Hyundai IONIQ 5 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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai IONIQ 5
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 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 IONIQ 5
⛽ Fuel Economy IONIQ 5
🛡 Safety IONIQ 5
📦 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV
Tiggo 9 PHEV starts ZAR 859900 cheaper IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900 · Tiggo 9 PHEV from ZAR 839,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec IONIQ 5 Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine Power 225 kW 455 kW
Torque 605 Nm 920 Nm
Engine Size Not confirmed 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 454 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 160 mm 183 mm
Boot / Load Bay 527 l 448 l
Airbags 7 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 2190 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Both IONIQ 5 and Tiggo 9 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +2 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 5 +25 pts
Safety IONIQ 5 +5 pts
Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +7 pts
Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

IONIQ 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tiggo 9 PHEV

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec IONIQ 5 Tiggo 9 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2022 2026
Generation First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers Current South Africa Tiggo 9 PHEV range
Facelift History Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2026
Facelift Version Ending Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec IONIQ 5 Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ground Clearance 160 mm 183 mm
Wheelbase 3000 mm 2800 mm
Length 4635 mm 4810 mm
Width 1890 mm 1925 mm
Height 1605 mm 1741 mm
Kerb Weight 2190 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 527 l 448 l
Load Bed Length 527 l 448 l
Load Bed Width Not confirmed -
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Volume 527 l 448 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 72.6 l 70 l
Ground Clearance Max 160 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Min 160 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 160 mm 183 mm
Height Mm 1605 mm 1741 mm
Length Mm 4635 mm 4810 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 527 l 448 l
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed -
Cargo Volume 527 l 448 l
Tare Mass Kg 2190 kg -
Width Mm 1890 mm 1925 mm
Gross Vehicle Weight Not confirmed -
Towing Capacity Not confirmed -
Front Track Width Not confirmed -
Rear Track Width Not confirmed -
Turning Radius Not confirmed -
Front Legroom Not confirmed -
Rear Legroom Not confirmed -
Front Headroom Not confirmed -
Rear Headroom Not confirmed -
Front Shoulder Room Not confirmed -
Rear Shoulder Room Not confirmed -
Boot Space Seats Folded Not confirmed 2065 l
Max Payload Not confirmed -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not confirmed -
Payload Kg Not confirmed -
Turning Circle Not confirmed -
Turning Circle M Not confirmed -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 3 points

Both IONIQ 5 and Tiggo 9 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 87 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 86% confidence
87
#1 Winner

IONIQ 5

86% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 99
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 3 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 IONIQ 5 +2 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +25 Safety IONIQ 5 +5 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +7 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

Tiggo 9 PHEV

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 87 pts vs 84 pts for Tiggo 9 PHEV

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 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.

Other Comparisons Worth Checking

See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.

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Buyers Also Looked At These

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

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IONIQ 5 vs Tiggo 4 Cross →
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VS
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VS
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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the IONIQ 5 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: IONIQ 5 97 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: IONIQ 5 99, 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: IONIQ 5 65, 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: IONIQ 5 70, Tiggo 9 PHEV 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: IONIQ 5 100, 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 IONIQ 5 and Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: IONIQ 5 scores 100 vs 98.

Efficiency: IONIQ 5 scores 97 vs 72.

Safety: IONIQ 5 scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: IONIQ 5 scores 70 vs 77.

Ownership: IONIQ 5 scores 65 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.