Toyota bZ4X vs Chery Tiggo 7 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.

Toyota bZ4X

bZ4X AWD Electric Automatic

ZAR 1,182,800 ex-showroom

⚡ 255 kW 🔧 Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l

Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

PHEV Ultra Plug-In Hybrid Automatic

ZAR 679,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 265 kW 🔧 530 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV

⛽ Fuel Economy bZ4X

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV

🔑 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV

Tiggo 7 PHEV starts ZAR 1182800 cheaper bZ4X from ZAR 1,182,800 · Tiggo 7 PHEV from ZAR 599,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine Power	255.3 kW	265 kW
Torque	Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Size	-	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance	-	162 mm
Boot / Load Bay	-	626 l
Airbags	Driver Knee, Front Side, Front Centre	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	-	1870 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but bZ4X remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +9 pts

Efficiency bZ4X +5 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +31 pts

Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +23 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

bZ4X

Strengths

Better fuel efficiency

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Strengths

More powerful engine output
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Lower fuel efficiency

Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

bZ4X

Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Large families needing more practicality and usability
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2026	2026
Generation	South African launch specification of Toyota's dedicated battery-electric bZ4X	Current South Africa Tiggo 7 PHEV range
Facelift History	Introduced locally in 2026 as Toyota South Africa's first battery-electric production model	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	Introduced locally in 2026 as Toyota South Africa's first battery-electric production model	2026
Facelift Version Ending	Current South African 2026 specification	Current
Body Style	SUV	SUV
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	published	active
Segment	SUV	SUV
Vehicle Type	SUV	SUV

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seating Capacity	5	5
Towing Capacity	750 kg	-
Load Bed Length	-	626 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Number of Doors	5	5
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	60 l
Loadbox Length Mm	-	626 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Ground Clearance	-	162 mm
Wheelbase	-	2670 mm
Length	-	4553 mm
Width	-	1862 mm
Height	-	1686 mm
Kerb Weight	-	1870 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	-	2310 kg
Boot Space	-	626 l
Front Track Width	-	1570 mm
Rear Track Width	-	1570 mm
Turning Radius	-	-
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	1672 l
Max Payload	-	-
Boot Volume	-	626 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	-	2310 kg
Ground Clearance Max	-	162 mm
Ground Clearance Min	-	162 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	-	162 mm
Height Mm	-	1686 mm
Length Mm	-	4553 mm
Payload Kg	-	-
Cargo Volume	-	626 l
Tare Mass Kg	-	1870 kg
Turning Circle	-	-
Turning Circle M	-	-
Width Mm	-	1862 mm

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine	Dual permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Type	Dual permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Displacement	-	1.5 cc
Cylinders	-	4
Valves per Cylinder	-	16
Power	255.3 kW	265 kW
Torque	Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm	530 Nm
Fuel System	Battery Electric	Petrol injection
Turbocharger	-	Standard
Top Speed	160 km/h	-
0-100 km/h	5.1 sec	-
Cylinder Bore	-	-
Piston Stroke	-	-
Power	342 bhp	355.4 bhp
Cylinder Layout	-	Inline
Engine Aspiration	-	Turbocharged
Engine Type Config	Dual permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors	1.5T plug-in hybrid
0–100 km/h	5.1 sec	-
Battery Capacity	73.11	-
Engine Displacement	-	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	-	1.5 cc
Acceleration 0 100	5.1 sec	-
Engine Config	Dual permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Cylinders	-	4
Engine Displacement Cc	-	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	255.3 kW	265 kW
Engine Torque Nm	Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Valves	-	16
Induction	-	Turbocharged
Max Power kW	255.3 kW	265 kW
Max Torque Nm	Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm	530 Nm
Maximum Power	255.3 kW	265 kW
Maximum Torque	Front 268.6; rear 169.8 Nm	530 Nm
Turbo Type	-	Single turbo
Power @ RPM	-	5500
Torque @ RPM	-	1750-4000
Compression Ratio	-	-
Engine Code	-	-
Fuel Grade Required	-	Petrol
Power kW Rpm	-	5500
Torque Nm Rpm	-	1750-4000

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Transmission	Single-speed automatic	Automatic
Drive Type	AWD	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD	FWD
Transfer Case	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Number of Gears	1 km/h	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	Single-speed automatic	Automatic
Drivetrain	AWD	FWD
Transmission	Single-speed automatic	Automatic
4WD Engagement	Permanent electric all-wheel drive	-
4WD Hi Range	-	-
4WD Lo Range	-	-
4WD Selector	-	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	Standard
Gearbox Type	Single-speed automatic	Automatic
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD	FWD
Transmission Speeds	1 km/h	Hybrid DHT
LSD Available	-	-
Differential Lock	-	-
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Clutch Type	-	Automatic clutch
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Rear Differential Lock	-	-

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
City Mileage	-	-
Highway Mileage	-	-
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	60 l
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	-	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	-	4.9 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
Charging Port Type	AC-Type 2, DC-CCS 2	Plug-in hybrid AC/DC
Charging Time AC Full	2.3 kW 31 hours	-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	150 kW 29mins	-
Charging Type	(Mode 2), Public Charger (Mode 3)	AC/DC
Combined Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	-	4.9 l/100km
DC Charging Power	150	-
Fuel Economy Combined	-	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	-	60 l
Fuel Type	Electric	Plug-in Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
Combined Driving Range	456-481	1200
Range Real World Mixed	456-481 km	1200 km
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
AC Charging Power	-	-
Electric Consumption	-	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Wltp	-	93 km

