Honda CR-V 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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 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 CR-V
🛡 Safety Tiggo 9 PHEV
📦 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV
CR-V starts ZAR 839900 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Tiggo 9 PHEV from ZAR 839,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine Power 204 kW 455 kW
Torque 335 Nm 920 Nm
Engine Size 1993 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 183 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l 448 l
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1750 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 3 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 9 PHEV has a slight advantage, but CR-V remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +21 pts
Efficiency CR-V +8 pts
Safety Tiggo 9 PHEV +2 pts
Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +9 pts
Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +18 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CR-V

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • 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?

CR-V

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tiggo 9 PHEV

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Tiggo 9 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2023 2026
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety Current South Africa Tiggo 9 PHEV range
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec CR-V Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ground Clearance 200 mm 183 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2800 mm
Length 4690 mm 4810 mm
Width 1860 mm 1925 mm
Height 1690 mm 1741 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 497 l 448 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - -
Load Bed Length 497 l 448 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 497 l 2065 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 497 l 448 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 70 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2250 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 4690 mm 4810 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 497 l 448 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 497 l 448 l
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg -
Turning Circle - -
Turning Circle M - -
Width Mm 1860 mm 1925 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 9 PHEV leads by 9 points

Tiggo 9 PHEV has a slight advantage, but CR-V remains highly competitive.

Winner 84 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 74% confidence
84
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 9 points
75
#2

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +21 Efficiency CR-V +8 Safety Tiggo 9 PHEV +2 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +9 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +18

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 9 PHEV

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

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 75 pts for CR-V

In structured scoring, Tiggo 9 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CR-V 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 Tiggo 9 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: CR-V 80 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, Tiggo 9 PHEV 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, 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 Tiggo 9 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 98.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 72.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 94.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 77.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 9 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.