Toyota RAV4 vs Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

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 RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid Automatic

ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom

⚡ 176 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l

Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

LiT MT Petrol Manual

ZAR 279,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 83 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 14.3 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance RAV4

⛽ Fuel Economy RAV4

🛡 Safety RAV4

📦 Practicality RAV4

🔑 Ownership Tiggo 4 Cross

Tiggo 4 Cross starts ZAR 610000 cheaper RAV4 from ZAR 610,000 · Tiggo 4 Cross from ZAR 279,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Engine Power	176 kW	83 kW
Torque	221 Nm	170 Nm
Engine Size	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	21.3 km/l	14.3 km/l
Ground Clearance	186 mm	180 mm
Boot / Load Bay	732 l	-
Airbags	Driver Knee, Front Side, Rear Curtain, Front Curtain	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	1725-1740 kg	-
Seating Capacity	5	5
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

RAV4 holds a noticeable edge over Tiggo 4 Cross, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance RAV4 +27 pts

Efficiency RAV4 +28 pts

Safety RAV4 +19 pts

Practicality RAV4 +4 pts

Ownership Tiggo 4 Cross +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

RAV4

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Tiggo 4 Cross

Strengths

Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Large families needing more practicality and usability

Tiggo 4 Cross

Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Model Introduced Year	2026	2026
Generation	All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026	Current South Africa Tiggo 4 Cross range
Facelift History	Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives	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	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Ground Clearance	186 mm	180 mm
Wheelbase	2690 mm	2610 mm
Length	4645 mm	4351 mm
Width	1880 mm	1831 mm
Height	1680 mm	1662 mm
Kerb Weight	1725-1740 kg	-
Gross Vehicle Weight	2230 kg	1701 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Boot Space	732 l	-
Towing Capacity	1000 kg	-
Front Track Width	1620 mm	-
Rear Track Width	1650 mm	-
Turning Radius	5.6 m	-
Load Bed Length	732 l	-
Load Bed Width	-	-
Number of Doors	5	5
Boot Volume	732 l	-
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel Tank Capacity	55 l	-
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2230 kg	1701 kg
Ground Clearance Max	186 mm	180 mm
Ground Clearance Min	186 mm	180 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	186 mm	180 mm
Height Mm	1680 mm	1662 mm
Length Mm	4645 mm	4351 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	732 l	-
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Cargo Volume	732 l	-
Tare Mass Kg	1725-1740 kg	-
Turning Circle	5.6 m	-
Turning Circle M	5.6 m	-
Width Mm	1880 mm	1831 mm
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	-
Max Payload	-	-
Payload Kg	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Engine	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5L petrol
Engine Type	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5L petrol
Displacement	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Cylinders	Inline-4	4
Power	176 kW	83 kW
Power @ RPM	6000	5500
Torque	221 Nm	170 Nm
Torque @ RPM	3600-5200	1750-4000
Fuel System	Petrol Hybrid	Petrol injection
Top Speed	180 km/h	-
Cylinder Bore	87.5 mm	-
Piston Stroke	103.48 mm	-
Power	236 bhp	111.3 bhp
Cylinder Layout	Inline-4	Inline
Engine Type Config	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5L petrol
Engine Displacement	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Config	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5L petrol
Engine Cylinders	Inline-4	4
Engine Displacement Cc	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	176 kW	83 kW
Engine Torque Nm	221 Nm	170 Nm
Max Power kW	176 kW	83 kW
Max Torque Nm	221 Nm	170 Nm
Maximum Power	176 kW	83 kW
Maximum Torque	221 Nm	170 Nm
Power kW Rpm	6000	5500
Torque Nm Rpm	3600-5200	1750-4000
Valves per Cylinder	-	16
Turbocharger	-	-
0-100 km/h	-	-
Compression Ratio	-	-
Engine Code	-	-
Fuel Grade Required	-	Petrol
Engine Aspiration	-	Naturally aspirated
0–100 km/h	-	-
Acceleration 0 100	-	-
Engine Valves	-	16
Induction	-	Naturally aspirated
Turbo Type	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Transmission	CVT	Manual
Drive Type	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
LSD Available	Standard Front + Rear,	-
Transfer Case	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	-
Number of Gears	-	5 km/h
Transmission Type	CVT	Manual
Drivetrain	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Transmission	CVT	Manual
4WD Engagement	Permanent electric all-wheel drive	-
4WD Hi Range	-	-
4WD Lo Range	-	-
4WD Selector	-	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	-
Gearbox Type	CVT	Manual
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Transmission Speeds	-	5 km/h
Differential Lock	-	-
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Clutch Type	-	Manual clutch
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Rear Differential Lock	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Claimed Mileage	21.3 km/l	14.3 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	55 l	-
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	-	-
Average Fuel Consumption	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Combined Consumption	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined	4.7 l/100km	7.0 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	55 l	-
Fuel Type	Hybrid	Petrol
Low Range Ratio	-	-
City Mileage	-	-
Highway Mileage	-	-
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
Real-world Mileage	21.3 km/l	14.3 km/l
AC Charging Power	-	-
Charging Port Type	-	-
Charging Time AC Full	-	-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	-	-
Charging Type	-	-
DC Charging Power	-	-
Combined Driving Range	-	-
Electric Consumption	-	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	-	-
Range Wltp	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Airbags	Driver Knee, Front Side, Rear Curtain, Front Curtain	Multiple airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Standard	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard 2	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard Standard Eco / Normal /	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front + Rear	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Intelligent Clearance Sonar	-
AEB	Standard	-
BA	Standard Standard Eco / Normal /	Standard
Curtain Airbags	Standard	Standard
Driver Airbag	Standard	Standard
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Standard	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Side Airbags	Standard	Standard
Knee Airbag	Standard	-
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	-	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	-	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	-
Seatbelt Pretensioners	-	Standard
TCS	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	-
Lane Keep Assist	Standard Lane Trace Assist	-
Lane Departure Warning	Standard Lane Trace Assist	-
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard Safe Exit Assist	-
Parking Sensors	Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
Rear View Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	-
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	-
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	-
Auto Highbeam	-	-
Auto Wipers	Auto, Rainsensing	-
Drive Modes	Sport / Trail / Snow	Eco / Normal / Sport
Rear Parking Sensors	Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
Reverse Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	-
Park Assist	-	-
Around View Monitor	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	-
Blind Spot Warning	Standard Safe Exit Assist	-
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	-
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	-
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Seat Material	GR Sport Leather Sporty	Fabric or cloth trim
Heated Seats	Standard Front	-
Ventilated Seats	-	-
Ambient Lighting	Standard	-
Steering Wheel Material	3 Spoke Heated, GR-S Leather	Polyurethane / synthetic
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power	Manual
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power	Manual
Seat Trim	GR Sport Leather Sporty	Fabric
60 40 Split Seat	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Climate Control	Auto Dual zone	Manual / automatic by trim
Power Windows	All All One Touch	Standard
Keyless Entry	Standard Smart Entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Push Start	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard Front x1	-
Sunroof	Moon roof	-
Electric Tailgate	Standard Power	-
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	-
AC Type	Auto Dual zone	Manual / automatic by trim
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Manual
Seatbelt Reminder	Front + Rear	Standard
Service Plan	6 Services / 90 000 km	3 Years / 45 000 km
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Valves Per Cylinder	-	4

