Suzuki Across vs GWM ORA 5

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 Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 464,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 136.8 Nm ⛽ 18.9 km/l
VS
GWM ORA 5 in South Africa

GWM ORA 5

BEV Ultra Luxury Electric Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 260 Nm Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance ORA 5
Fuel Economy ORA 5
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Across
🔑 Ownership ORA 5
Across starts ZAR 364900 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · ORA 5 from ZAR 364,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Across ORA 5
Engine Power 75.8 kW 150 kW
Torque 136.8 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1462 cc -
Claimed Mileage 18.9 km/l -
Ground Clearance 210 mm -
Boot / Load Bay 333 l -
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1200-1250 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Warranty 5 years / 200,000 km promotional warranty 7 years / 200,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

ORA 5 has a slight advantage, but Across remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance ORA 5 +22 pts
Efficiency ORA 5 +14 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Across +12 pts
Ownership ORA 5 +26 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Across

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

ORA 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • 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

ORA 5

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across ORA 5
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation First South African generation of the current Across First-generation ORA 5; South African launch specification
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet No facelift; first South African model year
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version -
Facelift Version Ending Current -
Body Style Five-door compact SUV Compact SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status On sale On sale
Segment C-segment family SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger vehicle
Spec Across ORA 5
Ground Clearance 210 mm -
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2,720 mm
Length 4360 mm 4,471 mm
Width 1795 mm 1,833 mm
Height 1655 mm 1,641 mm
Kerb Weight 1200-1250 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1660-1710 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Boot Space 333 l -
Front Track Width 1530 mm -
Rear Track Width 1535 mm -
Turning Radius 5.4 m -
Load Bed Length 333 l -
Load Bed Width - -
Number of Doors 5 -
Max Payload 460 kg -
Boot Volume 333 l -
Doors 5 -
Seats 5 -
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1660-1710 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 210 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 210 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 210 mm -
Height Mm 1655 mm 1,641 mm
Length Mm 4360 mm 4,471 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 333 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 460 kg -
Cargo Volume 333 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg -
Turning Circle 5.4 m -
Turning Circle M 5.4 m -
Width Mm 1795 mm 1,833 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ORA 5 leads by 9 points

ORA 5 has a slight advantage, but Across remains highly competitive.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 51% confidence
72
#1 Winner

ORA 5

51% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Practicality 50
Performance 56
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 50
Ownership 77
Leads by 9 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 ORA 5 +22 Efficiency ORA 5 +14 Safety Level Practicality Across +12 Ownership ORA 5 +26

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ORA 5

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 77/100

Across

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM ORA 5 wins with 72 pts vs 63 pts for Across

In structured scoring, ORA 5 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 ORA 5 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 ORA 5 90. 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, ORA 5 92. 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, ORA 5 77. 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, ORA 5 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Across 34, ORA 5 56. 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 ORA 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The ORA 5 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 ORA 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Across scores 34 vs 56.

Efficiency: Across scores 76 vs 90.

Safety: Across scores 92 vs 92.

Practicality: Across scores 62 vs 50.

Ownership: Across scores 51 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives ORA 5 the advantage in this comparison.