Lexus RZ 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 RZ

RZ 550e F SPORT Electric Automatic

ZAR 1,977,600 ex-showroom

⚡ 300 kW 🔧 Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable 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 RZ

🛡 Safety Tie

📦 Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV

🔑 Ownership RZ

Tiggo 7 PHEV starts ZAR 1682600 cheaper RZ from ZAR 1,682,600 · Tiggo 7 PHEV from ZAR 599,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine Power	300 kW	265 kW
Torque	Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Size	-	1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance	200 mm	162 mm
Boot / Load Bay	522 l	626 l
Airbags	Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Front Side	Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight	2145-2165 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 RZ and Tiggo 7 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +8 pts

Efficiency RZ +5 pts

Safety Equal

Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +14 pts

Ownership RZ +24 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

RZ

Strengths

Better fuel efficiency
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Less practical in daily usage

Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Strengths

More powerful engine output
More practical for daily use

Weak Spots

Lower fuel efficiency
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

RZ

Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Model Introduced Year	2026	2026
Generation	Updated dedicated battery-electric Lexus RZ range launched locally in 2026	Current South Africa Tiggo 7 PHEV range
Facelift History	2026 South African range introduces RZ 500e, RZ 550e F SPORT and RZ 600e F SPORT derivatives	Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since	2026 South African range introduces RZ 500e, RZ 550e F SPORT and RZ 600e F SPORT derivatives	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	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Ground Clearance	200 mm	162 mm
Wheelbase	2850 mm	2670 mm
Length	4805 mm	4553 mm
Width	1895 mm	1862 mm
Height	1635 mm	1686 mm
Kerb Weight	2145-2165 kg	1870 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight	2640 kg	2310 kg
Seating Capacity	5	5
Boot Space	522 l	626 l
Towing Capacity	750 kg	-
Front Track Width	1614 mm	1570 mm
Rear Track Width	1636 mm	1570 mm
Turning Radius	5.6 m	-
Load Bed Length	522 l	626 l
Load Bed Width	-	-
Number of Doors	5	5
Max Payload	475-495 kg	-
Boot Volume	522 l	626 l
Doors	5	5
Seats	5	5
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	60 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg	2640 kg	2310 kg
Ground Clearance Max	200 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Min	200 mm	162 mm
Ground Clearance Mm	200 mm	162 mm
Height Mm	1635 mm	1686 mm
Length Mm	4805 mm	4553 mm
Loadbox Length Mm	522 l	626 l
Loadbox Width Mm	-	-
Payload Kg	475-495 kg	-
Cargo Volume	522 l	626 l
Tare Mass Kg	2145-2165 kg	1870 kg
Turning Circle	5.6 m	-
Turning Circle M	5.6 m	-
Width Mm	1895 mm	1862 mm
Front Legroom	-	-
Rear Legroom	-	-
Front Headroom	-	-
Rear Headroom	-	-
Front Shoulder Room	-	-
Rear Shoulder Room	-	-
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	1672 l

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Engine	Dual electric e-Axles	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Type	Dual electric e-Axles	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Displacement	-	1.5 cc
Cylinders	-	4
Valves per Cylinder	-	16
Power	300 kW	265 kW
Torque	Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm	530 Nm
Fuel System	Battery Electric	Petrol injection
Turbocharger	-	Standard
Top Speed	180 km/h	-
0-100 km/h	4.4 sec	-
Compression Ratio	-	-
Cylinder Bore	-	-
Piston Stroke	-	-
Power	402 bhp	355.4 bhp
Fuel Grade Required	-	Petrol
Cylinder Layout	-	Inline
Engine Aspiration	-	Turbocharged
Engine Type Config	Dual electric e-Axles	1.5T plug-in hybrid
0–100 km/h	4.4 sec	-
Engine Displacement	-	1.5 cc
Engine Displacement Litres	-	1.5 cc
Acceleration 0 100	4.4 sec	-
Engine Config	Dual electric e-Axles	1.5T plug-in hybrid
Engine Cylinders	-	4
Engine Displacement Cc	-	1.5 cc
Engine Power kW	300 kW	265 kW
Engine Torque Nm	Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm	530 Nm
Engine Valves	-	16
Induction	-	Turbocharged
Max Power kW	300 kW	265 kW
Max Torque Nm	Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm	530 Nm
Maximum Power	300 kW	265 kW
Maximum Torque	Front 268.6; rear 268.6 Nm	530 Nm
Turbo Type	-	Single turbo
Power @ RPM	-	5500
Torque @ RPM	-	1750-4000
Engine Code	-	-
Power kW Rpm	-	5500
Torque Nm Rpm	-	1750-4000

