Chery Tiggo 9 vs Jetour X70 Plus

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.

Chery Tiggo 9 in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 9

Vanguard AWD 2.0T Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 779,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 187 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 12.0 km/l
VS
Jetour X70 Plus in South Africa

Jetour X70 Plus

Deluxe Petrol 6-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 484,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 12.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tiggo 9
Fuel Economy X70 Plus
🛡 Safety Tiggo 9
📦 Practicality X70 Plus
🔑 Ownership Tie
X70 Plus starts ZAR 235,000 cheaper Tiggo 9 from ZAR 689,900 · X70 Plus from ZAR 454,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Tiggo 9 X70 Plus
Maximum Power 187 kW @ 5500 rpm 115 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 390 Nm 230 Nm
Engine Size 2000 cc 1498 cc
Claimed Mileage 12.0 km/l 12.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 147 mm 200 mm
Boot / Load Bay 448 l 1680 l
Airbags Multiple airbags Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
Kerb Weight - -
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 7 Year / 200 000 km 10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tiggo 9 has a slight advantage, but X70 Plus remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 +35 pts
Efficiency X70 Plus +3 pts
Safety Tiggo 9 +28 pts
Practicality X70 Plus +18 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 9

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

X70 Plus

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Tiggo 9

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

X70 Plus

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tiggo 9 X70 Plus
Model Introduced Year 2026 Not Available
Generation Current South Africa Tiggo 9 range Current local listing
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2026 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not Available 1527-1694 kg
Spec Tiggo 9 X70 Plus
Drivetrain Layout AWD Not Applicable
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Standard Not Applicable
Gearbox 7 DCT Automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Gears 7 6
Transmission Type Automatic 6-Speed DCT
Clutch Type Automatic clutch Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator Standard Not Applicable
Drivetrain AWD Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Not Available Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 7 DCT 6-Speed DCT
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout AWD Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 7 6
Gear Shift Type Electric Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 9 leads by 10 points

Tiggo 9 has a slight advantage, but X70 Plus remains highly competitive.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 74% confidence
74
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 10 points
64
#2

X70 Plus

71% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 91 Check Performance 45
Performance 45
Efficiency 50
Safety 66
Practicality 91
Ownership 69
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 9 +35 Efficiency X70 Plus +3 Safety Tiggo 9 +28 Practicality X70 Plus +18 Ownership Level

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 9

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

X70 Plus

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 91/100
Ownership 69/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 9 wins with 74 pts vs 64 pts for X70 Plus

In structured scoring, Tiggo 9 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, X70 Plus 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 9 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: Tiggo 9 47 vs X70 Plus 50. 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: Tiggo 9 94, X70 Plus 66. 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: Tiggo 9 69, X70 Plus 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: Tiggo 9 73, X70 Plus 91. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Tiggo 9 80, X70 Plus 45. 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 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 9 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 Tiggo 9 and X70 Plus in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Tiggo 9 scores 80 vs 45.

Efficiency: Tiggo 9 scores 47 vs 50.

Safety: Tiggo 9 scores 94 vs 66.

Practicality: Tiggo 9 scores 73 vs 91.

Ownership: Tiggo 9 scores 69 vs 69.

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