The new road trip rule: go further on less

Less fuel, more freedom. A smarter road trip where comfort, clever tech and long-range hybrid power make the journey the destination.

Sisters Eliza and Liberty talked about taking a proper Australian road trip for years. Not just to tick off destinations, but to enjoy everything in between. The kind of trip where you can pull over on a whim, try new things and let the journey lead the way.

So, when the chance came to finally hit the road from Sydney to Noosa, they knew that if they were going to do it well, they needed the right car.

“We were pumped to visit parts of Australia we’d never seen before,” say the sisters, known for their humour, rawness and chaos on The Block (2023). “We want to tick some of those bucket list adventures off and eat great food along the way.”

Before setting off, they turned to car expert Trent Nikolic for advice on the best car for the journey. His recommendation? The Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid.

“It’s super-efficient and lovely to drive,” he says. “It’s like three cars in one, electric, hybrid and regular petrol when you want it to be. This car will do up to 1,250km without refuelling or recharging.”

For a road trip built around freedom and incredible experiences, it set the tone from the moment they cruised across the Harbour Bridge, heading north to Noosa.

Freedom to keep driving

On most long drives, one eye is always on the fuel gauge. Planning the next stop becomes part of the experience. This time, it wasn’t.

With a driving range of up to 1,250 kilometres and a combination of electric power with petrol back-up, the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid allowed the sisters to bypass the petrol stations.

“Petrol levels are usually such a big concern when road-tripping,” they say. “It was so refreshing not having to plan our movements around where and when we’d fill up.”

Instead, the ‘fill’ shifted to what was outside the window. Longer coastal routes. Quiet towns. Unplanned detours. Unexpected discoveries. “It took all the anxiety out of travelling,” they add.

Comfort that carries the journey

Spending hours in the car is inevitable on a trip this long. Enjoying it is another thing entirely. Inside the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid, the experience leans more towards business class than a standard drive.

Think massage seats with heated and ventilated settings and space to stretch out.

“The massage feature was by far our favourite,” they say. “We could adapt to any climate at the click of a button.”

Add in a 14-speaker sound system and the sisters’ very different music tastes become part of the entertainment. “We were shocked to learn how different our taste in music is,” they laugh. “It definitely made for a few tiffs along the way.”

Smart tech that removes friction

It’s often the small things that make the biggest difference on the road.

Features like the “Hello Chery” voice assistant, wireless charging and intuitive controls streamline the driving experience, while Auto Park Assist takes the pressure off in busy coastal towns, particularly navigating hotspots like Byron Bay and Noosa. “The Auto Park Assist saved us so much embarrassment,” they laugh. “Reverse parking has never been so easy.”

Driving differently

With up to 170 kilometres of EV driving and a quiet, smooth ride, the Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid changes how you approach long distances.

“It made our driving experience straightforward and really enjoyable,” they say. “We felt more confident taking the longer, more scenic routes.”

From the dunes of Port Stephens to the beaches of Byron and the slower pace of Noosa, the car becomes less about getting from A to B and more about enabling everything in between.

A new kind of road trip

By the end of the journey, one thing is clear. When you remove the usual constraints, the way you travel changes. Less planning. More exploring. Less stress. More freedom.

Or, as Eliza and Liberty discovered, a road trip where the journey is as pleasurable as the destination.

Learn more about the Chery Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid and stream One Tank Holiday now on 9Now.

Dreaming of your own One Tank Holiday? Thanks to Chery, you could be driving away in the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid Urban – the sophisticated SUV designed to go the distance without compromise. Enter here for the chance to win.