Isuzu MU-X 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.

Isuzu MU-X

3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT Diesel Automatic

ZAR 973,800 ex-showroom

⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 @ 1800-2600 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l

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 Tiggo 9 PHEV

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality MU-X

🔑 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV

MU-X starts ZAR 839900 cheaper MU-X from ZAR 752,400 · Tiggo 9 PHEV from ZAR 839,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine Power	110 @ 3600 kW	455 kW
Torque	350 @ 1800-2600 Nm	920 Nm
Engine Size	3000 cc	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	13.2 km/l	16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance	235 mm	183 mm
Boot / Load Bay	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Airbags	Standard	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	2080 kg	-
Seating Capacity	7	7
Warranty	5 years / 120 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 9 PHEV has a slight advantage, but MU-X remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +36 pts

Efficiency Tiggo 9 PHEV +20 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality MU-X +16 pts

Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +25 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

MU-X

Strengths

More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Family Usage

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

MU-X

Large families needing more practicality and usability

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2013	2026
Generation	Current generation MU-X built on Isuzu D-Max platform	Current South Africa Tiggo 9 PHEV range
Facelift History	Latest updates improved styling and safety tech	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	Original current-generation version	2026
Facelift Version Ending	Current	Current
Body Style	7-seat SUV	SUV
Color Note	White, Black, Silver, Grey, Red	-
Dealer Stock Note	Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup	-
Drivetrain Note	Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0 DDi LSE 4x4 AT	-
Model Year	MY26	2026
Production Status	published	active
Segment	SUV	SUV
Vehicle Type	SUV	SUV

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ground Clearance	235 mm	183 mm
Wheelbase	2855 mm	2800 mm
Length	4850 mm	4810 mm
Width	1870 mm	1925 mm
Height	1825 mm	1741 mm
Kerb Weight	2080 kg	-
Gross Vehicle Weight	2800 kg	-
Seating Capacity	7	7
Boot Space	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Towing Capacity	3500 kg	-
Front Track Width	-	-
Rear Track Width	-	-
Turning Radius	11.4 m	-
Load Bed Length	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	2065 l
Number of Doors	5	5
Max Payload	659 kg	-
Boot Volume	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Doors	5	5
Seats	7	7
Fuel Tank Capacity	80 l	70 l
Front Overhang Mm	895 mm	-
Gross Combined Mass Kg	5900 kg	-
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2800 kg	-
Ground Clearance Max	235 mm	183 mm
Ground Clearance Min	235 mm	183 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	235 mm	183 mm
Height Mm	1825 mm	1741 mm
Length Mm	4850 mm	4810 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Payload Kg	659 kg	-
Cargo Volume	Load bay payload 659 kg	448 l
Rear Overhang Mm	1100 mm	-
Tare Mass Kg	2080 kg	-
Track Front Rear Mm	1570 / 1570	-
Turning Circle	11.4 m	-
Turning Circle M	11.4 m	-
Width Mm	1870 mm	1925 mm

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine	-	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Type	-	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Displacement	3000 cc	1.5 cc
Cylinders	4	4
Valves per Cylinder	16	16
Power	110 @ 3600 kW	455 kW
Power @ RPM	140 @ 3600	5500
Torque	350 @ 1800-2600 Nm	920 Nm
Torque @ RPM	450 @ 1600-2600	1750-4000
Fuel System	-	Petrol injection
Turbocharger	Standard	Standard
Top Speed	-	-
0-100 km/h	-	-
Compression Ratio	16.3:1	-
Cylinder Bore	-	-
Piston Stroke	-	-
Engine Code	4JJ3	-
Power	110 @ 3600 bhp	610.2 bhp
Fuel Grade Required	Diesel	Petrol
Cylinder Layout	-	Inline
Engine Aspiration	Standard	Turbocharged
Engine Type Config	-	1.5T plug-in hybrid
0–100 km/h	-	-
Battery Capacity	-	-
Charging Port	-	-
AC Charging Time	-	-
Engine Displacement	3000 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	3000 cc	1.5 cc
EV Range	-	-
Acceleration 0 100	-	-
Bore X Stroke Mm	95.4 x 104.9	-
Combined System Power	-	-
Combined System Torque	-	-
Engine Config	-	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Cylinders	4	4
Engine Displacement Cc	3000 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	110 @ 3600 kW	455 kW
Engine Sump Guard	Standard	-
Engine Torque Nm	350 @ 1800-2600 Nm	920 Nm
Engine Valves	16	16
Induction	Standard	Turbocharged
Max Power kW	110 @ 3600 kW	455 kW
Max Torque Nm	350 @ 1800-2600 Nm	920 Nm
Maximum Power	110 @ 3600 kW	455 kW
Maximum Torque	350 @ 1800-2600 Nm	920 Nm
Motor Position	-	-
Motor Power	-	-
Motor Torque	-	-
Motor Type	-	-
Power Assisted Steering	Hydraulic	-
Power kW Rpm	140 @ 3600	5500
Active Exhaust	-	-
System Output	-	-
Torque Nm Rpm	450 @ 1600-2600	1750-4000
Turbo Type	Standard	Single turbo

