Hyundai ALCAZAR vs GWM ORA 5

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
GWM ORA 5 in South Africa

GWM ORA 5

BEV Ultra Luxury Electric Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 260 Nm Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance ORA 5
Fuel Economy ORA 5
🛡 Safety ORA 5
📦 Practicality ALCAZAR
🔑 Ownership ORA 5
ORA 5 starts ZAR 499900 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · ORA 5 from ZAR 364,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec ALCAZAR ORA 5
Engine Power 85 kW 150 kW
Torque 250 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1493 cc -
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l -
Ground Clearance 200 mm -
Boot / Load Bay 180 l -
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1445 kg -
Seating Capacity 7 -
Warranty 5 7 years / 200,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

ORA 5 holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance ORA 5 +12 pts
Efficiency ORA 5 +22 pts
Safety ORA 5 +64 pts
Practicality ALCAZAR +14 pts
Ownership ORA 5 +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

ORA 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

ORA 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR ORA 5
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 ORA 5; South African launch specification
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. No facelift; first South African model year
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version -
Facelift Version Ending Current -
Body Style Seven-seat SUV Compact 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 On sale
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec ALCAZAR ORA 5
Ground Clearance 200 mm -
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2,720 mm
Length 4560 mm 4,471 mm
Width 1800 mm 1,833 mm
Height 1710 mm 1,641 mm
Kerb Weight 1445 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2090 kg -
Seating Capacity 7 -
Boot Space 180 l -
Towing Capacity - -
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - -
Load Bed Length 180 l -
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l -
Number of Doors 5 -
Max Payload 645 kg -
Boot Volume 180 l -
Doors 5 -
Seats 7 -
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2090 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm -
Height Mm 1710 mm 1,641 mm
Length Mm 4560 mm 4,471 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 180 l -
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg 645 kg -
Cargo Volume 180 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg -
Turning Circle - -
Turning Circle M - -
Width Mm 1800 mm 1,833 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ORA 5 leads by 20 points

ORA 5 holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 51% confidence
72
#1 Winner

ORA 5

51% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Practicality 50
Performance 56
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 50
Ownership 77
Leads by 20 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 ORA 5 +12 Efficiency ORA 5 +22 Safety ORA 5 +64 Practicality ALCAZAR +14 Ownership ORA 5 +12

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ORA 5

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 77/100

ALCAZAR

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM ORA 5 wins with 72 pts vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, ORA 5 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 ORA 5 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 ORA 5 90. 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, ORA 5 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, ORA 5 77. 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, ORA 5 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, ORA 5 56. 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 ORA 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The ORA 5 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 ORA 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 56.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 90.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 92.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 50.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives ORA 5 the advantage in this comparison.