Lexus RX 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.

Lexus RX

RX 350 F SPORT Petrol Automatic 8-speed

ZAR 1,642,900 ex-showroom

⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 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 RX

Tiggo 7 PHEV starts ZAR 1516500 cheaper RX from ZAR 1,516,500 · Tiggo 7 PHEV from ZAR 599,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine Power	205 kW	265 kW
Torque	430 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Size	2400 cc	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	11.5 km/l	20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance	185 mm	162 mm
Boot / Load Bay	612 l	626 l
Airbags	Side,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee,Passenger Seat Cushion	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	1895-2005 kg	1870 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Warranty	7 years / 105,000km	7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both RX and Tiggo 7 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +6 pts

Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +39 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +3 pts

Ownership RX +24 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

RX

Strengths

Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: General Use

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

RX

Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2023	2026
Generation	Fifth-generation Lexus RX luxury SUV	Current South Africa Tiggo 7 PHEV range
Facelift History	Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	Current fifth-generation South African range with petrol, hybrid, performance-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid choices	2026
Facelift Version Ending	Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17	Current
Body Style	SUV	SUV
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	published	active
Segment	Luxury SUV	SUV
Vehicle Type	SUV	SUV

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ground Clearance	185 mm	162 mm
Wheelbase	2850 mm	2670 mm
Length	4890 mm	4553 mm
Width	1920 mm	1862 mm
Height	1695 mm	1686 mm
Kerb Weight	1895-2005 kg	1870 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	2590 kg	2310 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Boot Space	612 l	626 l
Towing Capacity	2000 kg	-
Front Track Width	1655 mm	1570 mm
Rear Track Width	1695 mm	1570 mm
Turning Radius	5.9 m	-
Load Bed Length	612 l	626 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Number of Doors	5	5
Max Payload	585-695 kg	-
Boot Volume	612 l	626 l
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel Tank Capacity	67.5 l	60 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2590 kg	2310 kg
Ground Clearance Max	185 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Min	185 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	185 mm	162 mm
Height Mm	1695 mm	1686 mm
Length Mm	4890 mm	4553 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	612 l	626 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Payload Kg	585-695 kg	-
Cargo Volume	612 l	626 l
Tare Mass Kg	1895-2005 kg	1870 kg
Turning Circle	5.9 m	-
Turning Circle M	5.9 m	-
Width Mm	1920 mm	1862 mm
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	1672 l

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine	2.4-litre Petrol SFI	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Type	2.4-litre Petrol SFI	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Displacement	2400 cc	1.5 cc
Cylinders	Inline 4	4
Power	205 kW	265 kW
Power @ RPM	6000	5500
Torque	430 Nm	530 Nm
Torque @ RPM	1700-3600	1750-4000
Fuel System	Petrol SFI	Petrol injection
Turbocharger	Turbocharged	Standard
Top Speed	200 km/h	-
0-100 km/h	7.6 sec	-
Cylinder Bore	87.5 mm	-
Piston Stroke	99.5 mm	-
Power	275 bhp	355.4 bhp
Cylinder Layout	Inline 4	Inline
Engine Aspiration	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Engine Type Config	2.4-litre Petrol SFI	1.5T plug-in hybrid
0–100 km/h	7.6 sec	-
Engine Displacement	2400 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	2400 cc	1.5 cc
Acceleration 0 100	7.6 sec	-
Engine Config	2.4-litre Petrol SFI	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Cylinders	Inline 4	4
Engine Displacement Cc	2400 cc	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	205 kW	265 kW
Engine Torque Nm	430 Nm	530 Nm
Induction	Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Max Power kW	205 kW	265 kW
Max Torque Nm	430 Nm	530 Nm
Maximum Power	205 kW	265 kW
Maximum Torque	430 Nm	530 Nm
Power kW Rpm	6000	5500
Torque Nm Rpm	1700-3600	1750-4000
Turbo Type	Turbocharged	Single turbo
Valves per Cylinder	-	16
Compression Ratio	-	-
Engine Code	-	-
Fuel Grade Required	-	Petrol
Engine Valves	-	16

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Transmission	Automatic 8-speed	Automatic
Drive Type	AWD	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD	FWD
Transfer Case	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Number of Gears	8 km/h	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	Automatic 8-speed	Automatic
Drivetrain	AWD	FWD
Transmission	Automatic 8-speed	Automatic
4WD Engagement	Permanent all-wheel drive	-
4WD Hi Range	-	-
4WD Lo Range	-	-
4WD Selector	-	-
Automatic Shift Paddles	Standard	Standard
Front Differential Lock	-	-
Gearbox Type	Automatic 8-speed	Automatic
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD	FWD
Rear Differential Lock	-	-
Transmission Speeds	8 km/h	Hybrid DHT
LSD Available	-	-
Differential Lock	-	-
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Clutch Type	-	Automatic clutch

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	11.5 km/l	20.4 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	67.5 l	60 l
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	Standard	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
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	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
DC Charging Power	-	-
Fuel Economy Combined	8.7 l/100km	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	67.5 l	60 l
Fuel Type	Petrol	Plug-in Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
Combined Driving Range	-	1200
Electric Consumption	-	-
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	-	1200 km
Range Wltp	-	93 km
City Mileage	-	-
Highway Mileage	-	-
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
Real-world Mileage	11.5 km/l	20.4 km/l

