Suzuki Across vs Omoda C5 SHS

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Suzuki Across in South Africa

Suzuki Across

1.5 GLX 6AT Petrol Mild Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 464,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 18.9 km/l
VS
Omoda C5 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C5 SHS

C5 SHS Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance C5 SHS
Fuel Economy C5 SHS
🛡 Safety C5 SHS
📦 Practicality Across
🔑 Ownership C5 SHS
Across starts ZAR 120,000 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · C5 SHS from ZAR 469,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Across C5 SHS
Maximum Power 75.8 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 136.8 Nm @ 4400 rpm 310 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc 1500 cc
Claimed Mileage 18.9 km/l 20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 169 mm
Boot / Load Bay 333 l 372 l
Airbags 6 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight - 1546 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 5 years / 200,000 km promotional warranty 5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both Across and C5 SHS are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C5 SHS +28 pts
Efficiency C5 SHS +6 pts
Safety C5 SHS +2 pts
Practicality Across +7 pts
Ownership C5 SHS +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Across

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

C5 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

C5 SHS

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across C5 SHS
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation First South African generation of the current Across Current South Africa C5 SHS range
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door compact SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status On sale active
Segment C-segment family SUV SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg 1546 kg
Spec Across C5 SHS
Drivetrain Layout Front-engine, front-wheel drive FWD
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Standard Standard
Gearbox 6-speed automatic DHT
Final Drive Ratio 3.683 Not Applicable
Number of Gears 6 Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Drivetrain 2WD front-wheel drive FWD
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard Standard
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Type 6-speed automatic DHT
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Axle Layout 4x2 FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 6 Hybrid DHT
Gear Shift Type Straight-gate automatic selector Electric
Clutch Type - Automatic clutch
Gear Shift Indicator - Standard

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C5 SHS leads by 7 points

Both Across and C5 SHS are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 76% confidence
70
#1 Winner

C5 SHS

76% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 55
Performance 62
Efficiency 82
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 55
Leads by 7 points
63
#2

Across

86% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 76
Safety 92
Practicality 62
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C5 SHS +28 Efficiency C5 SHS +6 Safety C5 SHS +2 Practicality Across +7 Ownership C5 SHS +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

C5 SHS

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 82/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 55/100

Across

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 62/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C5 SHS wins with 70 pts vs 63 pts for Across

In structured scoring, C5 SHS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Across may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the C5 SHS edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Across 76 vs C5 SHS 82. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Across 92, C5 SHS 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Across 51, C5 SHS 55. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Across 62, C5 SHS 55. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Across 34, C5 SHS 62. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The C5 SHS edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C5 SHS scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Across and C5 SHS in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Across scores 34 vs 62.

Efficiency: Across scores 76 vs 82.

Safety: Across scores 92 vs 94.

Practicality: Across scores 62 vs 55.

Ownership: Across scores 51 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives C5 SHS the advantage in this comparison.