Suzuki Across vs Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Across in South Africa

Suzuki Across

2.5 PHEV E-CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 1,199,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 227 Nm ⛽ 100 km/l
VS
Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV

PHEV Vanguard AWD Plug-In Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 989,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 455 kW 🔧 920 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV
⛽ Fuel Economy Across
🛡 Safety Across
📦 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Across
Tiggo 9 PHEV starts ZAR 1199900 cheaper Across from ZAR 1,199,900 · Tiggo 9 PHEV from ZAR 839,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Across Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine Power 225 kW 455 kW
Torque 227 Nm 920 Nm
Engine Size 2487 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 100 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 183 mm
Boot / Load Bay 490 l 448 l
Airbags 8 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1955 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years / 200000 km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Across and Tiggo 9 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +20 pts
Efficiency Across +26 pts
Safety Across +6 pts
Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +11 pts
Ownership Across +13 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Across

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tiggo 9 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across Tiggo 9 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation Fifth-generation RAV4 platform (TNGA-K). The Across uses the same body, drivetrain and electronics as the RAV4 PHEV, distinguished only by Suzuki badging and a slightly different grille treatment. Current South Africa Tiggo 9 PHEV range
Facelift History Originally launched globally in 2020 as Toyota RAV4 PHEV; rebadged as Suzuki Across for European and select markets including SA from 2021. No major facelift to date. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2021 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Pure White, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black, Emotional Red, Cyan Metallic, Dark Blue Mica -
Dealer Stock Note Phev grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Across Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ground Clearance 200 mm 183 mm
Wheelbase 2690 mm 2800 mm
Length 4635 mm 4810 mm
Width 1855 mm 1925 mm
Height 1690 mm 1741 mm
Kerb Weight 1955 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2510 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 490 l 448 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Front Track Width 1605 mm -
Rear Track Width 1620 mm -
Turning Radius 5.7 m -
Load Bed Length 490 l 448 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1090 mm -
Rear Legroom 950 mm -
Front Headroom 1015 mm -
Rear Headroom 1004 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1455 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1418 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1604 l 2065 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 555 kg -
Boot Volume 490 l 448 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Front Overhang 915 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 70 l
Rear Overhang 1030 mm -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2510 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 183 mm
Height Mm 1690 mm 1741 mm
Length Mm 4635 mm 4810 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 490 l 448 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 555 kg -
Cargo Volume 490 l 448 l
Tare Mass Kg 1955 kg -
Turning Circle 5.7 m -
Turning Circle M 5.7 m -
Width Mm 1855 mm 1925 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1604 l 2065 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Across leads by 0 points

Both Across and Tiggo 9 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 84 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 100% confidence
84
#1 Winner

Across

100% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Practicality 66
Performance 78
Efficiency 98
Safety 100
Practicality 66
Ownership 82
Leads by 0 points
84
#2

Tiggo 9 PHEV

74% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Ownership 69
Performance 98
Efficiency 72
Safety 94
Practicality 77
Ownership 69
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +20 Efficiency Across +26 Safety Across +6 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +11 Ownership Across +13

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Across

Performance 78/100
Efficiency 98/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 82/100

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 72/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 77/100
Ownership 69/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Across wins with 84 pts vs 84 pts for Tiggo 9 PHEV

In structured scoring, Across emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tiggo 9 PHEV may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Across edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Across 98 vs Tiggo 9 PHEV 72. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Across 100, Tiggo 9 PHEV 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Across 82, Tiggo 9 PHEV 69. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Across 66, Tiggo 9 PHEV 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Across 78, Tiggo 9 PHEV 98. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Across edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Across scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Across and Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Across scores 78 vs 98.

Efficiency: Across scores 98 vs 72.

Safety: Across scores 100 vs 94.

Practicality: Across scores 66 vs 77.

Ownership: Across scores 82 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Across the advantage in this comparison.