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.
No longer sold newSpecs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 147 kW🔧 440 Nm⛽ 13.8 km/l
＋Add a 3rd car
At a Glance — Who Wins What
⚡PerformanceSanta Fe
⛽Fuel EconomyALCAZAR
🛡SafetySanta Fe
📦PracticalitySanta Fe
🔑OwnershipTie
ALCAZAR starts ZAR 899900 cheaperALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · Santa Fe from ZAR 899,900
Key Specs Side by Side
The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Engine Power
85 kW
147 kW
Torque
250 Nm
440 Nm
Engine Size
1493 cc
2199 cc
Claimed Mileage
16.9 km/l
13.8 km/l
Ground Clearance
200 mm
188 mm
Boot / Load Bay
180 l
703 l
Airbags
Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
7
Kerb Weight
1445 kg
1980 kg
Seating Capacity
7
7
Warranty
5
5
= 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
Santa Fe dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.
Where They Actually Differ
Performance
Santa Fe
+30 pts
Efficiency
ALCAZAR
+18 pts
Safety
Santa Fe
+71 pts
Practicality
Santa Fe
+25 pts
Ownership
Equal
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
ALCAZAR
Strengths
Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to:Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner
Santa Fe
Strengths
More powerful engine output
Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to:Highway DrivingFamily Usage
Which One's Right for You?
ALCAZAR
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Santa Fe
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
Santa Fe
Model Introduced Year
Current local generation year not confirmed
2001
Generation
Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Fifth generation Santa Fe on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; 'Sensuous Sportiness' design with distinctive parametric LED lighting signature
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.
Fifth generation launched in SA in 2022; significant styling and interior quality upgrade; distinctive boxy design language with vertical lighting
Facelift Launched Since
Original current-generation version
2022
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style
Seven-seat SUV
Not confirmed
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
Not confirmed
Production Status
published
Not confirmed
Segment
SUV
Not confirmed
Vehicle Type
SUV
Not confirmed
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Ground Clearance
200 mm
188 mm
Wheelbase
2760 mm
2815 mm
Length
4560 mm
4830 mm
Width
1800 mm
1900 mm
Height
1710 mm
1750 mm
Kerb Weight
1445 kg
1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight
2090 kg
Not confirmed
Seating Capacity
7
7
Boot Space
180 l
703 l
Towing Capacity
-
Not confirmed
Front Track Width
-
Not confirmed
Rear Track Width
-
Not confirmed
Turning Radius
-
Not confirmed
Load Bed Length
180 l
703 l
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
5
Max Payload
645 kg
Not confirmed
Boot Volume
180 l
703 l
Doors
5
5
Seats
7
7
Fuel Tank Capacity
50 l
67 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg
2090 kg
Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max
200 mm
188 mm
Ground Clearance Min
200 mm
188 mm
Ground Clearance Mm
200 mm
188 mm
Height Mm
1710 mm
1750 mm
Length Mm
4560 mm
4830 mm
Loadbox Length Mm
180 l
703 l
Loadbox Width Mm
-
Not confirmed
Payload Kg
645 kg
Not confirmed
Cargo Volume
180 l
703 l
Tare Mass Kg
1445 kg
1980 kg
Turning Circle
-
Not confirmed
Turning Circle M
-
Not confirmed
Width Mm
1800 mm
1900 mm
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Engine
1.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel
2.2 R-Series CRDi Diesel
Engine Type
1.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel
Diesel
Displacement
1493 cc
2199 cc
Cylinders
-
4
Valves per Cylinder
-
Not confirmed
Power
85 kW
147 kW
Power @ RPM
-
3800
Torque
250 Nm
440 Nm
Torque @ RPM
-
1750
Fuel System
-
Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger
-
Yes
Top Speed
-
205 km/h
0-100 km/h
-
8.5 sec
Compression Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Cylinder Bore
-
Not confirmed
Piston Stroke
-
Not confirmed
Engine Code
-
Not confirmed
Power
114 bhp
Not confirmed
Fuel Grade Required
Diesel
Diesel
Cylinder Layout
-
Not confirmed
Engine Aspiration
-
Not confirmed
Engine Type Config
1.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel
Inline
0–100 km/h
-
8.5 sec
Battery Capacity
-
Not confirmed
Charging Port
-
Not confirmed
AC Charging Time
-
Not confirmed
Engine Displacement
1493 cc
2199 cc
Engine Displacement Litres
1493 cc
2199 cc
Acceleration 0 100
-
8.5 sec
Combined System Power
-
Not confirmed
Combined System Torque
-
Not confirmed
Engine Config
1.5-litre CRDi turbo diesel
Not confirmed
Engine Cylinders
-
4
Engine Displacement Cc
1493 cc
2199 cc
Engine Power kW
85 kW
147 kW
Engine Torque Nm
250 Nm
440 Nm
Engine Valves
-
Not confirmed
Induction
-
Not confirmed
Max Power kW
85 kW
147 kW
Max Torque Nm
250 Nm
440 Nm
Maximum Power
85 kW
147 kW
Maximum Torque
250 Nm
440 Nm
Power kW Rpm
-
3800
Active Exhaust
-
Not confirmed
System Output
-
Not confirmed
Torque Nm Rpm
-
1750
Turbo Type
-
Not confirmed
