7 most-affordable PHEVs in SA in 2026

With the increase in new plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) in South Africa, we’ve rounded up the seven most affordable PHEVs you can buy in SA as of April 2026. 

5=. Jetour T1 1.5T i-DM PHEV – R689 900

Image: Jetour

In April 2026, Jetour introduced the plug-in hybrid T1 and T2 models to our market – the former of which making making this list with its R689 900 sticker price. The PHEV version of the increasingly popular T1 features a 100 kW/220 N.m 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and a 150 kW/310 N.m electric motor, fed by an 18.4 kWh battery pack. The new-energy T1’s PHEV setup produces combined system outputs of 250 kW and 530 N.m. Jetour claims a 100 km electric-only operating range and a combined range of 1 200 km.

5=. Jaecoo J7 1.5T SHS PHEV – R689 900

Image: Peet Mocke

Similar to the next vehicle on this list, the new-energy J7, which we evaluated for a road test in the July 2025 issue of CAR magazine, is equipped with Chery’s SHS (Super Hybrid System) plug-in powertrain. This model from Chery sub-brand Jaecoo produces combined system outputs of 255 kW and 525 N.m. With a fully charged 18.3 kWh battery, the J7 SHS PHEV offers a claimed electric-only operating range of 90 km and combined range of 1 200 km. Noteworthy, with a tested combined fuel consumption of 4.6 L/100 km, the J7 SHS PHEV claimed top spot among the five most fuel-efficient vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025.

5=. Omoda C7 1.5T SHS PHEV – R689 900

Image: Omoda & Jaecoo

The Omoda C7 SHS’s PHEV setup produces the same combined system outputs as the Jaecoo J7 SHS PHEV. With a claimed combined fuel consumption of 4.9 L/100 km, the new-energy C7 offers a petrol-electric operating range of over 1 200 km, its maker claims. The electric-only range is a claimed 105 km.

4. BYD Sealion 6 – from R639 900

Image: Peet Mocke

The Sealion 6 impressed the CAR team in its 2025 road test. With its 87/100 test score, BYD’s midsize new-energy SUV not only claimed the top spot among the five highest-scoring Chinese vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025, but also garnered itself a place among the overall highest-scoring vehicles CAR magazine tested in 2025. Our Top 12 Best Buys winner in the ‘New-energy vehicle’ category, the Sealion 6 is available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations – the former and latter producing a combined 160 kW/300 N.m and 238 kW/550 N.m, respectively. The least expensive of the trio comes in the shape of the FWD Comfort model, which offers a claimed 80 km of electric-only driving and a combined 1 080 km.

• Also read: 5 most-affordable hybrid vehicles in SA in 2026

3. Chery Tiggo 7 1.5T CSH PHEV – from R619 900

Image: Peet Mocke

The Chery Tiggo 7 CSH (Chery Super Hybrid) is priced from R619 900. The new-energy Tiggo 7’s 1.5-litre PHEV setup produces combined power and torque outputs of 265 kW and 530 N.m, delivered to the front wheels via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The Wuhu automaker claims electric-only and combined operating ranges of 93 and 1 200 km, respectively.

2. Geely E5 EM-i – from R599 999

Image: Geely

The launch of the Geely E5 in November 2025 marked this Chinese brand’s return to the SA market. The E5 EM-i employs a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol mill and single electric motor; producing a combined 160 kW and 262 N.m. Geely claims an all-electric operating range of 103 km from a fully charged 18.3 kWh battery, and a combined range of 943 km.

1. BYD Sealion 5 – from R509 900

Image: Peet Mocke

Priced from R509 900, the BYD Sealion 5 is the most affordable PHEV currently available in SA. The 5’s 1.5-litre PHEV powertrain produces a combined system output of 156 kW and 300 N.m – good for a tested 0-100 km/h sprint time of 8.47 seconds. BYD claims an electric-only operating range of 52 km and a combined range of just over 1 000 km.

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