Features / 12 February 2026 / Michael Taylor

Cheapest hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric car in South Africa

New-energy vehicles (NEVs) are rapidly gaining popularity in South Africa, thanks in large part to the introduction of newer, more affordable options.

It wasn’t that long ago that the ‘cheapest’ electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa were supplied by luxury carmakers like BMW, Audi, Porsche, and Jaguar, effectively putting the technology of out reach for the vast majority of consumers.

However, the last few years have seen an influx of affordable hybrid and electric cars that have helped to lower the price floor to the point that hybrids and EVs are finally starting to see mass adoption.

The locally-made Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is one of the most popular cars in this regard, but it is no longer the cheapest option in South Africa.

In fact, traditional hybrids are no longer the most affordable NEVs on the market, as this title now belongs to the R339,900 BYD Dolphin Surf.

The Surf is a battery-electric vehicle, meaning it has no engine and relies entirely on an electric motor and battery.

In contrast, the cheapest HEV is the R439,900 Chery Tiggo Cross CSH (Chery Super Hybrid), which pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a much smaller electric motor and battery, which helps to improve the car’s efficiency at low speeds.

HEVs are not capable of running solely on their electric components, but the same cannot be said of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).

PHEVs are a more expensive form of hybrid that also feature an engine and one or more electric motors.

The key difference is that the e-motors are powerful enough to move the car on their own, and they are powered by a battery that typically affords an all-electric driving range of between 50km and 100km.

While this may not sound like a lot, the idea behind a PHEV is that you can use the electric mode for your daily commute, while still having access to a petrol engine for longer trips.

The downside is that PHEVs tend to be very expensive since they essentially have two powertrains, but this is starting to change thanks to models like the R499,900 BYD Sealion 5.

The Sealion features a 1.5-litre engine, an electric motor, and a 12.9kWh battery pack, which allows it to travel roughly 50km without using any petrol.

Of course, R499,900 is still a lot of money, but it is impressive when you consider that only a year ago the cheapest PHEV in South Africa was the R1,050,000 BMW X1, illustrating how much more affordable the tech has come in such a short time.

The future on a budget

These are the cheapest electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid cars in South Africa.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort

Starting price – R339,900
Power – 55kW/135Nm
Fuel consumption – 12.5kWh/100km
Range – 232km
Warranty – 3-year/100,000km vehicle + 8-year/200,000km battery
Service plan – 3-year/60,000km

Chery Tiggo Cross 1.5 CSH Hybrid Comfort

Starting price – R439,900
Power – 150kW/310Nm
Fuel consumption – 5.4l/100km
Range – 1,000km
Warranty – 7-year/150,000km vehicle + 10-year/unlimited km engine + 8-year/150,000km battery
Maintenance plan – 5-year/60,000km