Toyota RAV4 vs Chery Tiggo 7 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.

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 7 PHEV

PHEV Ultra Plug-In Hybrid Automatic

ZAR 679,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 265 kW 🔧 530 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV

⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 7 PHEV

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV

🔑 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV

Tiggo 7 PHEV starts ZAR 610000 cheaper RAV4 from ZAR 610,000 · Tiggo 7 PHEV from ZAR 599,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine Power	176 kW	265 kW
Torque	221 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Size	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	21.3 km/l	20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance	186 mm	162 mm
Boot / Load Bay	732 l	626 l
Airbags	Driver Knee, Front Side, Rear Curtain, Front Curtain	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	1725-1740 kg	1870 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but RAV4 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +26 pts

Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +1 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +5 pts

Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +23 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

RAV4

Strengths

Nothing stands out clearly here.

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: General Use

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

No obvious weak spots to flag.

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tiggo 7 PHEV

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2026	2026
Generation	All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026	Current South Africa Tiggo 7 PHEV 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 7 PHEV
Ground Clearance	186 mm	162 mm
Wheelbase	2690 mm	2670 mm
Length	4645 mm	4553 mm
Width	1880 mm	1862 mm
Height	1680 mm	1686 mm
Kerb Weight	1725-1740 kg	1870 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	2230 kg	2310 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Boot Space	732 l	626 l
Towing Capacity	1000 kg	-
Front Track Width	1620 mm	1570 mm
Rear Track Width	1650 mm	1570 mm
Turning Radius	5.6 m	-
Load Bed Length	732 l	626 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Number of Doors	5	5
Boot Volume	732 l	626 l
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel Tank Capacity	55 l	60 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2230 kg	2310 kg
Ground Clearance Max	186 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Min	186 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	186 mm	162 mm
Height Mm	1680 mm	1686 mm
Length Mm	4645 mm	4553 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	732 l	626 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Cargo Volume	732 l	626 l
Tare Mass Kg	1725-1740 kg	1870 kg
Turning Circle	5.6 m	-
Turning Circle M	5.6 m	-
Width Mm	1880 mm	1862 mm
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	1672 l
Max Payload	-	-
Payload Kg	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Type	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Displacement	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Cylinders	Inline-4	4
Power	176 kW	265 kW
Power @ RPM	6000	5500
Torque	221 Nm	530 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	355.4 bhp
Cylinder Layout	Inline-4	Inline
Engine Type Config	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Displacement	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Config	2.5-litre Petrol Hybrid	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Cylinders	Inline-4	4
Engine Displacement Cc	2500 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	176 kW	265 kW
Engine Torque Nm	221 Nm	530 Nm
Max Power kW	176 kW	265 kW
Max Torque Nm	221 Nm	530 Nm
Maximum Power	176 kW	265 kW
Maximum Torque	221 Nm	530 Nm
Power kW Rpm	6000	5500
Torque Nm Rpm	3600-5200	1750-4000
Valves per Cylinder	-	16
Turbocharger	-	Standard
0-100 km/h	-	-
Compression Ratio	-	-
Engine Code	-	-
Fuel Grade Required	-	Petrol
Engine Aspiration	-	Turbocharged
0–100 km/h	-	-
Acceleration 0 100	-	-
Engine Valves	-	16
Induction	-	Turbocharged
Turbo Type	-	Single turbo

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Transmission	CVT	Automatic
Drive Type	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
LSD Available	Standard Front + Rear,	-
Transfer Case	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Number of Gears	-	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	CVT	Automatic
Drivetrain	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Transmission	CVT	Automatic
4WD Engagement	Permanent electric all-wheel drive	-
4WD Hi Range	-	-
4WD Lo Range	-	-
4WD Selector	-	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	Standard
Gearbox Type	CVT	Automatic
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Transmission Speeds	-	Hybrid DHT
Differential Lock	-	-
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Clutch Type	-	Automatic clutch
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Rear Differential Lock	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	21.3 km/l	20.4 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	55 l	60 l
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	-	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined	4.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	55 l	60 l
Fuel Type	Hybrid	Plug-in Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
City Mileage	-	-
Highway Mileage	-	-
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
Real-world Mileage	21.3 km/l	20.4 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
DC Charging Power	-	-
Combined Driving Range	-	1200
Electric Consumption	-	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	-	1200 km
Range Wltp	-	93 km

