."
Other Notable Awards
As the year concludes, other publications are also announcing their top picks. In a separate award, AutoExpress named the BMW 3 Series as its 'Best Used Car of the Year', which narrowly beat the Jaguar I-Pace to the title.
The triumph of the Chery Tiggo 8 signals a shifting landscape in the car industry. It proves that high-quality, feature-rich, and desirable vehicles are no longer the exclusive domain of traditional European, Japanese, or American manufacturers, offering UK consumers more choice and better value than ever before.
