Volkswagen T-Roc 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.

Volkswagen T-Roc in South Africa

Volkswagen T-Roc

2.0 TSI 140kW 4Motion R-Line DSG Petrol Automatic
ZAR 760,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa

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 T-Roc
📦 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV
T-Roc starts ZAR 839900 cheaper T-Roc from ZAR 648,900 · Tiggo 9 PHEV from ZAR 839,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec T-Roc Tiggo 9 PHEV
Engine Power 140 kW 455 kW
Torque 320 Nm 920 Nm
Engine Size 2000 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 15.9 km/l 16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance 168 mm 183 mm
Boot / Load Bay 392 l 448 l
Airbags 7 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1400 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 3 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 9 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over T-Roc, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +34 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 9 PHEV +11 pts
Safety T-Roc +5 pts
Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +19 pts
Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +26 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

T-Roc

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
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 9 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

T-Roc

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tiggo 9 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 T-Roc Tiggo 9 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2021 2026
Generation Current first-generation T-Roc remains on sale while the second generation is prepared for South Africa Current South Africa Tiggo 9 PHEV range
Facelift History Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Volkswagen has confirmed the all-new second-generation T-Roc for the second half of 2026; local derivatives and prices are still pending 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Orange -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note 4x4 configuration for the local line-up -
Model Year Current 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec T-Roc Tiggo 9 PHEV
Ground Clearance 168 mm 183 mm
Wheelbase 2593 mm 2800 mm
Length 4234 mm 4810 mm
Width 1819 mm 1925 mm
Height 1573 mm 1741 mm
Kerb Weight 1400 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2020 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 392 l 448 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg -
Front Track Width 1569 mm -
Rear Track Width 1546 mm -
Turning Radius 5.4 m -
Load Bed Length 392 l 448 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 392 l 2065 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 392 l 448 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 70 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2020 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 168 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Min 168 mm 183 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 168 mm 183 mm
Height Mm 1573 mm 1741 mm
Length Mm 4234 mm 4810 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 392 l 448 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 392 l 448 l
Tare Mass Kg 1400 kg -
Turning Circle 5.4 m -
Turning Circle M 5.4 m -
Width Mm 1819 mm 1925 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 9 PHEV leads by 17 points

Tiggo 9 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over T-Roc, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 84 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 74% confidence
84
#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 17 points
67
#2

T-Roc

89% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Ownership 43
Performance 64
Efficiency 61
Safety 99
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 9 PHEV +34 Efficiency Tiggo 9 PHEV +11 Safety T-Roc +5 Practicality Tiggo 9 PHEV +19 Ownership Tiggo 9 PHEV +26

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

T-Roc

Performance 64/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV wins with 84 pts vs 67 pts for T-Roc

In structured scoring, Tiggo 9 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, T-Roc may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

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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: T-Roc 61 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: T-Roc 99, 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: T-Roc 43, 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: T-Roc 58, Tiggo 9 PHEV 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: T-Roc 64, 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 T-Roc and Tiggo 9 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: T-Roc scores 64 vs 98.

Efficiency: T-Roc scores 61 vs 72.

Safety: T-Roc scores 99 vs 94.

Practicality: T-Roc scores 58 vs 77.

Ownership: T-Roc scores 43 vs 69.

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