KIA Tasman vs Chery Tiggo 9

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.

KIA Tasman in South Africa

KIA Tasman

2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,004,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Chery Tiggo 9 in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 9

Vanguard AWD 2.0T Petrol Automatic
ZAR 779,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 187 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 12.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tiggo 9
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tasman
🔑 Ownership Tasman
Tasman starts ZAR 689900 cheaper Tasman from ZAR 679,995 · Tiggo 9 from ZAR 689,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Tasman Tiggo 9
Engine Power 147 kW 187 kW
Torque 440 Nm 390 Nm
Engine Size 2151 cc 2.0 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 12.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 231 mm 147 mm
Boot / Load Bay 1115 l 448 l
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 2085 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 7 Years / 150,000 km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Tasman and Tiggo 9 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 +8 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Tasman +19 pts
Ownership Tasman +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Tasman

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Family Usage

Tiggo 9

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Tasman

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tiggo 9

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tasman Tiggo 9
Engine 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel 2.0 TGDI petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel 2.0 TGDI petrol
Engine Code D4HB -
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 16 16
Displacement 2151 cc 2.0 cc
Engine Displacement 2151 cc 2.0 cc
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Induction Turbocharged Turbocharged
Turbocharger Yes Standard
Cylinder Bore 85.4 mm -
Piston Stroke 94.0 mm -
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 -
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Petrol injection
Fuel Grade Required B7 Diesel Petrol
Variable Valve Timing No -
Engine Position Front Transverse -
Engine Oil Capacity 7.0 l -
Max Power kW 147 kW 187 kW
Power 147 kW 187 kW
Power 197 bhp 250.8 bhp
Power @ RPM 3,800 rpm 5500
Max Torque Nm 440 Nm 390 Nm
Torque 440 Nm 390 Nm
Maximum Engine RPM 4,000 rpm -
0–100 km/h 9.8 sec -
0-100 km/h 9.8 sec -
Top Speed 185 km/h -
Power Sliding Doors No -
Engine Displacement Cc 2151 cc 2.0 cc
Engine Power kW 147 kW 187 kW
Engine Torque Nm 440 Nm 390 Nm
Maximum Power 147 kW 187 kW
Maximum Torque 440 Nm 390 Nm
Engine Config 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel 2.0 TGDI petrol
Engine Cylinders 4 4
Engine Valves 16 16
Power kW Rpm 3,800 rpm 5500
Torque Nm Rpm 1,750 rpm 1750-4000
Acceleration 0 100 9.8 sec -
Turbo Type Turbocharged Single turbo
Power Assisted Steering Electric Power Assisted -
Battery Capacity - -
AC Charging Time - -
Motor Power - -
Motor Torque - -
Motor Type - -
Combined System Power - -
Combined System Torque - -
Active Exhaust - -
Engine Displacement Litres 2151 cc 2.0 cc
Torque @ RPM 1,750 rpm 1750-4000
Charging Port - -
EV Range - -
Motor Position - -
System Output - -
Engine Type Config Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Diesel 2.0 TGDI petrol
Spec Tasman Tiggo 9
Valves Per Cylinder 4 4
Intercooler Yes -
Launch Control No -
Rev Matching No -
Performance Data Logger No -
Fuel Consumption Combined 8.5 -
Engine Start Stop Yes Standard
Engine Start Stop Button Yes Standard
Engine Start Button Illumination Yes -
Engine Check Warning Yes -
Gear Shift Type Automatic Electric
Ground Clearance Unladen 231 -
Payload Capacity 1100 -
Stabilizer Bar Yes -
Steering Response Normal -
Skid Plates Yes -
Side Steps No -
Spare Wheel Full-Size Spare -
Tyre Repair Kit No -
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner Yes -
Seatbelt Reminder Yes Standard
Stability Control Yes Standard
Speed Limiter Yes -
Speed Alert System Yes -
Impact Sensing Door Unlock Yes -
Surround View Monitor No Standard
Adaptive Dampers No -
Wireless Charging No Standard
Voice Command Yes -
Voice Command Support Yes -
Digital Speedometer Yes -
Heads Up Display No -
Tachometer Yes -
Trip Computer Yes -
Multi Function Steering Yes -
Steering Mounted Controls Yes -
Air Conditioning Yes Automatic
Climate Control Yes Automatic
Climate Zones 2 -
Rear Air Conditioning No -
Glovebox Cooling No -
Seat Type Leather Seats -
Driver Seat Height Adjustment Yes -
