Suzuki Across vs KIA Sorento

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

2.5 PHEV E-CVT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 1,199,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 227 Nm ⛽ 22.7 km/l
VS
KIA Sorento in South Africa

KIA Sorento

2.2 CRDi SXL AWD DCT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,299,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 148 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 15.6 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Across
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Across
🔑 Ownership Tie
Sorento starts ZAR 1199900 cheaper Across from ZAR 1,199,900 · Sorento from ZAR 999,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Across Sorento
Engine Power 225 148 kW
Torque 227 440 Nm
Engine Size 2487 2151
Claimed Mileage 22.7 15.6
Ground Clearance 200 185
Boot Space 490 219
Airbags 8 7
Kerb Weight 1955 1960
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Across

71
/ 100
+6
pts
#2

Sorento

65
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Across +2 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Across +4 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Across

Performance 17/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 14/20
Ownership 20/20

Sorento

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Across

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Sorento

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Sorento

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across Sorento
Length 4635 4810
Width 1855 1900
Height 1690 1700
Wheelbase 2690 2815
Ground Clearance 200 185
Kerb Weight 1955 1960
Gross Vehicle Weight 2510 2550
Seating Capacity 5 7
Seats 5 7
Doors 5 5
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Space 490 219
Boot Space Seats Folded 1604 616
Boot Volume 490 219
Front Track Width 1605 1640
Rear Track Width 1620 1644
Turning Radius 5.7 11.2
Front Headroom 1015 1010
Rear Headroom 1004 955
Front Legroom 1090 1040
Rear Legroom 950 855
Front Shoulder Room 1455 1405
Rear Shoulder Room 1418 1350
Max Payload 555 N/A
Towing Capacity 1500 2000
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 67
Front Overhang 915 900
Rear Overhang 1030 1095
Load Bed Length Available N/A
Load Bed Width Available N/A
Spec Across Sorento
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 67
City Mileage 22.7 12.8
Highway Mileage 20.4 18.5
Claimed Mileage 22.7 15.6
Claimed Fuel Consumption 1.0 6.4
Average Fuel Consumption Yes 6.4
Distance To Empty Yes N/A
Low Fuel Warning Yes Yes
Auto Start Stop 0.5 Yes
Real-world Mileage 18.5 7.7
Fuel Efficiency 1.0 6.4 L/100km
Emission Standard EURO 6 Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity Available No

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Suzuki Across wins with 71 pts vs 65 pts for Sorento

In structured scoring, Across emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sorento 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 Across 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 0 vs Sorento 0. 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 20, Sorento 20. 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 20, Sorento 20. 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 14, Sorento 10. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Across 17, Sorento 15. 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 Across edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Across scores 17 vs 15.

Efficiency: Across scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Across scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Across scores 14 vs 10.

Ownership: Across scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Across the advantage in this comparison.