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
Drive Type	4WD / AWD	AWD
Drivetrain Layout	4WD / AWD	AWD
LSD Available	-	-
Transfer Case	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Differential Lock	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Number of Gears	4 km/h	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	Automatic	Automatic
Clutch Type	-	Automatic clutch
Drivetrain	4WD / AWD	AWD
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
4WD Engagement	Available	-
4WD Hi Range	Available	-
4WD Lo Range	Available where 4WD low range is fitted	-
4WD Selector	Standard	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	Standard
Drive Mode Selector	4WD/off-road drive mode support	-
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Gear Knob Trim	Leather / Piano Black	-
Gear Ratio 1st	3.600	-
Gear Ratio 2nd	2.090	-
Gear Ratio 3rd	1.488	-
Gear Ratio 4th	1.000	-
Gear Ratio 5th	0.687	-
Gear Ratio 6th	0.580	-
Gear Ratio Reverse	3.732	-
Gearbox Type	Automatic	Automatic
Low Range	Available where 4WD low range is fitted	-
Axle Layout	4WD / AWD	AWD
Rear Differential Lock	Standard	-
Transfer Case Guard	Standard	-
Transmission Speeds	4 km/h	Hybrid DHT

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	13.2 km/l	16.1 km/l
City Mileage	10.8 km/l	-
Highway Mileage	15.3 km/l	-
Fuel Tank Capacity	80 l	70 l
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	-	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	13.2 km/l	16.1 km/l
AC Charging Power	-	-
Charging Port Type	-	Plug-in hybrid AC/DC
Charging Time AC Full	-	-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	-	-
Charging Type	-	AC/DC
Combined Consumption	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
DC Charging Power	-	-
Fuel Economy Combined	7.6 l/100km	6.2 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	80 l	70 l
Fuel Type	Diesel	Plug-in Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
Combined Driving Range	-	1400
Electric Consumption	-	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	-	1400 km
Range Wltp	-	160 km

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Airbags	Standard	Multiple airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	-	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Alarm System	Standard	-
Side Impact Beams	Standard	-
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Standard	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Standard	Standard
AEB	Standard	Standard
BA	Standard	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Curtain Airbags	Standard	Standard
Driver Airbag	Standard	Standard
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Standard	Standard
Side Airbags	-	Standard
TCS	-	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	-
Knee Airbag	Driver	Standard
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Anti Theft Alarm	Standard	-
Driver Front Passenger Airbags	Standard	-
Driver Passenger Airbags	Standard	-
ESC With Traction Control	Standard	-
Far Side Airbag	Standard	-
Front Seat Side Airbags	Standard	-
Height Adjustable Seatbelts	Standard	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	-	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Standard	Standard
Parking Sensors	Front & Rear	Standard
Rear View Camera	Standard	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Standard	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	-	-
Auto Highbeam	Standard	Standard
Auto Lights	Standard	-
Auto Wipers	-	Standard
Drive Modes	-	Eco / Normal / Sport
EV Mode	-	-
Rear Parking Sensors	Front & Rear	Standard
Reverse Camera	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	-	Standard
Park Assist	-	Standard
Around View Monitor	Standard	Standard
Blind Spot Warning	Standard	Standard
Driver Monitoring	Standard	-
Emergency Braking	Standard	-
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	Standard
Front Camera	Standard	-
Multi Collision Braking	Standard	-
Occupant Detection Sensor	Passengers	-
Parking Distance Sensors	Front & Rear	-
Parking Sensor	Front & Rear	-
Automatic High Beam	Standard	-
Pre-Collision System	Standard	-
Rear View Camera	Standard	-
Reverse Camera Type	Standard	-
Reversing Camera	Standard	-
Surround View Camera	Standard	Standard

