BMW i5 vs Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

BMW i5 in South Africa

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 2,080,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
VS
Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

PHEV Apex Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BMW i5 vs Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV: the short answer

i5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Tiggo 8 PHEV remains close.

Tiggo 8 PHEV starts ZAR 1,082,100 cheaper i5 from ZAR 1,812,000 · Tiggo 8 PHEV from ZAR 729,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification i5 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Maximum Power i5442 kW Tiggo 8 PHEV150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque i5795 Nm Tiggo 8 PHEV230 Nm
Engine Size i5Not Applicable Tiggo 8 PHEV1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy i5Not Applicable Tiggo 8 PHEV19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance i5140 mm Tiggo 8 PHEV170 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan

Hagalu editorial rating
3.9/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

PHEV Apex

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

i5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

i5

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Tiggo 8 PHEV

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec i5 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2023 2026
Generation G60 executive electric sedan sharing the 5 Series body architecture with dedicated electric propulsion. Current South Africa Tiggo 8 PHEV range
Facelift History Current G60-generation battery-electric i5 Sedan in South African specification. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Premium Sedan SUV
Vehicle Type Car SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1907 kg
Spec i5 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Length 5060 mm 4725 mm
Width 1900 mm 1860 mm
Height 1505 mm 1705 mm
Wheelbase 2995 mm 2710 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 140 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 190 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 60 l
Boot/Cargo Space 490 l 494 l
Kerb Weight 2370 kg 1907 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2895 kg 2430 kg
Payload Capacity 600 kg 523 kg
Towing Capacity 2000 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 3 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 985 mm 1020 mm
Rear Headroom 940 mm 985 mm
Front Legroom 1047 mm 1055 mm
Rear Legroom 890 mm 945 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This i5 and Tiggo 8 PHEV comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: i5 100 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV 56.

Efficiency index: i5 90 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV 81.

Safety-equipment index: i5 92 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV 94.

Practicality index: i5 64 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV 70.

Ownership-cover index: i5 not separately scored vs Tiggo 8 PHEV not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

i5 leads by 13 points

i5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Tiggo 8 PHEV remains close.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 69% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

i5

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 64
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Leads by 13 points
74
#2

Tiggo 8 PHEV

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 81
Safety 94
Practicality 70
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i5 +44 Efficiency i5 +9 Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV +2 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +6

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 70/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i5 leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 74 pts for Tiggo 8 PHEV

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i5 leads. However, Tiggo 8 PHEV may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

i5 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.