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Airbags	Driver Knee, Front Side, Front Centre	Multiple airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard Rear door	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard 2	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard Auto Location	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Intrusion Sensor / Glass Break Sensor / Tilt Sensor	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front + Rear Buzzer + Light	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear, Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
AEB	Standard	Standard
BA	Standard	Standard
Curtain Airbags	-	Standard
Driver Airbag	Standard	Standard
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Intrusion Sensor / Glass Break Sensor / Tilt Sensor	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Side Airbags	Standard	Standard
Knee Airbag	Standard	Standard
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	-	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	-	Standard
TCS	-	Standard

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear, Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
Rear View Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Auto Highbeam	Standard	Standard
Auto Wipers	Auto, Rainsensing	Standard
Drive Modes	Standard Eco / Normal / Sport / X-MODE	Eco / Normal / Sport
Rear Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear, Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
Reverse Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Park Assist	Standard	-
Around View Monitor	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Blind Spot Warning	Standard Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	-	-

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seat Material	Leather Sporty	Leatherette / leather
Heated Seats	Standard Front and Rear	Standard
Ventilated Seats	Standard Driver + Passenger	Standard
Steering Wheel Material	3 Spoke Synthetic Leather + Heater	Leather
60 40 Split Seat	60:40	Standard
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power/ Driver Memory	Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power/ Driver Memory	Power
Seat Trim	Leather Sporty	Leatherette / leather
Ambient Lighting	-	Standard

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Climate Control	Auto Dual zone	Automatic
Power Windows	All All One Touch	Standard
Keyless Entry	Standard Smart Entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Push Start	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard Front x1	Standard
Sunroof	Panoramic roof	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Standard Power	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	Standard
AC Type	Auto Dual zone	Automatic
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Electric
Seatbelt Reminder	Front + Rear Buzzer + Light	Standard
Service Plan	6 Services / 90 000 km	5 Year / 75 000 km
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Valves Per Cylinder	-	4

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Infotainment Screen	JBL Display Audio, EMV, 14-inch	Touchscreen infotainment
Apple CarPlay	Standard	Standard
Android Auto	Standard	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	Standard 9 Standard Audio, Telephone,	8
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard TFT Colour, 7-inch	Standard
USB Ports	Standard 4PCs	Front and rear USB where listed
Infotainment Screen	14-inch	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Touchscreen	14-inch	10.25-inch or larger by trim

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Standard	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard LED	Standard
Roof Rails	Standard	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	Midnight Grey, Fierce Red, Moonlight Ocean Metallic, Platinum White Pearl and Attitude Black	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.
Headlights	Standard	Standard
Panoramic Sunroof	Panoramic roof	Standard
Fog Lamps	-	Standard

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Terrain Modes	Standard	-
4WD System Type	AWD	FWD
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Locking Differential	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Tyre Size	F:235-50 R20 Alloy R:235-50 R20 Alloy	225/60 R18
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Without (Repair Kit Included)	-
Wheel Rim Size	F:235-50 R20 Alloy R:235-50 R20 Alloy	225/60 R18
Handbrake Type	Electric	Electronic parking brake

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Front Suspension	Brake Ventilated Disc	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Window Demister Standard	Multi-link

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Service Interval	12 months / 15 000 km	-
Battery Warranty	8 years 160 000 km	-
Battery Type	Lithium Ion Standard Emergency Charger	-
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ownership Role	Private and family	flagship or capability-focused
Price Source	Toyota South Africa model configurator checked 2026-07-16	Official model page price card
Price Zar	1182800 ZAR	679900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Flagship	flagship or capability-focused
Starting Price	1182800	599900
Starting Price Zar	1182800	599900

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km

Spec	bZ4X	Tiggo 7 PHEV
CO2 Emissions	-	33 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	-	Petrol

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 12 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but bZ4X remains highly competitive.

Winner 84 /100

Lead 12 points

Data 74% confidence

#1 Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

74% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 69

Performance 91

Efficiency 85

Safety 94

Practicality 76

Ownership 69

Leads by 12 points

bZ4X

58% data confidence 3 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 45

Performance 82

Efficiency 90

Safety 94

Practicality 45

Ownership 46

Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +9 Efficiency bZ4X +5 Safety Level Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +31 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +23

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Performance 91/100

Efficiency 85/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 76/100

Ownership 69/100

bZ4X

Performance 82/100

Efficiency 90/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 45/100

Ownership 46/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 72 pts for bZ4X

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, bZ4X may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tiggo 7 PHEV 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: bZ4X 90 vs Tiggo 7 PHEV 85. 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: bZ4X 94, Tiggo 7 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: bZ4X 46, Tiggo 7 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: bZ4X 45, Tiggo 7 PHEV 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: bZ4X 82, Tiggo 7 PHEV 91. 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 Tiggo 7 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 7 PHEV 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 bZ4X and Tiggo 7 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: bZ4X scores 82 vs 91.

Efficiency: bZ4X scores 90 vs 85.

Safety: bZ4X scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: bZ4X scores 45 vs 76.

Ownership: bZ4X scores 46 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 7 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.

Toyota bZ4X vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Toyota bZ4X

Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

bZ4X

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

bZ4X

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 12 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV

bZ4X

Tiggo 7 PHEV

bZ4X

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down