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Infotainment Screen	JBL Display Audio, 12.9-inch	Touchscreen infotainment
Apple CarPlay	Standard	Standard
Android Auto	Standard	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	Standard 9 Standard Audio, Info Display, Voice	4-6
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard 12.3-inch	Standard
USB Ports	Standard 5PCs	Front and rear USB where listed
Infotainment Screen	12.9-inch	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Touchscreen	12.9-inch	10.25-inch or larger by trim

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
LED Headlamps	Standard	LED / halogen by trim
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard	Standard
Fog Lamps	Standard LED	-
Roof Rails	Standard	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	Platinum White Pearl, Attitude Black, Smokey Blue, Urban Khaki, Fierce Red and selected bi-tone finishes	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.
Headlights	Standard	LED / halogen by trim
Panoramic Sunroof	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Tyre Size	R:235-50R20 Alloy	215/60 R16
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Space Saver 165-90D18 Steel F:235-50R20 Alloy-	-
Wheel Rim Size	R:235-50R20 Alloy	215/60 R16
Handbrake Type	Electric	Electronic parking brake

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Front Suspension	Tread (mm) 1620	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Tread (mm) 1650	Torsion beam

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Service Interval	12 months / 15 000 km	-
Battery Warranty	8 years 160 000 km	-
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
CO2 Emissions	107 g/km	159 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	-	Petrol

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
4WD System Type	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Terrain Modes	-	-
Locking Differential	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Ownership Role	Private and family	entry-value
Price Source	Toyota South Africa model configurator checked 2026-07-16	Official model page price card
Price Zar	941800 ZAR	279900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Flagship	entry-value
Starting Price	941800	279900
Starting Price Zar	941800	279900

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 4 Cross
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	5 Years / 150 000 km

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

RAV4 leads by 16 points

RAV4 holds a noticeable edge over Tiggo 4 Cross, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 73 /100

Lead 16 points

Data 78% confidence

#1 Winner

RAV4

78% data confidence 3 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 46

Performance 65

Efficiency 84

Safety 94

Practicality 71

Ownership 46

Leads by 16 points

Tiggo 4 Cross

68% data confidence 1 strong categories

Best at Safety 75 Check Performance 38

Performance 38

Efficiency 56

Safety 75

Practicality 67

Ownership 47

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

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance RAV4 +27 Efficiency RAV4 +28 Safety RAV4 +19 Practicality RAV4 +4 Ownership Tiggo 4 Cross +1

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

RAV4

Performance 65/100

Efficiency 84/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 71/100

Ownership 46/100

Tiggo 4 Cross

Performance 38/100

Efficiency 56/100

Safety 75/100

Practicality 67/100

Ownership 47/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota RAV4 wins with 73 pts vs 57 pts for Tiggo 4 Cross

In structured scoring, RAV4 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tiggo 4 Cross 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 RAV4 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: RAV4 84 vs Tiggo 4 Cross 56. 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: RAV4 94, Tiggo 4 Cross 75. 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: RAV4 46, Tiggo 4 Cross 47. 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: RAV4 71, Tiggo 4 Cross 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: RAV4 65, Tiggo 4 Cross 38. 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 RAV4 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The RAV4 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 RAV4 and Tiggo 4 Cross in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: RAV4 scores 65 vs 38.

Efficiency: RAV4 scores 84 vs 56.

Safety: RAV4 scores 94 vs 75.

Practicality: RAV4 scores 71 vs 67.

Ownership: RAV4 scores 46 vs 47.

Final structured scoring gives RAV4 the advantage in this comparison.

Toyota RAV4 vs Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

Toyota RAV4

Chery Tiggo 4 Cross

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)

RAV4

Tiggo 4 Cross

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

Tiggo 4 Cross

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

RAV4 leads by 16 points

RAV4

Tiggo 4 Cross

RAV4

Tiggo 4 Cross

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