Suzuki Across vs Changan UNI-S

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
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Across vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

Across and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Across starts ZAR 40,000 cheaper Across from ZAR 349,900 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Across UNI-S
Maximum Power Across75.8 kW @ 6000 rpm UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Across136.8 Nm @ 4400 rpm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size Across1462 cc UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Across18.9 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance Across210 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Across

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

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

Which One's Right for You?

Across

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Across UNI-S
Model Introduced Year 2026 2026
Generation First South African generation of the current Across First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History All-new March 2026 South African launch model; no facelift yet No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style Five-door compact SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status On sale active
Segment C-segment family SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1200-1250 kg -
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle Passenger car
Spec Across UNI-S
Length 4360 mm 4539 mm
Width 1795 mm 1865 mm
Height 1655 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 333 l 475 l
Payload Capacity 460 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.66 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 167 mm
Kerb Weight - 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - 1825 kg
Towing Capacity - Not Officially Disclosed
Front Headroom - Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom - Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom - Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom - Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Across and UNI-S comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. 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 UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Across 76 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Across 91 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Across 62 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Across not separately scored vs UNI-S not separately scored.

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

UNI-S leads by 5 points

Across and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 5 points
64
#2

Across

73% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 76
Safety 91
Practicality 62
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance UNI-S +25 Efficiency Across +21 Safety UNI-S +1 Practicality UNI-S +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

Across

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 64 pts for Across

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

Across vs UNI-S questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.