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Seat Material	Partial Leather	Leatherette / leather
Seat Adjustment	Driver Power 8-way & Passenger Power 4-way	-
Heated Seats	-	Standard
Ventilated Seats	-	Standard
Steering Type	Hydraulic	-
Steering Adjustment	Tilt & Telescopic	-
Ambient Lighting	Standard	Standard
Rear Armrest	Standard with 2 cupholders	-
Rear USB Ports	Standard	-
Steering Wheel Material	-	Leather
Instrument Cluster Type	Standard, 7-inch with decoration	-
Interior Colour Options	5	-
60 40 Split Seat	-	Standard
Adjustable Driver Seat	Driver Power 8-way & Passenger Power 4-way	-
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver Power 8-way & Passenger Power 4-way	Power
Fabric Seats	Partial Leather	-
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver Power 8-way & Passenger Power 4-way	Power
Armrest Rear	Standard with 2 cupholders	-
Driver Seat	Driver Power 8-way & Passenger Power 4-way	-
Front Seats Configuration	2 x Bucket Reclining	-
Heated Front Seats	Standard	-
Interior Courtesy Lamps	Standard	-
Leather Accented Seat Trim	Partial Leather	-
Interior Colours	5	-
Rear Seat Centre Armrest	Standard with 2 cupholders	-
Seat Belt Warning	Standard	-
Seat Capacity	7	-
Seat Count	7	-
Seat Trim	Partial Leather	Leatherette / leather
Second Row Seat Configuration	Bench 60:40 Fold-Flat	-
Third Row Seat Configuration	Bench 50:50 Fold-Flat	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Climate Control	Auto climate control with rear cabin cooling vents	Automatic
Power Windows	All with driver one touch, jam protection and timer	Standard
Keyless Entry	Standard	Standard
Push Button Start	-	Standard
Wireless Charging	-	Standard
Sunroof	-	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Power with step sensor and control switch	Standard
Automatic Headlamps	Standard	-
Rain Sensing Wipers	-	Standard
Auto Dimming Mirror	Auto Dimming	-
12V Accessory Socket	2	-
AC Type	Auto climate control with rear cabin cooling vents	Automatic
Adaptive Dampers	-	-
Auto Dimming Irvm	Auto Dimming	-
Climate Zones	Auto climate control with rear cabin cooling vents	-
Electric Folding Mirrors	All with driver one touch, jam protection and timer	-
TPMS	Standard	Standard
Front Power Outlet	2	-
Fuel Consumption Combined	7.6	-
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Electric
Ground Clearance Unladen	235	-
Hill Start Assist	Standard	-
Intercooler	Standard	-
Launch Control	-	-
Payload Capacity	659	-
Performance Data Logger	-	-
Power Mirrors	All with driver one touch, jam protection and timer	-
Rear Wing	Standard	-
Rev Matching	-	-
Seat Type	Partial Leather	-
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner	Standard	-
Seatbelt Reminder	Standard	Standard
Service Plan	5 years / 90 000 km	5 Year / 75 000 km
Side Steps	Standard / Very Dark Magnetite	-
Skid Plates	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Spare Wheel	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	-
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Steering Mounted Controls	Standard	-
Tail Lamps	Standard	-
Telescopic Steering	Tilt & Telescopic	-
Tilt Steering	Tilt & Telescopic	-
Valves Per Cylinder	16	4
Air Conditioning	Auto climate control with rear cabin cooling vents	Automatic
Automatic High Beam	Standard	-
B Pillar Blackout	Standard	-
Battery Preconditioning	-	-
Battery Voltage	-	-
Bed Extender	-	-
Canopy Fitment	-	-
Digital Speedometer	Standard, 7-inch with decoration	-
Front Bumper Colour	Gloss Black / Body Colour	-
Front Final Drive Ratio	3.727	-
Front Reading Lamps	Standard	-
Front Wiper	Auto, Rain Sensing	-
Front Wipers Type	Auto, Rain Sensing	-
Intelligent Battery System	Standard	-
Intelligent Keyless Entry	Standard	-
Lift Gate	Power with step sensor and control switch	-
Load Bed Cover	-	-
Load Bed Light	-	-
Load Bed Steps	-	-
Loadbox Depth Mm	-	-
Loadbox Rope Hooks	-	-
Loadbox Tiedown Brackets	-	-
Manual Aircon	Auto climate control with rear cabin cooling vents	-
Mirror	All with driver one touch, jam protection and timer	-
Mudflaps	Front & Rear	-
Oil Pan Guard	Standard	-
One Pedal Driving	-	-
Passive Entry Start	Standard	-
Power Socket 12v	2	-
Powered Tailgate	Power with step sensor and control switch	-
Pre Air Cleaner	Standard	-
Reading Lights Front	Standard	-
Rear Bumper Colour	Body Colour / Gloss Black	-
Rear Electric Motor	-	-
Rear Final Drive Ratio	3.727	-
Rear LED Combination Taillights	Standard	-
Rear Privacy Windows	Standard	-
Rearview Mirror Inside	Auto Dimming	-
Regenerative Braking	-	-
Regenerative Braking Levels	-	-
Remote Central Locking	Standard	-
Remote Start Engine	Standard	-
Rim Size	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	20-inch alloy
Roof Rack Compatibility	Standard / Very Dark Magnetite	-
Side Impact Bars	Standard	-
Sonar	Front & Rear	-
Sound System	8	8
Source Model Column	3.0 LSE A/T 4x4	-
Sport Plus Mode	-	-
Sports Bar	-	-
Steering Column Adjustment	Tilt & Telescopic	-
Surround View Monitor	Standard	Standard
Tailgate Damper	-	-
Tailgate Lock	-	-
Tow Bar Type	-	-
Trailer Stability Assist	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Trailer Sway Control	Standard	-
Trim Level	flagship	-
Unlocking	Standard	Standard
Variant Role	Flagship / premium derivative	-
Vdc	Standard	-
Vehicle To Grid	-	-
Vehicle To Load	-	-
Walk Away Auto Door Lock	Standard	-
Walk Away Lock	Standard	-
Water Depth Protection Mm	800 mm	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Infotainment Screen	SYNC	Touchscreen infotainment
Apple CarPlay	-	Standard
Android Auto	-	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	-	Standard
Number of Speakers	8	8
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard, 7-inch with decoration	Standard
USB Ports	Standard	Front and rear USB where listed
FM Radio	9-inch Touch Screen with RDS, MP3, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, integrated mobile handsfree, rear view camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi	-
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Standard	-
Infotainment Screen Size	SYNC	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Audio Controls On Steering	Standard	-
Rear Usb	Standard	-
Audio	9-inch Touch Screen with RDS, MP3, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, integrated mobile handsfree, rear view camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi	-
Audio Input	USB, Auxiliary	-
Audio Speakers	8	8
Audio System	9-inch Touch Screen with RDS, MP3, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, integrated mobile handsfree, rear view camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi	-
Front Rear USB Charge Ports	Standard	-
Infotainment Screen	SYNC	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Multi Information Display	Standard, 7-inch with decoration	-
Connected Services	SYNC	-
Radio	9-inch Touch Screen with RDS, MP3, Bluetooth Audio Streaming, integrated mobile handsfree, rear view camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi	-
Touchscreen	SYNC	10.25-inch or larger by trim

