- 600-mile European Christmas markets road trip
- All the Bratwurst you could ever eat
- Road-testing the Chery Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8, and Tiggo 9
- Hybrid system proves its worth
- Lease the Chery Tiggo range with Select Car Leasing
Talk about a festive adventure - because we just took a trio of new SUVs across Europe to sample its best Christmas markets!
We were exploring the continent in the Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 9 - three well-appointed and affordable vehicles from Chinese manufacturer Chery, who first arrived on the UK leasing scene earlier this year.
Our Xmas road trip meant cinnamon scents, log burners and colourful jumpers,
And our 600-mile journey also sampled some of Europe's most famous markets. We braved the Bratwurst - and here's everything else you need to know.
Start line: Kent
Instead of plane hopping across Europe, I joined Chery Group — the masterminds also behind the Jaecoo and Omoda cars — to drive its new Chery 7, 8, and 9 products. Our car was the Chery Tiggo 7, a cheap and cheerful SUV aimed at the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Ford Kuga, but more on that later.
The trip began at Boys Hall, in Ashford, Kent; a stunning 17th-century manor brimmed with old wooden beams, log burners, and Chesterfield sofas. And after a night of genial company, flowing drinks, and tasty food, we set sail for Calais, France via the Eurotunnel, a circa 40-minute drive from Boys Hall.
(Select scribes Matthew MacConnell, left, and Steve Fowler, right, deep in discussion about their Xmas present wrapping techniques. Probably)
Liège Christmas Market, Belgium
Yule fuel: Syrup-coated waffles, Bratwurst and Camembert.
After a swift 35-minute dart through the Eurotunnel, we were in sunny Calais. First stop, the Liège Christmas Market in Belgium, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Calais, meaning we had plenty of time to get to know the Chery Tiggo 7.
First impressions are always important – and let’s talk about price.
We live in a time where Freddo chocolate bars cost 30p. That might not sound like much, but you could get one for 10p back in 2000 — that’s a 200% increase! And the same goes for cars. For example, an Audi Q5 costs £53,010 now, a car originally priced at £29,950 when released in 2008.
Therefore, the Chery Tiggo 7 — priced from £29,995 — is a breath of fresh air in times when selling your kidneys simply isn’t enough anymore. It’s not like you get Fred Flintstone’s jalopy either; the Tiggo 7 is packed with technology to boot, which made our trip across Europe an easy task.
Ah, Liège. Our first sight of a European Christmas market. Christmas Pyramids, windmill-like structures, towered above small wooden stalls packed with festive trinkets, tasty food, and excited Christmas goers wrapped in feathered scarves wearing cosy hats.
We abandoned our warm cars and jostled to the market gates. Strings of Christmas lights glittered, the poignant sound of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas filled the frigid air, accompanied by Christmas reveller chatter: an utterly magical atmosphere.
Having worked up an appetite, we had some syrup-coated waffles before moving on to luscious Bratwurst and Camembert. Unlike many of the UK’s markets, Belgium don’t do happy-go-pukey fairground rides, but instead Ferris wheels, giving a romanticised view of the surrounding market.
Bernkastel-Kues market, Germany
Yule Fuel: Rain stopped play!
After a burl on the wheel, we made haste for our next stop, the Bernkastell-Kues market, Germany, a two-hour drive. This would also be our last stop for the day, as our hotel was positioned just a three-minute walk from the market.
Sadly, as we approached Bernhastel-Kues, storm clouds rolled over, and the heavens opened. As such, the market was promptly closed.
A shame, but we made the most of our surroundings by going for an 11pm walk. And, by God, I’m glad the market was closed, as we got an entire Christmas nativity scene to ourselves. No bustling streets, no Mariah Carey. Just genial company, a giant Christmas tree, and Germany’s timber-framed Fachwerk buildings, something straight out of a Disney fairytale.
Heidelberg market, Germany
Yule Fuel: More Bratwurst!
Cue the longest drive yet: a nine-hour mystery tour through Germany’s countryside before ending in France. The first stop was the Heidelberg market, and instead of taking the same Tiggo 7, we switched to the range-topping, plug-in hybrid Chery Tiggo 9, which features the brand’s excellent Super Hybrid System (SHS).
Setting off, we had 538km (328 miles) of range and 21% battery. Our journey was 292 miles, giving us just 36 miles of leeway.
Again, with lots of Autobahn ahead, we were accustomed to the Tiggo 9, which instantly felt plusher compared to its Tiggo 7 sibling. Its massaging and heated front seats came in handy when traversing Germany. As did the heated steering wheel.
(Chery Tiggo 9, above)
A touchscreen replaces physical buttons, however, meaning adjusting the cabin temperature is trickier. Still, once we were used to where the settings lived, these became easier to adjust.
After some hours, Heidelberg appeared. Its large hill-top fortress guarded the Christmas market below; a truly stunning sight that crafted a completely different but all so similar feeling to Liège’s market.
Again, Bratwursts were a must, but instead of hopping on a Ferris wheel, we set sights on a picturesque carousel. Motoring journalists are basically giant children after all, me included. We giggled and smiled; worrying thoughts and sorrow drained into Heidelberg’s cobbled streets. Only happiness was allowed here.
Black Forest, Germany
Yule Fuel: In desperate need of petrol!
Before a quick stop at Black Forest — known for its rich cake, cuckoo clocks, Bollen hats, and spa culture — we’d drive to our last hotel, the Cheneaudière, France, a stunning mountain spa resort nestled between Strasbourg and Colmar.
At this point, we were running terribly low on fuel. The car readout showed a combined 5.8l/100km in the last 50km (40.5mpg over the last 31 miles) and a low fuel warning. Could we make it without stopping?
“Tiggo 9 here, we’re about to run out of fuel. Over,” the walkie-talkie crackling as we waited on a response. “We’ll go slow in convoy,” was the response. Queues of traffic formed behind us as our Chery Tiggo convoy trickled toward the hotel.
(Chery Tiggo 9, above)
“Tiggo 9 again. We have officially run out of fuel…” Yep, with just 18km to go (11 miles), we had officially run out of fuel. The engine cut out, and we were now running in electric-only mode with just 22% battery.
Nerves filled the cabin, but after turning most of the car’s unnecessary electrics off and by slipstreaming the Tiggo 8 in front, we reached the hotel’s gates with just 11% battery remaining, the Cherry team congratulating us with handshakes as we parked up. Impressive? Outstanding, more like. The real nod to the car’s SHS system.
After 635 miles, we settled down to another tasty meal before retreating to our private log cabins.
Was Christmas was beginning to lose its charm? Perhaps. But our European trip was a timely reminder of how you should enjoy the little things in life. You’re never too old to have fun. Have a Merry Chery Christmas, everyone.
*Pics credit automotive photographer Jonny Fleetwood
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