Suzuki Across vs Toyota Hiace

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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
Toyota Hiace in South Africa

Toyota Hiace

2.5D Panel Van MT Diesel 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 680,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 75 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Across vs Toyota Hiace: the short answer

Across holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Hiace.

Across starts ZAR 331,000 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · Hiace from ZAR 680,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Across Hiace
Maximum Power Across75.8 kW @ 6000 rpm Hiace75 kW
Maximum Torque Across136.8 Nm @ 4400 rpm Hiace260 Nm
Engine Size Across1462 cc Hiace2494 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Across18.9 km/l Hiace11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance Across210 mm Hiace175 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Across

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Hiace

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Hiace

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across Hiace
Model Introduced Year 2026 2019
Generation First South African generation of the current Across H300 generation – front-engine layout replacing the previous cab-over design
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet Current H300 generation launched in SA in 2019 – major redesign from rear-engine layout
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2019
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door compact SUV Van
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment C-segment family SUV Van
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg 2080 kg
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Van
Color Note - White, Silver
Dealer Stock Note - Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Spec Across Hiace
Length 4360 mm 5380 mm
Width 1795 mm 1880 mm
Height 1655 mm 2285 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2985 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 70 l
Boot/Cargo Space 333 l 5200 l
Kerb Weight Not Officially Disclosed 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 3500 kg
Payload Capacity 460 kg 1420 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 1 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 6.5 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 992 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1032 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This Across and Hiace comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Across 34 vs Hiace 37.

Efficiency index: Across 76 vs Hiace 48.

Safety-equipment index: Across 91 vs Hiace 44.

Practicality index: Across 62 vs Hiace 71.

Ownership-cover index: Across not separately scored vs Hiace 43.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Across leads by 15 points

Across holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Hiace.

Evidence leader 64 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 73% source coverage
64
#1 Evidence leader

Across

73% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 76
Safety 91
Practicality 62
Leads by 15 points
49
#2

Hiace

84% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 71 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 48
Safety 44
Practicality 71
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hiace +3 Efficiency Across +28 Safety Across +47 Practicality Hiace +9

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Across

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 76/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 62/100

Hiace

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Across leads the specification evidence index with 64 pts vs 49 pts for Hiace

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Across leads. However, Hiace may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Across vs Hiace questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.