Hyundai ALCAZAR vs BMW i5

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.

Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Current
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
BMW i5 in South Africa

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 2,080,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai ALCAZAR vs BMW i5: the short answer

i5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over ALCAZAR.

ALCAZAR starts ZAR 1,312,100 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · i5 from ZAR 1,812,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification ALCAZAR i5
Maximum Power ALCAZAR85 kW i5442 kW
Maximum Torque ALCAZAR250 Nm i5795 Nm
Engine Size ALCAZAR1493 cc i5Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy ALCAZAR16.9 km/l i5Not Applicable
Ground Clearance ALCAZAR200 mm i5140 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan

Hagalu editorial rating
3.9/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

i5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

i5

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR i5
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2023
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. G60 executive electric sedan sharing the 5 Series body architecture with dedicated electric propulsion.
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 G60-generation battery-electric i5 Sedan in South African specification.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat SUV Sedan
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 active active
Segment SUV Premium Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Car
Spec ALCAZAR i5
Length 4560 mm 5060 mm
Width 1800 mm 1900 mm
Height 1710 mm 1505 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2995 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 140 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 180 l 490 l
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 2370 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2090 kg 2895 kg
Payload Capacity 645 kg 600 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.6 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 985 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 940 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1047 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 890 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This ALCAZAR and i5 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: ALCAZAR 44 vs i5 100.

Efficiency index: ALCAZAR 68 vs i5 90.

Safety-equipment index: ALCAZAR 89 vs i5 92.

Practicality index: ALCAZAR 64 vs i5 64.

Ownership-cover index: ALCAZAR 65 vs i5 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

i5 leads by 21 points

i5 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over ALCAZAR.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 21 points
Data 69% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

i5

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 64
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Leads by 21 points
66
#2

ALCAZAR

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 44
Performance 44
Efficiency 68
Safety 89
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i5 +56 Efficiency i5 +22 Safety i5 +3 Practicality Level

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i5 leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 66 pts for ALCAZAR

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i5 leads. However, ALCAZAR may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

ALCAZAR vs i5 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.