Every hybrid you can buy under R600,000 in South Africa

Hybrids are a great option for anyone looking to cut down on their fuel spend, though there are few available in South Africa that can really be described as affordable.

There are only six hybrids in the country that cost less than R600,000, and only one that falls under half-a-million rand.

The fuel-saving technology is still costly in South Africa since, in most cases, you pay for an additional electric motor and battery on top of an internal combustion engine (ICE).

The e-motor assists the petrol mill during acceleration at low speeds, which is what helps to lower its fuel tab, especially in situations like slow-moving traffic.

However, none of the hybrids priced under R600,000 are plug-in (PHEV) models, which have a large enough battery and e-motor to allow for fully-electric driving for decent distances.

This brings us to the available entries.

The cheapest semi-electric car in South Africa is the Corolla Cross XS, which sets the benchmark R486,100.

Toyota actually accounts for three of the six options on the list, as the Corolla nameplate is also available with the desired powertrain in both its sedan and hatchback forms.

The other three brands you can pick from are Haval, Suzuki, and Honda, which all have a flagship model with an electrified drivetrain.

Fuel-conscious transport

These are all of the hybrid passenger cars that you can buy in South Africa for less than R600,000.

Note that Toyota does not disclose the combined torque figures for its hybrids owing to the complexities of the drivetrain, instead listing only the engine’s torque stat.

Click on the underlined prices for more information.

Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid XS

• Starting price – R486,100
• Power – 90kW/142+e Nm
• Fuel consumption – 4.3l/100km
• Tank size – 36 litres
• Range – 837km

Haval Jolion Pro 1.5 HEV Ultra Luxury

• Starting price – R516,950
• Power – 140kW/375Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.1l/100km
• Tank size – 55 litres
• Range – 1,078km

Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.8 Hybrid XS

• Starting price – R536,500
• Power – 103kW/142+e Nm
• Fuel consumption – 4.0/100km
• Tank size – 43 litres
• Range – 1,075km

Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip

• Starting price – R542,900
• Power – 75kW/137Nm
• Fuel consumption – 5.6l/100km
• Tank size – 45 litres
• Range – 804km

Honda Fit 1.5 Hybrid e.HEV

• Starting price – R544,900
• Power – 90kW/253Nm
• Fuel consumption – 3.7l/100km
• Tank size – 40 litres
• Range – 1,081km

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.8 Hybrid XS

• Starting price – R549,300
• Power – 103kW/142+e Nm
• Fuel consumption – 3.9l/100km
• Tank size – 43 litres
• Range – 1,103km