Hyundai ALCAZAR vs Hyundai Palisade

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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Palisade
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
Hyundai Palisade in South Africa

Hyundai Palisade

2.2D Elite AWD 8AT 7-Seater Diesel Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,204,500 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 142 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 8.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Palisade
⛽ Fuel Economy ALCAZAR
🛡 Safety Palisade
📦 Practicality Palisade
🔑 Ownership ALCAZAR
ALCAZAR starts ZAR 1204500 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · Palisade from ZAR 1,204,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec ALCAZAR Palisade
Engine Power 85 kW 142 kW
Torque 250 Nm 440 Nm
Engine Size 1493 cc 2199 cc
Claimed Mileage 16.9 km/l 8.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm Not confirmed
Boot / Load Bay 180 l Not confirmed
Airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags Driver, passenger, side and curtain
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1952 kg
Seating Capacity 7 7
Warranty 5 5 years / 150 000 km plus 2 years / 50 000 km powertrain

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Both ALCAZAR and Palisade are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Palisade +30 pts
Efficiency ALCAZAR +28 pts
Safety Palisade +10 pts
Practicality Palisade +13 pts
Ownership ALCAZAR +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

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

Palisade

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Palisade

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec ALCAZAR Palisade
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African Palisade listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
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. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style Seven-seat SUV Seven-seat SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec ALCAZAR Palisade
Ground Clearance 200 mm Not confirmed
Wheelbase 2760 mm Not confirmed
Length 4560 mm Not confirmed
Width 1800 mm Not confirmed
Height 1710 mm Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1952 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2090 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 7 7
Boot Space 180 l Not confirmed
Towing Capacity - 2200 kg
Front Track Width - Not confirmed
Rear Track Width - Not confirmed
Turning Radius - Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 180 l Not confirmed
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Front Legroom - Not confirmed
Rear Legroom - Not confirmed
Front Headroom - Not confirmed
Rear Headroom - Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 Not confirmed
Max Payload 645 kg Not confirmed
Boot Volume 180 l Not confirmed
Doors 5 Not confirmed
Seats 7 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 71 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2090 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm Not confirmed
Height Mm 1710 mm Not confirmed
Length Mm 4560 mm Not confirmed
Loadbox Length Mm 180 l Not confirmed
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg 645 kg Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 180 l Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg 1952 kg
Turning Circle - Not confirmed
Turning Circle M - Not confirmed
Width Mm 1800 mm Not confirmed

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Palisade leads by 6 points

Both ALCAZAR and Palisade are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 58 /100
Lead 6 points
Data 69% confidence
58
#1 Winner

Palisade

69% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 77 Check Safety 38
Performance 74
Efficiency 40
Safety 38
Practicality 77
Ownership 51
Leads by 6 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 Palisade +30 Efficiency ALCAZAR +28 Safety Palisade +10 Practicality Palisade +13 Ownership ALCAZAR +14

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Palisade

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 77/100
Ownership 51/100

ALCAZAR

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Palisade wins with 58 pts vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, Palisade 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.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Palisade 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 Palisade 40. 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, Palisade 38. 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, Palisade 51. 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, Palisade 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, Palisade 74. 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 Palisade edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 74.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 40.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 38.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 77.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 51.

Final structured scoring gives Palisade the advantage in this comparison.