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
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	Standard
AEB	Standard	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	Standard
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	-	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	-	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	-	Standard
TCS	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive, All Speed	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Parking Sensors	Intelligent Clearance Sonar	Standard
Rear View Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	-
Auto Highbeam	-	Standard
Auto Wipers	Auto, Rainsensing	Standard
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	Standard
Park Assist	-	-
Around View Monitor	Display Audio/ Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Blind Spot Warning	Standard Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seat Material	GR Sport Leather Sporty	Leatherette / leather
Heated Seats	Standard Front	Standard
Ventilated Seats	-	Standard
Ambient Lighting	Standard	Standard
Steering Wheel Material	3 Spoke Heated, GR-S Leather	Leather
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power	Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver & Passenger Power	Power
Seat Trim	GR Sport Leather Sporty	Leatherette / leather
60 40 Split Seat	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Climate Control	Auto Dual zone	Automatic
Power Windows	All All One Touch	Standard
Keyless Entry	Standard Smart Entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Push Start	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard Front x1	Standard
Sunroof	Moon roof	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Standard Power	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	Standard
AC Type	Auto Dual zone	Automatic
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Electric
Seatbelt Reminder	Front + Rear	Standard
Service Plan	6 Services / 90 000 km	5 Year / 75 000 km
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Valves Per Cylinder	-	4

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
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	8
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 7 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Standard	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard	Standard
Fog Lamps	Standard LED	Standard
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	Standard
Panoramic Sunroof	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Tyre Size	R:235-50R20 Alloy	225/60 R18
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	225/60 R18
Handbrake Type	Electric	Electronic parking brake

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Front Suspension	Tread (mm) 1620	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Tread (mm) 1650	Multi-link

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Service Interval	12 months / 15 000 km	-
Battery Warranty	8 years 160 000 km	-
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
CO2 Emissions	107 g/km	33 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	-	Petrol

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
4WD System Type	AWD E-FOUR	FWD
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Terrain Modes	-	-
Locking Differential	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ownership Role	Private and family	flagship or capability-focused
Price Source	Toyota South Africa model configurator checked 2026-07-16	Official model page price card
Price Zar	941800 ZAR	679900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Flagship	flagship or capability-focused
Starting Price	941800	599900
Starting Price Zar	941800	599900

Spec	RAV4	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Warranty	3 years / 100 000 km	7 Year / 200 000 km

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 11 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV has a slight advantage, but RAV4 remains highly competitive.

Winner 84 /100

Lead 11 points

Data 74% confidence

#1 Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

74% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 69

Performance 91

Efficiency 85

Safety 94

Practicality 76

Ownership 69

Leads by 11 points

RAV4

78% data confidence 3 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 46

Performance 65

Efficiency 84

Safety 94

Practicality 71

Ownership 46

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

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +26 Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +1 Safety Level Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +5 Ownership Tiggo 7 PHEV +23

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Performance 91/100

Efficiency 85/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 76/100

Ownership 69/100

RAV4

Performance 65/100

Efficiency 84/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 71/100

Ownership 46/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 73 pts for RAV4

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, RAV4 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 Tiggo 7 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: RAV4 84 vs Tiggo 7 PHEV 85. 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 7 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: RAV4 46, Tiggo 7 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: RAV4 71, Tiggo 7 PHEV 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: RAV4 65, Tiggo 7 PHEV 91. 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 7 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 7 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 RAV4 and Tiggo 7 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: RAV4 scores 65 vs 91.

Efficiency: RAV4 scores 84 vs 85.

Safety: RAV4 scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: RAV4 scores 71 vs 76.

Ownership: RAV4 scores 46 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 7 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.

Toyota RAV4 vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Toyota RAV4

Chery Tiggo 7 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)

RAV4

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

RAV4

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 11 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RAV4

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RAV4

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