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Transmission	Single-speed electric drive	Automatic
Drive Type	AWD DIRECT4	FWD
Drivetrain Layout	AWD DIRECT4	FWD
Transfer Case	-	-
Paddle Shifters	Standard	Standard
Number of Gears	1 km/h	Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type	Single-speed electric drive	Automatic
Drivetrain	AWD DIRECT4	FWD
Transmission	Single-speed electric drive	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	Single-speed electric drive	Automatic
Low Range	-	-
Axle Layout	AWD DIRECT4	FWD
Rear Differential Lock	-	-
Transmission Speeds	1 km/h	Hybrid DHT
LSD Available	-	-
Differential Lock	-	-
Final Drive Ratio	-	-
Clutch Type	-	Automatic clutch

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Claimed Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
City Mileage	-	-
Highway Mileage	-	-
Fuel Tank Capacity	-	60 l
Emission Standard	-	Euro VIb
AdBlue Tank Capacity	-	-
Auto Start Stop	-	Standard
Average Fuel Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	-	4.9 l/100km
Real-world Mileage	-	20.4 km/l
AC Charging Power	22	-
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct	Approximately 30 minutes from 10-80% with battery pre-conditioning	-
Charging Type	AC and DC charging	AC/DC
Combined Consumption	-	4.9 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	-	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined	-	4.9 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	-	60 l
Fuel Type	Electric	Plug-in Hybrid
Low Range Ratio	-	-
Electric Consumption	18.41	-
Charging Port Type	-	Plug-in hybrid AC/DC
Charging Time AC Full	-	-
DC Charging Power	-	-
Combined Driving Range	-	1200
Range Real World Highway	-	-
Range Real World Mixed	-	1200 km
Range Wltp	-	93 km

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Airbags	Knee,Curtain,Driver,Passenger,Front Side	Multiple airbags
ABS	Standard	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Traction Control	Standard,,	Standard
Hill Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Standard Rear door	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard 2	Standard
Brake Assist	Standard	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Standard	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Siren/ Intrusion Sensor,Glass Break Sensor,Tilt Sensor	Standard
Alarm System	Siren/ Intrusion Sensor,Glass Break Sensor,Tilt Sensor	-
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light	Standard
Front Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear,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/ Intrusion Sensor,Glass Break Sensor,Tilt Sensor	Standard
Hill Hold	Standard	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Standard	Standard
Seatbelt Pretensioners	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/ Intrusion Sensor,Glass Break Sensor,Tilt Sensor	-
Hill Descent Control	-	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	-	Standard

Spec	RZ	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 With Rear Cross Traffic Alert,Safe Exit Assist	Standard
Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear,Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking	Standard
Rear View Camera	EMV// Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
360 Degree Camera	EMV// Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Standard	Standard
Traffic Sign Recognition	Standard	-
Auto Highbeam	Standard	Standard
Auto Wipers	Auto,Rainsensing	Standard
Drive Modes	Standard Eco,Normal,Sport,Range	Eco / Normal / Sport
Rear Parking Sensors	Standard Front + Rear,Intelligent Clearance Sonar,Rear Cross Traffic Alert + Braking	Standard
Reverse Camera	EMV// Panoramic View Monitor	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard Adaptive,All Speed	Standard
Park Assist	Standard	-
Around View Monitor	EMV// Panoramic View Monitor	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

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Seat Material	Ultra-Suede/ F SPORT	Leatherette / leather
Heated Seats	Standard Front and Rear,+ Front Radiation	Standard
Ventilated Seats	Standard Driver + Passenger	Standard
Folding Rear Seats	60:40 -	-
Rear Armrest	Standard	-
Cup Holders	Standard 4	-
Steering Wheel Material	Steer-By-Wire F SPORT/ Synthetic Leather + Heater	Leather
Instrument Cluster Type	Standard TFT	-
Driver Lumbar Support	Driver 2-way,Power	-
60 40 Split Seat	60:40 -	Standard
Seat Trim	Ultra-Suede/ F SPORT	Leatherette / leather
Ambient Lighting	-	Standard
Driver Seat Adjustment	-	Power
Passenger Seat Adjustment	-	Power

