Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 75
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 29 Aug 2026, price 29 Oct 2026
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max
20 of 27 standard · no option data · 7 no dataFrom
$35,450
est. RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 180kW
- Economy
- 8.1 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2023
- Boot (seats up)
- 117L
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 75, but the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is $10,540 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$35,450est. RRP
- no option data for this car
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Measured rows: Australian Automobile Association Real-World Testing Program (realworld.org.au), the on-road result for the vehicle each test names, shown beside the manufacturer's figures rather than in place of them and never scored. Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max test page Subaru Forester test page
Price and cost per week
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max Urban FWD
$35,450
Estimated RRP (the brand lists drive-away prices only), before on-road costs. Checked 23 Sept 2026
$38,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by Chery Australia
About $157 a week in repayments ($38,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
About $189 a week in repayments ($45,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$157/wk(≈$681/mo)
Estimate on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max at $38,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro MaxDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max at 5 stars (2023) and the Subaru Forester at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Subaru Forester, against 6 on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 10 in the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and 9 in the Subaru Forester.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 6 of 10 key systems on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and 7 on the Subaru Forester.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max
None open on our record
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Feature Showdown
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max features a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max stands out with power tailgate and Sony audio — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max uses a Petrol producing 180kW and 375Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.
The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max has the clear power advantage at 180kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max measures 4,720mm long on a 2,710mm wheelbase, 65mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 117L in the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 379L advantage. The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max seats 7 vs 5.
For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,300kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Subaru Forester's turning circle is 1.0 m tighter, 10.8 m against 11.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Subaru Forester about $2,252 a year (7.9 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $57 a year less for the Subaru Forester.
Warranty: 7 years / Unlimited (Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max) and 5 years / Unlimited (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
Where each one leads
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max: more power (180kW against 136kW) and the longer warranty (7 years against 5).
The Subaru Forester: the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 117L), the higher braked towing limit (1,800kg against 1,300kg) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($2,252 a year against $2,309).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 75
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max's 75 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 3 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 16 points), performance (Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max ahead by 8 points), value (Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max ahead by 5 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Subaru Forester costs about $57 less (7.9 L/100km against 8.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre). Boot space with the seats up: 117L in the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max, 496L in the Subaru Forester. Warranty: 7 years on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max, 5 on the Subaru Forester.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$157/wk(≈$681/mo)
Estimate on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max at $38,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro MaxDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max and Subaru Forester?
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is the cheapest at $35,450 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Subaru Forester by $10,540.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Subaru Forester uses the least fuel at 7.9L/100km on the combined cycle.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2023) and Subaru Forester holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2023 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max makes the most power at 180kW.
Track the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max & Subaru Forester
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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