The automotive sector in South Africa continues to evolve rapidly. Only a few years ago, there was a major push toward electric cars, which most South African and even global consumers resisted. This caused a bit of backtracking from manufacturers, with many opting to roll back somewhat and pursue an alternative avenue to emissions compliance, which is how we saw a redirect toward hybrid vehicles.
Related: Chery South Africa Gears Up for Hybrid Revolution with 19 New Models in 2025
The vanguard of this drive in SA is the Chinese manufacturers, almost all of which offer an array of hybrid and full electric cars alongside the traditional petrol and diesel options. Three of the best that we have recently tested are competing for your cash, so how do they compare?
How does the fuel economy of hybrid cars compare to traditional cars?
Important figures
| Jaecoo J7 1.5T SHS PHEV | Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury | Chery Tiggo 7 1.5T CSH Plug-In Hybrid Ultra | |
| Engine | 1.5 turbo + hybrid electric | 1.5 turbo + hybrid electric | 1.5 turbo + hybrid electric |
| Power | 255kW / 525Nm | 179kW / 530Nm | 265kW / 530Nm |
| Gearbox | DHT | DHT | DHT |
| Top Speed | 180km/h | 170km/h | 180km/h |
| Fuel Cons. (Claimed) | 1.0 L/100km (hybrid battery charged) / 4.7 L/100km combined / 18.7 kWh/100km | 5.2 L/100km | 1.4 L/100k (hybrid battery charged) / 4.9 L/100km combined / 16.3 kWh/100km combined |
| Fuel Cons. (As tested) | 4.6 L/100 km | 5.8 L/100km | 4.9 L/100km |
| Driven Wheels | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Airbags | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Warranty | 7 years on vehicle / 10 years on engine for 1st owner / 10 years on electric drive unit parts / 10 years on hybrid battery for 1st owner | 7 years on vehicle / 8 years on hybrid battery + high voltage parts | 7 years on vehicle / 10 years on engine for 1st owner / 10 years on hybrid battery for 1st owner |
| Distance | 200 000km on vehicle / 1 000 000km on engine for 1st owner / 200 000km on electric drive unit parts / unlimited km on hybrid battery for 1st owner | 200 000km on vehicle / 150 000km on hybrid battery + high voltage parts | 150 000km on vehicle / 1 000 000 on engine for 1st owner / unlimited km on hybrid battery for 1st owner |
| Service plan/Maintenance | Service | Service | Service |
| Duration | 5 Year / 70 000km | 7 year / 75 000km | 5 year / 60 000km |
All three vehicles balance out in their offerings. The Jaecoo J7 seemingly has the lowest running cost of ownership, with a decent fuel consumption figure and service plan. The Chery follows closely behind with the Haval H6 taking the last spot.
Repayments
These vehicles are aimed at large families interested in the outdoors, so buyers should expect a healthy 12% interest rate, depending on credit history, if they put down a 25% deposit or trade-in and finance over 72 months.
| Jaecoo J7 1.5T SHS PHEV | Haval H6 1.5T HEV Ultra Luxury | Chery Tiggo 7 1.5T CSH Plug-In Hybrid Ultra | |
| Price | R 689 900 | R 685 500 | R 679 900 |
| 25% Deposit | R 172 475 | R 171 375 | R 169 975 |
| Monthly Installment | R 10 116 | R 10 051 | R 9 969 |
Service and maintenance
These new vehicles are available with service and maintenance plans that cover the costs of your services and maintenance for the first few years of ownership. Click here to see the difference between service and maintenance plans.
Given that these models are relatively new, there is not much data to determine how each will fare in out-of-plan servicing. We can, however, look at historical data for other legacy brands that have previously introduced hybrid vehicles.
It is highly advisable to examine the warranty and service plan exclusions closely to determine what you are and aren't covered for. Replacing parts of the PHEV drive systems on these models once they are out of service plan could be prohibitively expensive.
Verdict
Very little separates these vehicles outside of their individual style and aesthetics. They will all save you money and are in the same ballpark regarding upfront costs. Therefore, it is easy to say that any one of these superb vehicles will be perfect for the individual seeking to save on day-to-day costs.
