Hyundai ALCAZAR 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.

Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Omoda C5 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C5 SHS

C5 SHS Hybrid Automatic
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 ALCAZAR
🔑 Ownership ALCAZAR
C5 SHS starts ZAR 499900 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · C5 SHS from ZAR 469,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec ALCAZAR C5 SHS
Engine Power 85 kW 150 kW
Torque 250 Nm 310 Nm
Engine Size 1493 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 20.4 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 169 mm
Boot / Load Bay 180 l 372 l
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1546 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 5 5 Years / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

C5 SHS holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C5 SHS +18 pts
Efficiency C5 SHS +14 pts
Safety C5 SHS +66 pts
Practicality ALCAZAR +9 pts
Ownership ALCAZAR +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

C5 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

C5 SHS

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR C5 SHS
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2026
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South Africa C5 SHS range
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat SUV SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec ALCAZAR C5 SHS
Ground Clearance 200 mm 169 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2630 mm
Length 4560 mm 4400 mm
Width 1800 mm 1830 mm
Height 1710 mm 1590 mm
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1546 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2090 kg 2052 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 180 l 372 l
Towing Capacity - 750 kg
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - -
Load Bed Length 180 l 372 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l 1079 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 645 kg -
Boot Volume 180 l 372 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 51 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2090 kg 2052 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 169 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 169 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 169 mm
Height Mm 1710 mm 1590 mm
Length Mm 4560 mm 4400 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 180 l 372 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 645 kg -
Cargo Volume 180 l 372 l
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg 1546 kg
Turning Circle - -
Turning Circle M - -
Width Mm 1800 mm 1830 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C5 SHS leads by 18 points

C5 SHS holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 18 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 18 points
52
#2

ALCAZAR

79% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 68 Check Safety 28
Performance 44
Efficiency 68
Safety 28
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C5 SHS +18 Efficiency C5 SHS +14 Safety C5 SHS +66 Practicality ALCAZAR +9 Ownership ALCAZAR +10

Moderate difference between the models.

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

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C5 SHS wins with 70 pts vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, C5 SHS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, ALCAZAR 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: ALCAZAR 68 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: ALCAZAR 28, 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: ALCAZAR 65, 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: ALCAZAR 64, C5 SHS 55. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, 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 ALCAZAR and C5 SHS in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 62.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 82.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 94.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 55.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 55.

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