Engine Position
-
Front
Variable Valve Timing
-
Yes
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
Drive Type
Front-wheel drive
All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain Layout
Front-wheel drive
HTRAC AWD
LSD Available
-
Yes
Transfer Case
-
Not confirmed
Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Paddle Shifters
-
Yes
Final Drive Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Number of Gears
6 km/h
Not confirmed
Transmission Type
Automatic
Automatic
Clutch Type
-
Not confirmed
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive
All-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
4WD Engagement
-
Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range
-
Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range
-
Not confirmed
4WD Selector
-
Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles
-
Not confirmed
Differential Type Front
-
Not confirmed
Differential Type Rear
-
Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Gearbox Type
Automatic
Automatic
Low Range
-
Not confirmed
Axle Layout
Front-wheel drive
All-Wheel Drive
Rear Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Transfer Case Guard
-
Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds
6 km/h
Not confirmed
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Claimed Mileage
16.9 km/l
13.8 km/l
City Mileage
13.9 km/l
11.0 km/l
Highway Mileage
19.6 km/l
17.5 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
50 l
67 l
Emission Standard
-
Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity
-
Not confirmed
Auto Start Stop
-
Not confirmed
Average Fuel Consumption
5.9 l/100km
Yes
Claimed Fuel Consumption
5.9 l/100km
Yes
Fuel Efficiency
5.9 l/100km
Yes
Real-world Mileage
16.9 km/l
13.8 km/l
AC Charging Power
-
Not confirmed
Charging Port Type
-
Not confirmed
Charging Time AC Full
-
Not confirmed
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct
-
Not confirmed
Charging Type
-
Not confirmed
Combined Consumption
5.9 l/100km
Yes
Combined Consumption L 100km
5.9 l/100km
Yes
DC Charging Power
-
Not confirmed
Fuel Economy Combined
5.9 l/100km
Yes
Fuel Tank Litres
50 l
67 l
Fuel Type
Diesel
Not confirmed
Low Range Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Combined Driving Range
-
Not confirmed
Electric Consumption
-
Not confirmed
Range Real World Highway
-
Not confirmed
Range Real World Mixed
-
Not confirmed
Range Wltp
-
Not confirmed
Distance To Empty
-
Yes
Low Fuel Warning
-
Yes
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Airbags
Driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
7
ABS
Standard
Yes
Electronic Stability Control
-
Yes
Traction Control
Standard
Yes
Hill Descent Control
-
No
Hill Start Assist
Standard
Yes
Child Safety Lock
-
Yes
ISOFIX Mounts
-
Yes
Brake Assist
-
Yes
Tyre Pressure Monitor
-
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
-
Yes
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
-
Yes
Front Parking Sensors
Standard
Not confirmed
AEB
-
Yes
BA
-
Yes
Brake Override System
-
Not confirmed
Curtain Airbags
Standard
Not confirmed
Driver Airbag
Standard
Yes
EBD
Standard
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
-
Yes
Hill Hold
Standard
Yes
Passenger Airbag
Standard
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
-
Yes
Seatbelt Pretensioners
-
Yes
Side Airbags
Standard
Not confirmed
TCS
Standard
Yes
Knee Airbag
-
Not confirmed
ABS EBD
Standard
Yes
Central Locking
-
Yes
Speed Alert System
-
Yes
Safety Rating
-
Not Rated (SA)
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Cruise Control
Standard
Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Yes
Lane Keep Assist
-
Yes
Lane Departure Warning
-
Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring
-
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
-
Yes
Parking Sensors
Front and rear
Front & Rear
Rear View Camera
-
Yes
360 Degree Camera
-
Yes
Autonomous Emergency Braking
-
Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert
-
Yes
Traffic Sign Recognition
-
No
Auto Highbeam
-
Not confirmed
Auto Wipers
-
No
Drive Modes
-
Eco / Normal
EV Mode
-
No
Rear Parking Sensors
Standard
Not confirmed
Reverse Camera
-
Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Yes
Park Assist
-
Not confirmed
Around View Monitor
-
Yes
Blind Spot Warning
-
Yes
Forward Collision Warning
-
Not confirmed
Auto Lights
-
Yes
Eco Mode
-
Yes
Sport Mode
-
No
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Seat Material
Cloth
Leather
Heated Seats
-
Front & 2nd Row
Ventilated Seats
-
Front
Ambient Lighting
-
64-Colour Ambient
Steering Wheel Material
-
Leather
Instrument Cluster Type
Digital instrument cluster
Analogue + MID
Interior Colour Options
3
Not confirmed
60 40 Split Seat
-
Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment
-
Not confirmed
Fabric Seats
Cloth
Yes
Passenger Seat Adjustment
-
Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Up
180
Not confirmed
Cargo Space
180
Not confirmed
Interior Courtesy Lamps
Cabin trim, seating material, screen layout and driver-assistance equipment vary by derivative. Compare the chosen ALCAZAR grade before assuming a feature is included.