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Climate Control	Auto Dual zone,Humidity Sensor	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	Panoramic (Dimming)	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Standard Power and Handsfree	Standard
Rain Sensing Wipers	Standard	Standard
AC Type	Auto Dual zone,Humidity Sensor	Automatic
Gear Shift Type	Automatic	Electric
Seatbelt Reminder	Front + Rear/ Buzzer + Light	Standard
Stability Control	Standard	Standard
Valves Per Cylinder	-	4
Air Conditioning	Auto Dual zone,Humidity Sensor	Automatic
Service Plan	-	5 Year / 75 000 km

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Infotainment Screen	Mark Levinson/ EMV	Touchscreen infotainment
Apple CarPlay	Standard	Standard
Android Auto	Standard	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Standard	Standard
Number of Speakers	Standard 13	8
Navigation System	Standard/ EMV	-
Digital Instrument Cluster	Standard TFT	Standard
USB Ports	Standard 5PCs	Front and rear USB where listed
Infotainment Screen Size	Mark Levinson/ EMV	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Audio Speakers	Standard 13	8
Audio System	Mark Levinson/ EMV	-
Front Rear USB Charge Ports	Standard 5PCs	-
Infotainment Screen	Mark Levinson/ EMV	10.25-inch or larger by trim
Connected Services	Standard	-
Touchscreen	Mark Levinson/ EMV	10.25-inch or larger by trim

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
LED Headlamps	Standard	Standard
Daytime Running Lamps	Standard LED	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	Classic White, Graphite Black GF, Neutrino Grey, Neutrino Grey Bi-Tone, Sonic Copper Bi-Tone, Sonic Iridium	White, black, grey, silver, blue, green and other official Chery market colours by model.
Headlights	Standard	Standard
Panoramic Sunroof	Panoramic (Dimming)	Standard
Fog Lamps	-	Standard
Roof Rails	-	Standard

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Locking Differential	-	-
4WD System Type	AWD DIRECT4	FWD
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Wading Depth	-	-
Terrain Modes	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	-

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Tyre Size	F:235-50 R20 / R:255-45 R20	225/60 R18
Front Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Ventilated Disc	Disc
Spare Wheel Type	Without (Repair Kit Included)	-
Wheel Rim Size	20	225/60 R18
Handbrake Type	Electric	Electronic parking brake

Spec	RZ	Tiggo 7 PHEV
Front Suspension	MacPherson -	MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension	Wishbone -	Multi-link

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

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

Spec	RZ	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	1977600 ZAR	679900 ZAR
Pricing Role	Flagship	flagship or capability-focused
Starting Price	1977600	599900
Starting Price Zar	1977600	599900

Spec	RZ	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 1 points

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

Winner 84 /100

Lead 1 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 1 points

RZ

65% data confidence 4 strong categories

Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 62

Performance 83

Efficiency 90

Safety 94

Practicality 62

Ownership 93

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

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Tiggo 7 PHEV +8 Efficiency RZ +5 Safety Level Practicality Tiggo 7 PHEV +14 Ownership RZ +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

RZ

Performance 83/100

Efficiency 90/100

Safety 94/100

Practicality 62/100

Ownership 93/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 83 pts for RZ

In structured scoring, Tiggo 7 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, RZ 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: RZ 90 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: RZ 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: RZ 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: RZ 62, Tiggo 7 PHEV 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: RZ 83, 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 RZ and Tiggo 7 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: RZ scores 83 vs 91.

Efficiency: RZ scores 90 vs 85.

Safety: RZ scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: RZ scores 62 vs 76.

Ownership: RZ scores 93 vs 69.

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

Lexus RZ vs Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV

Lexus RZ

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)

RZ

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Which One's Right for You?

RZ

Tiggo 7 PHEV

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Tiggo 7 PHEV leads by 1 points

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RZ

Tiggo 7 PHEV

RZ

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