The moment of impact: see how the Chery Tiggo 9 held up in real-world testing

Following the recent hullabaloo about safety ratings in certain cars sold in the South African market, our recent trip to the Beijing Auto Show with Chery allowed us to witness a crash test which the company used to showcase their safety systems.

As a reminder, the Tiggo 7 Pro received a two-star rating from Global NCAP for adult occupant protection due to the absence of standard side head protection for both front and rear occupants.

However, on the sidelines of the demonstration, a senior Chery representative confirmed that all Chery products will, from now on, have a minimum of six airbags.

The test involved a Tiggo 9 in a composite crash validation designed to replicate high-risk, real-world traffic incidents rather than standard single-impact tests.

The assessment focused on multi-vehicle collision scenarios, including situations where a vehicle is struck from both the front and rear. These types of crashes are often associated with highway accidents and vehicles stationary at intersections.

Three vehicle impacts at different speeds

In the test, the Tiggo 9 served as the primary vehicle in a three-car collision. It was subjected to a 50km/h frontal impact from a Chery Tiggo 7 while simultaneously being hit from the rear at 40km/h by another vehicle simulated by a large metal crossbeam.

The test placed increased demands on the vehicle’s body structure, restraint systems and post-collision safety responses compared to conventional crash testing.