Chery Tiggo 9 vs Hyundai Santa Fe
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 65% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Tiggo 9 | Santa Fe | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 689 900 | R 1 249 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 12 058/m | R 21 846/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 79% | 81% |
| Retained after 3 years | 63% | 65% |
| Value after 3 years | R 434 063 | R 808 462 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 255 837 | R 441 438 |
| Value after 5 years | R 337 111 | R 630 963 |
| Our tier | Chinese (established) | Mainstream |
Chery Tiggo 9 →
Chery's new flagship arrived in 2025 with a 2.0T petrol or a CSH plug-in hybrid, and the PHEV Vanguard AWD at R989,900 is the priciest Chery yet sold here. It takes on premium midsize SUVs with spec and power rather than badge cachet. Too new for a meaningful resale track record.
Known for: flagship tech and phev power
Hyundai Santa Fe →
Hyundai's large SUV has been in South Africa since the early 2000s and has moved steadily upmarket. The current boxy generation is sold here as a 1.6 turbo hybrid seven-seater at a price deep in premium territory. Older diesel versions remain popular used family buys.
Known for: upmarket seven-seater that moved with the brand
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Chery Tiggo 9 or the Hyundai Santa Fe?
They are close to inseparable: 63% vs 65% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Chery Tiggo 9 loses about R 255 837 over three years and the Hyundai Santa Fe loses about R 441 438. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Chery Tiggo 9 runs about R 12 058 per month and the Hyundai Santa Fe about R 21 846, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.