The mid-size SUV market has evolved significantly over the last few years, with diesel engines almost eliminated from the segment. The vast majority of brands offering a vehicle here now have some form of NEV (New Energy Vehicle) in their lineups, and it is interesting to see how these different models stack up on paper vs in the real world.
Related: What is the difference between a service plan and a maintenance plan?
Three plug-in hybrid family SUVs now compete hard on price in South Africa, and the purchase price is only the start of the bill. This comparison looks at fuel, servicing, and aftersales costs to show which of the Jetour T2, Chery Tiggo 7 Pro CSH, and Haval H6 costs the least to run.
Hybrid vs diesel bakkie: real running costs compared
Fuel
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro CSH has the best tested fuel figure of the three. Chery claims 4.9 l/100km. Our Feb 2026 review recorded 5.0 L/100km with the battery mostly depleted, and estimates everyday hybrid driving without charging at high-5s to low-6s, over a week of mixed driving, with a 52 km commute driven on electric power alone. The Haval H6 claims 5.3 L/100km and returned 5.7 L/100 km. The Jetour T2 claims 1.3 l/100km and returned 5.7-6.0 L/100km on mixed routes.
At an assumed R30 per litre, 1 000 km costs about R150 in the CSH on the tested figure, R171 in the H6 and R171 to R180 in the T2. Without charging, the CSH rises to roughly R174-R195. The Chery is the cheapest per kilometre on tested figures, but its lead over the Haval is small.
Model | Claimed (L/100km) | Tested (L/100km) | Cost per 1 000 km at R30/L (assumed) |
|---|---|---|---|
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro CSH PHEV | 4.9 | 5.0 | R150 |
Haval H6 1.5T PHEV | 5.3 | 5.7 | R171 |
Jetour T2 1.5T i-DM PHEV | 1.3 | 5.7 to 6.0 | R171 to R180 |
Servicing
The Haval H6 has indicative service prices published by Haval Fourways. The hybrid service costs R2 300 at 15 000 km, R4 300 at 30 000 km, R4 300 at 45 000 km and R6 500 at 60 000 km. The Chery CSH carries a 5-year/60 000 km service plan. The Haval PHEV carries a 7-year/75 000 km service plan, and the Jetour T2 also has a 7-year/75 000 km plan, though we were unable to ascertain out-of-plan service costs.
The H6 is the only one of the three with published service prices. Until the Chery and Jetour out-of-plan service costs are confirmed, the servicing comparison is incomplete, and the Chery's place in it is unproven.
Aftersales Costs
Insurance depends entirely on the driver's profile and claims history, so it is difficult to put a price on it; warranty is the closest proxy. Our Autotrader reviews list the Chery CSH at 7 years/150 000 km for the vehicle and 10 years/1 000 000 km for the engine, first owner only. Chery also offers a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre battery cover. The Jetour and Haval both carry 7-year/200 000 km vehicle warranties, with 8-year battery cover (160 000 km for the Jetour, 150 000 km for the Haval).
Verdict
The Chery Tiggo 7 Pro CSH has the lowest fuel cost of the three. Its vehicle warranty is the shortest of the three at 7 years or 150 000 km, although its battery and engine cover are the strongest. The Haval H6 is the only model with published service prices, and it shares the longest vehicle cover, 7 years or 200 000 km, with the Jetour T2. Until we confirm out-of-plan service costs for the Chery and Jetour, we can't reliably say which is cheapest to run over five years. If you drive high mileage and fuel is your main cost, the Chery is the pick. If you want predictable servicing costs and the longest vehicle cover, the Haval H6 is the safer buy.
