This type of car used to cost R1 million – It’s R450,000 cheaper now

The cost of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) has dramatically fallen in South Africa in just a few months thanks to the introduction of new, more affordable models.

At the start of 2025, you needed to have a substantial R1,050,000 to purchase the nation’s “entry-level” PHEV, but this sum has since dropped to R599,900.

Plug-in models are widely considered to be the best form of hybrid that you can buy as they allow for all-electric driving that uses no fuel.

This is because PHEVs feature one or more electric motors powered by a high-capacity battery, which is capable of moving the vehicle by itself.

PHEVs also have a reasonably powerful combustion engine, and the driver can switch between the two modes depending on the situation.

This means that PHEV owners technically have the best of both worlds with a car that can be used like an electric vehicle (EV) around town while still having the range of a petrol model when they need to travel further afield.

PHEVs make a lot of sense in South Africa for this reason, as our country currently lacks the widespread charging infrastructure to support widespread EV adoption.

South Africans also tend to drive long distances from places like Cape Town to Pretoria or Joburg to Durban, which means the range of most EVs is still a concern for many would-be adopters.

Unfortunately, while PHEVs are an appealing option for many households, they are also very expensive.

The main reason for this is that you are paying for a car with two advanced powertrains, which is why PHEVs are more costly than a traditional hybrid like the Toyota Corolla Cross.

However, a less obvious reason for these high prices is that most automakers do not offer a PHEV in South Africa, and the ones that do are mostly limited to luxury brands like BMW and Lexus.

A new opponent enters the ring

Going into 2025, the entry point to the world of PHEVs was the R1,050,000 BMW X1 xDrive30e, but this has since changed with rapid release of several new models like the Chery Tiggo 7 CSH.

The Tiggo 7 costs R599,900, which means the price of plug-in hybrids has plummeted R450,000 in the span of just a few months.

The Chery isn’t the only affordable option either, as BYD launched the R639,900 Sealion 6 back in April.

This meant that the Sealion was the most affordable PHEV in South Africa for two months before the Chery took its crown.

Omoda and Jaecoo have also played their hand with the introduction of the C9 and J7 PHEVs, the latter of which goes for R689,900.

The C9 is admittedly more expensive at R999,000, but it’s worth noting that the C9 is a competitor to the BMW X3 and not the X1, meaning it is R260,000 less than the comparable X3 30e xDrive.

Even bakkies are getting in on the game, as BYD offers the plug-in hybrid Shark – a double cab with an even greater output than the Ford Ranger Raptor.

One common thread you may have picked up on is that all of these brands are Chinese, which once again illustrates they are primary driving force for more affordable transport options in South Africa.

Of course, R600,000 is still a lot of money for a new car, but it’s undeniably a big improvement over the seven-figure sums motorists needed to pay for a PHEV not that long ago.

As a reference, the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV (the best-selling new-energy vehicle in the country) asks for a minimum of R494,400, which means the price gap between traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrids has been significantly narrowed.