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Bi-LED	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	LED	Standard
Fog Lamps	Standard, LED	Standard
Roof Rails	Standard / Very Dark Magnetite	Standard
Rear Spoiler	Standard	-
Exterior Colour Options	5	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.
Rear Wiper	Auto, Rain Sensing	-
Door Handle Finish	Body Colour	-
Body Type	SUV	-
DRL	LED	Standard
Fog Lights	Standard, LED	-
Front Fog Lights	Standard, LED	-
Led Headlights	Bi-LED	Standard
Led Taillights	Standard	-
Auto Headlights	Standard	-
Automatic Headlamps	Standard	-
Daytime Running Lights	LED	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	5	-
Exterior Door Handle Colour	Body Colour	-
Exterior Mirror Electric	All with driver one touch, jam protection and timer	-
Front Fog Lamps	Standard, LED	Standard
Headlamp Levelling	Automatic	-
Headlamps	Bi-LED	Standard
Headlight Type	Bi-LED	Standard
Headlights	Bi-LED	Standard
Load Bed Liner	-	-
Panoramic Sunroof	-	Standard
Radiator Grille Colour	Dark Chrome	-
Rear Fog Lamps	LED	-
Rear Spoiler	Standard	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Approach Angle	30.0 deg	-
Departure Angle	26.0 deg	-
Wading Depth	800 mm	-
Terrain Modes	4WD/off-road drive mode support	Standard
Locking Differential	-	-
Underbody Protection	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
4WD System Type	4WD / AWD	AWD
Hill Descent Control	Standard	Standard
Approach Angle Deg	30.0 deg	-
Breakover Angle	24.0 deg	-
Breakover Angle Deg	24.0 deg	-
Departure Angle Deg	26.0 deg	-
Energy Recovery Display	-	-
Off Road Descent Control	Standard	-
Off Road Traction Assist	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Skid Plate Guard	Standard	-
Terrain Mode Mud	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Terrain Mode Sand	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Terrain Mode Snow	Confirmed 4WD derivative	-
Wading Depth Mm	800 mm	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Tyre Size	265/60R18	20-inch alloy
Front Brake Type	-	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	-	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	-
Parking Brake Type	Standard	-
Wheel Rim Size	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	20-inch alloy
Spare Tyre	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	-
Tyre Type	265/60R18	-
Wheel Diameter	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	20-inch alloy
Auto Brake Hold	Standard	-
Autonomous Emergency Brake	Standard	-
Brake Override Accelerator	Standard	-
Braked Towing Capacity	3500 kg	-
Cornering Brake Control	Standard	-
Electric Park Brake	Standard	-
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution	Standard	-
Fifth Wheel Prep	-	-
Handbrake Type	Standard	Electronic parking brake
Hydraulic Brake Assist	Standard	-
Leather Steering Wheel Controls	Standard	-
Multi Collision Brake	Standard	-
Spare Wheel Size Type	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	-
Steering Wheel Audio Controls	Standard	-
Steering Wheel Cruise Controls	Standard	-
Steering Wheel Phone Controls	Standard	-
Towing Braked Kg	3500 kg	-
Towing Unbraked Kg	750 kg	-
Tyre Pressure Display	Standard	-
Tyre Pressure Monitoring	Standard	Standard
Wheel Size Type	Alloy 18 x 7.5J-33	-
Wheelbase Mm	2855 mm	2800 mm

