Top 6 PHEVs in South Africa with the longest range
Fuel price hikes becoming a major concern? Discover the top 5 plug‑in hybrid SUVs in South Africa with the longest claimed total range per tank and charge, including PHEVs from Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda, and BYD, plus how to interpret their figures.
With fuel prices set to rise again amid the turmoil in the Middle East, many South Africans are considering the PHEV option. And rightly so, because at this point, it offers the best combination of range, performance, and efficiency! Check out this list of SA's most roadtrip-friendly plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
1. Chery Tiggo 9 1.5T CSH Plug‑In Hybrid (from R839 900) – claimed +/- 1 400 km
The Tiggo 9 PHEV currently sits at the top of South Africa’s plug‑in hybrid range hierarchy. Chery’s flagship seven‑seat SUV pairs a 1.5‑litre turbo‑petrol engine with a large plug‑in hybrid battery (18.3 kWh in the Pinnacle FWD model or 34.4 kWh in the Vanguard AWD model). Chery’s launch material and international technical briefings quote a theoretical total range of around 1 400 km on a full tank and full charge in gentle mixed driving.
The FWD Pinnacle model has an electric-only range of 90 km, while the Vanguard AWD model has an electric range of 160 km, but both are said to be able to do up to 1400 km in total.
2. Chery Tiggo 7 1.5T CHS PHEV (from R599 900) – claimed +/- 1 200 km
Chery also claims around 95 km of electric‑only range for the Tiggo 7 CHS PHEV. In practical terms, that means many urban commutes can be done largely on battery power if you plug in regularly, with the petrol engine and tank held in reserve for longer trips.
Watch Lawrence's video review here.
3. Chery Tiggo 8 1.5T CSH PHEV (From R729 900) – claimed up to +/- 1 200 km
The Tiggo 8 CSH PHEV takes the same family plug‑in system and packages it in a larger, seven‑seat SUV. South African pricing and dealer material apply the same “around 1 200 km” single‑tank range claim to the Tiggo 8 CSH as to the Tiggo 7, reflecting their shared CSH plug‑in hybrid powertrain.
Buyers can therefore treat the Tiggo 8 CSH PHEV as offering similar theoretical range and EV capability to the Tiggo 7 CHS, but with extra seats and luggage space. As with all PHEVs, the headline number assumes a full tank and a full battery, and a gentle mixed driving cycle.
Read Ryno's review of this model here.
4. Jaecoo J7 1.5T SHS PHEV (from R689 900) – claimed +/- 1 200 km
The Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV, from another marque within the wider Chery Group, offers a more rugged, “urban off‑roader” take on the same idea. Jaecoo South Africa and local pricing/spec coverage describe the J7 SHS PHEV as having a claimed single‑tank range of about 1 200 km, with an electric‑only range of roughly 90 km.
On paper, that puts the J7 right alongside the Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 in total range; no surprises here because Jaecoo is a Chery sub-brand.
5. Omoda C9 1.5T PHEV (R999 900) – claimed +/- 1 100 km
The Omoda C9 PHEV (C9 SHS) pushes harder on the electric side while still offering strong total range. Omoda South Africa says the C9’s 34.5 kWh battery allows up to about 150 km of electric‑only range, which is unusually high for a plug‑in hybrid. The same launch material describes a combined petrol‑plus‑battery range of roughly 1 100 km on a full tank and full charge. (If you didn't already know, Omoda is also a Chery sub-brand.)
Read our review here.
6. BYD Sealion 6 PHEV (from R639 900) – claimed +/- 1 080 km (not Premium AWD model)
The BYD Sealion 6, in Comfort and Dynamic trim, rounds out the top five. South African spec data, as published by BYD and local data providers, lists an electric‑only range of about 80 km and a combined range of 1 080 km from its 1.5‑litre petrol engine, 18.3 kWh battery and 60‑litre fuel tank.
That places the Sealion 6 just behind the Chery‑group SUVs and Omoda C9 on total range, but ahead of most European and Japanese plug‑in rivals currently on sale here. (A higher‑output Sealion 6 Premium AWD model is quoted at around 870 km combined range, which is why it sits outside this particular ranking.)
Related: Subaru Forester vs MG HS vs BYD Sealion 6 PHEV - running cost comparison
Honourable mentions
A few other plug‑in hybrids are worth noting, even if they don’t match the top five on claimed total range:
BYD Sealion 5 Dynamic – South African spec sheets show around 52 km electric‑only range and a claimed combined range of 1 001 km from a 52‑litre tank and 13 kWh battery.
- The Haval H6 GT 1.5T PHEV Ultra Luxury is another long‑legged plug‑in worth flagging, with a claimed 180 km EV‑only range and more than 1 000 km combined on a full charge and tank. Its 321 kW/762 Nm powertrain also makes it one of the most powerful PHEV SUVs on sale in South Africa, so it suits buyers who want serious performance without sacrificing long‑distance cruising ability; read our review here.
BYD Shark 6 PHEV – reporting on BYD’s “super hybrid” bakkie refers to “over 1 000 km” of total range on a full tank and charge, but without a precise kilometre figure; it is best described as offering “more than 1 000 km of claimed range” rather than ranked exactly. Read our first drive review.
European PHEVs such as the BMW X5 xDrive50e, Volvo XC60 T8 Recharge and Land Rover Defender 110 P400e typically offer strong electric‑only ranges and good efficiency. Still, their implied single‑tank totals generally sit in the 700–950 km band rather than the 1 000 km‑plus club.
How to read these numbers
Manufacturers quote plug‑in hybrid range using standardised lab tests that combine a fully charged battery with a full tank of fuel. In the real world, you are unlikely to match the 1 080–1 200 km figures listed here unless you:
Start with a full tank and a full battery.
Drive gently, at moderate speeds, in a mix of town and highway conditions.
Plug in often enough that the car can spend time in EV mode.
That said, the current crop of Chinese‑built PHEVs – led by Chery, Jaecoo, Omoda and BYD – clearly sit at the top of South Africa’s long‑range plug‑in hierarchy on paper. For buyers who want EV smoothness and short‑trip efficiency without sacrificing single‑tank range for long journeys, these models are worth considering first.
Disclaimer: All electric‑only and total range figures in this article are manufacturer or importer claims under controlled test or certification conditions. They are provided for comparison only; actual range will be lower in everyday driving and will depend on speed, traffic, terrain, temperature, payload and how often you charge the battery.
