Hyundai ALCAZAR vs LEPAS L4

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
LEPAS L4 in South Africa

LEPAS L4

1.5T Pantera 6DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 419,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 108 kW 🔧 225 Nm ⛽ 14.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance L4
Fuel Economy ALCAZAR
🛡 Safety L4
📦 Practicality ALCAZAR
🔑 Ownership ALCAZAR
L4 starts ZAR 499900 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · L4 from ZAR 299,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec ALCAZAR L4
Engine Power 85 kW 108 kW
Torque 250 Nm 225 Nm
Engine Size 1493 cc 1499 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 14.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 180 l 458 l
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1346 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 5 5 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

L4 has a slight advantage, but ALCAZAR remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance L4 +3 pts
Efficiency ALCAZAR +12 pts
Safety L4 +64 pts
Practicality ALCAZAR +7 pts
Ownership ALCAZAR +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

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

L4

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

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

L4

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR L4
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. First-generation LEPAS L4 compact SUV
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. The L4 launched as the first LEPAS model in South Africa in 2026.
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 Compact SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec ALCAZAR L4
Ground Clearance 200 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2700 mm
Length 4560 mm 4406 mm
Width 1800 mm 1820 mm
Height 1710 mm 1635 mm
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1346 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2090 kg 1844 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 180 l 458 l
Towing Capacity - 750 kg
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - 5.275 m
Load Bed Length 180 l 458 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l 1284 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload 645 kg 498 kg
Boot Volume 180 l 458 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 51 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2090 kg 1844 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1710 mm 1635 mm
Length Mm 4560 mm 4406 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 180 l 458 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 645 kg 498 kg
Cargo Volume 180 l 458 l
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg 1346 kg
Turning Circle - 5.275 m
Turning Circle M - 5.275 m
Width Mm 1800 mm 1820 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

L4 leads by 10 points

L4 has a slight advantage, but ALCAZAR remains highly competitive.

Winner 62 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 90% confidence
62
#1 Winner

L4

90% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 47
Performance 47
Efficiency 56
Safety 92
Practicality 57
Ownership 55
Leads by 10 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 L4 +3 Efficiency ALCAZAR +12 Safety L4 +64 Practicality ALCAZAR +7 Ownership ALCAZAR +10

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

L4

Performance 47/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 57/100
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?

🏆 LEPAS L4 wins with 62 pts vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, L4 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 L4 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 L4 56. 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, L4 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: ALCAZAR 65, L4 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, L4 57. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, L4 47. 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 L4 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The L4 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 L4 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 47.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 56.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 92.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 57.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 55.

Final structured scoring gives L4 the advantage in this comparison.