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Airbags	Side,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Driver Knee,Passenger Seat Cushion	Multiple airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Traction 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
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band	Standard
Alarm System	Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band	-
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking	Standard
AEB	Standard	Standard
BA	Standard	Standard
Curtain Airbags	Standard	Standard
Driver Airbag	Standard	Standard
EBD	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	ELR,Pretensioner,Force Limiter,Tension Reducer -	Standard
Side Airbags	Standard	Standard
TCS	Standard,,	Standard
Knee Airbag	Standard	Standard
ABS EBD	Standard	Standard
Anti Theft Alarm	Siren/ Alarm,Immobiliser,Intrusion Sensor,Tilt Sensor,Ultra-Wide Band	-
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive,All Speed	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive,All Speed	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard Steering Vibration,Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard Steering Vibration,Lane Trace Assist	Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring	Standard With Rear Cross Traffic Alert,Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Parking Sensors	Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking	Standard
Rear View Camera	Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	-
Auto Highbeam	Standard	Standard
Auto Wipers	Auto,Rainsensing,Time adjustable	Standard
Drive Modes	Standard Eco,Normal,Sport	Eco / Normal / Sport
Rear Parking Sensors	Standard Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking	Standard
Reverse Camera	Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive,All Speed	Standard
Around View Monitor	Display Audio// Panoramic View Monitor,Washer	Standard
Blind Spot Warning	Standard With Rear Cross Traffic Alert,Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard
Driver Fatigue Alert	-	Standard
Park Assist	-	-

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seat Material	F SPORT	Leatherette / leather
Seat Adjustment	Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory	-
Heated Seats	Standard Front and Rear	Standard
Ventilated Seats	Standard Front and Rear	Standard
Ambient Lighting	Standard	Standard
Folding Rear Seats	40:20:40 - Power	-
Rear Armrest	Standard	-
Cup Holders	Standard 4	-
Steering Wheel Material	3 Spoke/ F SPORT,Heated	Leather
Instrument Cluster Type	Standard TFT Colour	-
Driver Lumbar Support	Driver 2-way/ Passenger 2-way	-
60 40 Split Seat	40:20:40 - Power	Standard
Driver Seat Adjustment	Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory	Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Driver + Passenger Power// Driver Memory	Power
Seat Trim	F SPORT	Leatherette / leather

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Climate Control	Auto 3-Zone,Nano	Automatic
Power Windows	All/ All One Touch	Standard
Keyless Entry	Standard Smart Entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Push Start	Standard
Wireless Charging	Standard	Standard
Sunroof	Tilt & Slide,Panoramic	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Standard Power and Handsfree	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	Standard
AC Type	Auto 3-Zone,Nano	Automatic
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Electric
Heads Up Display	Standard	-
Seatbelt Reminder	Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light	Standard
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Air Conditioning	Auto 3-Zone,Nano	Automatic
Service Plan	-	5 Year / 75 000 km
Valves Per Cylinder	-	4

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Infotainment Screen	Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB	Touchscreen infotainment
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	Standard 21	8
Navigation System	Standard/ EMV	-
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard TFT Colour	Standard
USB Ports	Standard 5PCs	Front and rear USB where listed
Infotainment Screen Size	Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Audio Speakers	Standard 21	8
Audio System	Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB	-
Front Rear USB Charge Ports	Standard 5PCs	-
Infotainment Screen	Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Connected Services	Standard	-
Touchscreen	Mark Levinson/ EMV,DAB	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Apple CarPlay	-	Standard
Android Auto	-	Standard

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Standard	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard LED	Standard
Fog Lamps	Standard LED	Standard
Roof Rails	Standard	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	White Nova, Graphite Black GF, Opulent Blue, Sonic Chrome, Sonic Iridium, Sonic Copper	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.
Headlights	Standard	Standard
Panoramic Sunroof	Tilt & Slide,Panoramic	Standard

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Approach Angle	15.0 deg	-
Departure Angle	24.0 deg	-
Locking Differential	-	-
4WD System Type	AWD	FWD
Approach Angle Deg	15.0 deg	-
Departure Angle Deg	24.0 deg	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Terrain Modes	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Tyre Size	F:235-50R21 Alloy / R:235-50R21 Alloy	225/60 R18
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Space Saver	-
Wheel Rim Size	21	225/60 R18
Handbrake Type	Electric	Electronic parking brake

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Front Suspension	MacPherson -	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Multilink -	Multi-link

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Service Interval	12 months / 15,000km	-
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Standard

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
CO2 Emissions	197 g/km	33 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	-	Petrol

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ownership Role	Private luxury, family and business	flagship or capability-focused
Price Source	Lexus South Africa vehicle API checked 2026-07-17	Official model page price card
Price Zar	1642900 ZAR	679900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Flagship	flagship or capability-focused
Starting Price	1642900	599900
Starting Price Zar	1642900	599900

Spec	RX	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Warranty	7 years / 105,000km	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 5 points

Both RX and Tiggo 7 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 84 /100

Lead 5 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 5 points

RX

79% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46

Performance 85

Efficiency 46

Safety 94

Practicality 73

Ownership 93

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

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +6 Efficiency Tiggo 7 PHEV +39 Safety Level Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +3 Ownership RX +24

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

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

RX

Performance 85/100

Efficiency 46/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 73/100

Ownership 93/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 79 pts for RX

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, RX 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: RX 46 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: RX 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: RX 93, 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: RX 73, Tiggo 7 PHEV 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: RX 85, 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 RX and Tiggo 7 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: RX scores 85 vs 91.

Efficiency: RX scores 46 vs 85.

Safety: RX scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: RX scores 73 vs 76.

Ownership: RX scores 93 vs 69.

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

Lexus RX vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Lexus RX

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)

RX

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

RX

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 5 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RX

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RX

So, Which One Should You Buy?

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Buyers Also Looked At These

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

In Depth — Breaking It All Down