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Front Suspension	Independent High-ride Coil	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Multi-link Coil	Multi-link
Power Steering	Hydraulic	-
Steering Column	Tilt & Telescopic	-
Front Spring Type	Independent High-ride Coil	-
Rear Spring Type	Multi-link Coil	-
Shock Absorber Type	Gas	-
Front Suspension Type	Independent High-ride Coil	MacPherson strut
Gross Axle Mass Front Kg	1450 kg	-
Gross Axle Mass Rear Kg	1650 kg	-
High Ride Suspension	Standard	-
MagneRide Damping	-	-
Rear Axle Type	Multi-link Coil	-
Rear Suspension Type	Multi-link Coil	Multi-link
Shock Absorbers	Gas	-
Suspension	Independent High-ride Coil	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Service Interval	12 months / 15 000 km	-
Maintenance Plan	5 years / 90 000 km	-
Engine Oil Change Interval	12 months / 15 000 km	-
Service Plan Duration	5 years / 90 000 km	5 Year / 75 000 km
Service Plan Distance	5 years / 90 000 km	5 Year / 75 000 km
Alternator	120A	-
Battery Type	-	-
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard
Service Intervals	12 months / 15 000 km	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Warranty Years	5 years / 120 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km
Warranty Kilometers	5 years / 120 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km
Roadside Assistance	5 years / 120 000 km	-
Anti-Corrosion Warranty	5 years / unlimited km	-
Basic Warranty	5 years / 120 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km
Roadside Assistance	5 years / 120 000 km	-
Warranty	5 years / 120 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km
Warranty Roadside Assistance	5 years / 120 000 km	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
CO2 Emissions	200 g/km	33 g/km
Hybrid System Type	-	-
Fuel Octane Requirement	Diesel	Petrol
Idle CO2 Output	200	-
CO2 Emissions G Km	200	-

Spec	MU-X	Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ownership Role	Flagship	flagship or capability-focused
Price Source	South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list	Official model page price card
Price Zar	973800 ZAR	989900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Current listed price	flagship or capability-focused
Starting Price	973800	839900
Starting Price Zar	973800	839900

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Tiggo 9 PHEV leads by 13 points

Tiggo 9 PHEV has a slight advantage, but MU-X remains highly competitive.

Winner 84 /100

Lead 13 points

Data 74% confidence

#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 13 points

MU-X

84% data confidence 2 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 44

Performance 62

Efficiency 52

Safety 94

Practicality 93

Ownership 44

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

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +36 Efficiency Tiggo 9 PHEV +20 Safety Level Practicality MU-X +16 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +25

Moderate difference between the models.

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

MU-X

Performance 62/100

Efficiency 52/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 93/100

Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 71 pts for MU-X

In structured scoring, Tiggo 9 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, MU-X 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: MU-X 52 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: MU-X 94, 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: MU-X 44, 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: MU-X 93, Tiggo 9 PHEV 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: MU-X 62, 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 MU-X and Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: MU-X scores 62 vs 98.

Efficiency: MU-X scores 52 vs 72.

Safety: MU-X scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: MU-X scores 93 vs 77.

Ownership: MU-X scores 44 vs 69.

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

Isuzu MU-X vs Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV

Isuzu MU-X

Chery Tiggo 9 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)

MU-X

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

MU-X

Tiggo 9 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 9 PHEV leads by 13 points

Tiggo 9 PHEV

MU-X

Tiggo 9 PHEV

MU-X

So, Which One Should You Buy?

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In Depth — Breaking It All Down