The SWM Tiger EDi is a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) mid-size SUV developed by SWM Motors based on the petrol-powered Tiger, marking the marque's first mass-produced model equipped with a new energy powertrain. SWM originally started as an Italian off-road motorcycle brand founded in 1971, before entering the passenger car segment after being wholly acquired by China's Shineray Group in 2014. Built on the all-new EDi intelligent hybrid electric drive platform jointly developed by SWM Motors and BYD subsidiary FinDreams Powertrain, the Tiger EDi features a range-extender hybrid setup pairing a DHT200 hybrid assembly with a 1.5L petrol engine. Officially launched on 6 February 2023, the SUV is offered in four trim levels: Practical, Standard, Comfort, and Luxury, each available in 5-seater and 7-seater configurations with official pricing ranging from RM99,900 to RM123,900 (with an RM1,000 premium for 7-seater variants).To boost its market appeal at launch, SWM Motors introduced promotional perks including hire-purchase financing subsidies, trade-in rebates, lifetime free roadside assistance, and an 8-year/200,000 km warranty (with selected subsidies capped at the first 3,000 buyers).
On the exterior, the Tiger EDi carries over the rugged, boxy styling of the petrol-powered Tiger whilst incorporating distinctive touches up front. It sports a larger, body-coloured closed-off front grille complemented by squarish headlamp clusters and the prominent "SWM" lettering on the front fascia, underscoring its electrified credentials. The front bumper features angular, chiseled lines flanked by front fog lamps, creating a bold stance with strong road presence.In profile, the SUV adopts a dynamic, forward-raked wedge profile, accentuated by blacked-out roof rails, window surrounds, wheel arch claddings, and side skirts, matched with 17-inch dual-tone low-drag alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 R17 tyres.The rear gets clean, vertically arranged tail lamp units alongside a chunky blacked-out rear bumper integrated with a diffuser-style lower trim.In terms of dimensions, the Tiger EDi measures 4,605 mm long, 1,815 mm wide, and 1,825 mm tall, with a 2,780 mm wheelbase and a generous minimum ground clearance of 195 mm, placing it squarely in the mid-size SUV segment.
Inside, the cabin features a "Misty Blue Dual-Tone Floating Island" theme, equipped with a 10.25-inch floating touchscreen infotainment display as standard (a 7-inch unit on Practical, Standard, and Comfort trims) and a 7-inch LCD digital instrument panel (standard on Luxury; lower trims make do with a 4.2-inch MID flanked by analogue dials). The flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in leather and offers manual tilt adjustment. The centre stack retains physical air-conditioning controls alongside a rotary drive selector, ensuring fuss-free ergonomics and day-to-day practicality.For seating, the Practical and Standard variants get fabric upholstery, whereas the Comfort and Luxury trims step up to synthetic leather, with the front seats featuring manual adjustment only.
The Tiger EDi is driven by a range-extender hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine and a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. The 1.5L engine (coded F31A1) produces 75 kW (approx. 102 PS) and 126 Nm of torque, operating exclusively as a generator to charge the battery and not directly driving the wheels; the front electric motor delivers 105 kW (approx. 143 PS) and 210 Nm of torque, serving as the vehicle's sole source of propulsion.Mated to a single-speed reduction gear, power is sent strictly to the front wheels (FWD). The Tiger EDi tops out at 155 km/h and completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in an official time of 10 seconds.
Supplying the electrics is an 8.8 kWh (approx. 8.83 kWh) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack sourced from SVOLT.It delivers a pure electric range of 46 km on the WLTC cycle and 51 km under the NEDC cycle.Charging is handled exclusively via AC slow charging, requiring roughly 3.5 hours for a full charge, with DC fast charging unsupported.With a full tank and a full battery, the overall combined driving range reaches up to 1,000 km.Efficiency-wise, the vehicle returns a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 2.06 L/100 km and a power consumption of 11.3 kWh/100 km, while fuel consumption in battery-depleted (CS) mode sits at around 5.5 L/100 km.The engine runs on standard RON 92 petrol, is fitted with a 50-litre fuel tank, and complies with China VI emission standards.