Rear Seat Split No -
Headrest Adjustable Yes -
Front Armrest Centre Armrest -
Vanity Mirror Yes -
12V Accessory Socket Yes -
Front Power Outlet Yes -
Rear Reading Lamps Yes -
Keyless Entry Yes Standard
Push Button Start Yes Standard
Push Button Start Yes Standard
Remote Engine Start No -
Remote Start No -
Door Ajar Warning Yes -
Fuel Lid Opener Remote -
Boot Opener Remote -
Power Windows Yes Standard
Power Mirrors Yes -
Heated Mirrors Yes -
Electric Folding Mirrors Yes -
Electric Mirror Folding Yes -
Remote Side Mirror Yes -
Auto Dimming Irvm Yes -
Auto Dimming Mirror Yes -
Rain Sensing Wipers Yes Standard
Rear Window Defroster Yes -
Rear Defogger Yes -
Follow Me Home Headlamps No -
Tail Lamps Yes -
Automatic Headlamps Yes -
Headlamp Height Adjust Yes -
Headlamp Washer No -
Sunroof No Standard
Panoramic Roof No Standard
Roof Antenna Yes -
Rear Wing No -
Aero Kit No -
Chrome Grille No -
Ride Mode Selection Yes -
Electric Tailgate No Standard
Powered Tailgate No -
Engine Warranty 7 Years / 150,000 km -
Service Plan 3 Years / 45,000 km 5 Year / 75 000 km
Service Reminder Yes -
Trim Level flagship -
Variant Role Flagship / premium derivative -
Accelerator 0 100 9.8 sec -
Common Rail Injection Common Rail Direct Injection -
Diff Lock Yes -
Difflock Yes -
Vdc Yes -
TPMS Yes Standard
Sonar Yes -
Automatic High Beam No -
Steering Column Adjustment Tilt and Telescopic -
Tilt Steering Tilt and Telescopic -
Telescopic Steering Tilt and Telescopic -
Bottle Holders 4 -
Glove Box Yes -
Manual Aircon Yes -
Intelligent Keyless Entry Yes -
Passive Entry Start Yes -
Wireless Charger No Standard
Lift Gate No -
Electric Fold Indicator Mirrors Yes -
Power Socket 12v Yes -
Sound System 8 8
Roof Rack Compatibility No -
Mirror Electric -
Rim Size 265/60 R18 20-inch alloy
Stabilizer Bar Front Yes -
Stabilizer Bar Rear No -
Sub Frame Body-on-Frame -
Vehicle To Grid - -
Vehicle To Load - -
One Pedal Driving - -
Regenerative Braking - -
Regenerative Braking Levels - -
Rear Electric Motor - -
Battery Preconditioning - -
Source Model Column tasman -
Battery Voltage - -
Intelligent Battery System - -
Sport Plus Mode - -
Unlocking Yes Standard
Walk Away Lock Yes -
Walk Away Auto Door Lock Yes -
Rear LED Combination Taillights Yes -
Front Wiper No -
Rearview Mirror Inside Yes -
Vanity Mirror Illuminated Yes -
Reading Lights Rear Yes -
Centre Console Centre Armrest -
Side Impact Bars Yes -
Drag Coefficient 0.40 -
Roof Load 200 kg -
Hill Start Assist Yes -
Driver Display Digital Cluster -
AC Type Yes Automatic
Remote Central Locking Yes -
Chrome Exterior Highlights No -
Front Wipers Type No -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tasman leads by 3 points

Both Tasman and Tiggo 9 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 77 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 100% confidence
77
#1 Winner

Tasman

100% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 72
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 92
Ownership 71
Leads by 3 points
74
#2

Tiggo 9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 80
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 73
Ownership 69
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 9 +8 Efficiency Level Safety Level Practicality Tasman +19 Ownership Tasman +2

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tasman

Performance 72/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 92/100
Ownership 71/100

Tiggo 9

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 69/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Tasman wins with 77 pts vs 74 pts for Tiggo 9

In structured scoring, Tasman emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tiggo 9 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 Tasman 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: Tasman 47 vs Tiggo 9 47. 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: Tasman 94, Tiggo 9 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: Tasman 71, Tiggo 9 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: Tasman 92, Tiggo 9 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Tasman 72, Tiggo 9 80. 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 Tasman edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tasman 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 Tasman and Tiggo 9 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Tasman scores 72 vs 80.

Efficiency: Tasman scores 47 vs 47.

Safety: Tasman scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: Tasman scores 92 vs 73.

Ownership: Tasman scores 71 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tasman the advantage in this comparison.