Underneath, the Tiger EDi rides on a monocoque chassis in a front-engine, front-wheel-drive configuration, employing front MacPherson struts and a rear five-link non-independent suspension (variously listed in specification sheets as a five-link coil spring or leaf spring rigid axle setup).This rear suspension design prioritises heavy payload capability and cost efficiency, adequately supporting the chassis under full passenger loads. Steering is managed by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system with speed-sensitive assistance, offering light manoeuvrability at low speeds and reassuring weighting on the highway.
Braking duties are handled by ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear, linked to an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB).The vehicle rides on 215/60 R17 tyres across the range and comes with a tyre repair kit instead of a full-size spare. Thanks to the 195 mm ground clearance and relatively firm suspension setup, the SUV handles mild unpaved trails with ease, though the primary chassis calibration remains tuned for road-biased cruising, offering limited compliance over minor road imperfections.
The in-cabin tech on the Tiger EDi covers the essentials expected in its price bracket. The dashboard houses a 10.25-inch floating infotainment screen (7-inch on lower variants) and a 7-inch LCD cluster (a 4.2-inch screen with analogue dials on lower trims), supporting reverse camera display, multimedia playback, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice command recognition.Higher-spec variants add keyless entry with push-start ignition.Seating is versatile, offering 5-seater and 7-seater (2+2+3 layout) options. The second-row seats feature 110 mm of fore-and-aft sliding travel along with reclining backrests, while the third row can be flipped and folded away; folding down the rear seats expands cargo volume to roughly 3 cubic metres to swallow bulkier cargo and lifestyle gear.The 5-seater model features a 60:40 split-folding rear bench, while the 7-seater comes with a single-piece folding rear row.Air conditioning is manually operated.
On the safety front, the Tiger EDi comes standard with dual front airbags (with slight trim-level variances on baseline models) and vital active safety aids, including Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA/BA), Traction Control System (TCS), and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), as well as rear ISOFIX child-seat anchor points.A Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is fitted across the board, with higher trims gaining rear parking sensors and a reverse camera. As for driver assistance, the Tiger EDi lacks Level 2 semi-autonomous ADAS hardware (such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking, or Lane Keep Assist), offering only standard passive cruise control.Overall, the vehicle covers baseline safety requirements for daily commuting without branching into high-end semi-autonomous tech.
At launch, the Tiger EDi made headlines by undercutting its segment with a starting price of RM99,900, dragging the entry price of an extended-range hybrid SUV below the RM100,000 threshold for the very first time. It targeted large families seeking low running costs and maximum cabin room, going up against rivals such as the Jetour X70 PLUS and Fengon 580. However, hampered by SWM's low brand visibility, a sparse dealership footprint, and fierce rivalry within the budget SUV space, sales missed expectations by a wide margin. Public registration figures reveal that the Tiger EDi recorded only around 70 units sold in the entire year of 2025, with just 23 units delivered in July 2025 alone, leaving it virtually unrepresented in China's domestic SUV market.Heading into early 2026, while it remains listed on the brand's active electrified roster, sales have stalled at negligible levels.
Owner feedback highlights praise for the Tiger EDi's accessible entry price, the fuel efficiency of its REEV system, and the roomy seating packaging enabled by its 2,780 mm wheelbase. Conversely, common complaints centre on weak brand recognition, a thin service network, unrefined rear suspension ride quality, and the lack of DC fast charging capability, which hampers quick top-ups. In summary, while the SWM Tiger EDi was the pioneer in turning the "RM100,000-class range-extended SUV" concept into reality, modest technical capabilities (sub-10 kWh battery, no DC charging), limited brand pull, and an underdeveloped retail channel ultimately prevented the "world's cheapest REEV SUV" from generating sustainable sales momentum, leading to its rapidly fading market relevance.
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