Not confirmed
Interior Colours
3
Not confirmed
Seat Capacity
7
Not confirmed
Seat Count
7
Not confirmed
Seat Trim
Cloth
Not confirmed
Seat Adjustment
-
Power 8-way
Steering Type
-
Electric
Steering Adjustment
-
Tilt & Telescopic
Folding Rear Seats
-
3rd Row Fold Flat
Front Armrest
-
Yes
Rear Armrest
-
No
Cup Holders
-
4
Door Map Pockets
-
Yes
Adjustable Driver Seat
-
Manual
Adjustable Front Seat
-
Manual
Cooled Seats
-
No
Front Headrest
-
Yes
Leather Seats
-
No
Memory Seats
-
No
Rear Headrest
-
Yes
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Climate Control
-
Tri-Zone Auto Climate
Power Windows
-
All
Keyless Entry
-
Yes
Push Button Start
-
Yes
Wireless Charging
Wireless
15W Wireless
Sunroof
-
Electric Panoramic Sunroof
Electric Tailgate
-
Yes
Rain Sensing Wipers
-
No
AC Type
-
Tri-Zone Auto Climate
Adaptive Dampers
-
Not confirmed
Engine Warranty
4
Not confirmed
Fuel Consumption Combined
5.9
Not confirmed
Gear Shift Type
Automatic
Not confirmed
Hill Start Assist
Standard
Not confirmed
Launch Control
-
Not confirmed
Performance Data Logger
-
Not confirmed
Rev Matching
-
Not confirmed
Seatbelt Reminder
-
Not confirmed
Service Plan
3 Years / 45000 km
4
Stability Control
-
Yes
Valves Per Cylinder
-
Not confirmed
Battery Preconditioning
-
Not confirmed
Bed Extender
-
Not confirmed
Canopy Fitment
-
Not confirmed
Diff Lock
-
Not confirmed
Difflock
-
Not confirmed
Front Diff Lock
-
Not confirmed
Load Bed Cover
-
Not confirmed
Load Bed Light
-
Not confirmed
Load Bed Steps
-
Not confirmed
Loadbox Depth Mm
-
Not confirmed
Loadbox Rope Hooks
-
Not confirmed
Loadbox Tiedown Brackets
-
Not confirmed
One Pedal Driving
-
Not confirmed
Rear Diff Lock
-
Not confirmed
Rear Electric Motor
-
Not confirmed
Regenerative Braking
-
Not confirmed
Regenerative Braking Levels
-
Not confirmed
Rim Size
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Source Model Column
alcazar
Not confirmed
Sport Plus Mode
-
Not confirmed
Sports Bar
-
Not confirmed
Tailgate Damper
-
Not confirmed
Tailgate Lock
-
Not confirmed
Tow Bar Type
-
Not confirmed
Trim Level
top
Not confirmed
Variant Role
Mid-to-high value derivative
Not confirmed
Vehicle To Grid
-
Not confirmed
Vehicle To Load
-
Not confirmed
Auto Dimming Mirror
-
No
Rear Window Defroster
-
Yes
Follow Me Home Headlamps
-
Yes
12V Accessory Socket
-
12V
Boot Opener
-
Inside
Door Ajar Warning
-
Yes
Electric Folding Mirrors
-
Yes
Engine Check Warning
-
Yes
Engine Start Stop
-
Yes
Engine Start Stop Button
-
Yes
Front Armrest
-
Yes
Front Power Outlet
-
Yes
Fuel Lid Opener
-
Inside
Headlamp Height Adjust
-
Manual
Headlamp Washer
-
No
Power Mirrors
-
Yes
Push Button Start
-
Yes
Rear Reading Lamps
-
Yes
Service Reminder
-
Yes
Spare Wheel
-
Steel
Tachometer
-
Yes
Telescopic Steering
-
No
Tilt Steering
-
Yes
Trip Computer
-
Yes
Vanity Mirror
-
Yes
Air Conditioning
-
Tri-Zone Auto Climate
Sound System
-
8 Meridian Premium
Unlocking
-
Yes
Wireless Charger
Wireless
15W Wireless
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Infotainment Screen
SYNC
12.3-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay
Standard
Yes
Android Auto
Standard
Yes
Bluetooth Connectivity
Standard
Yes
Number of Speakers
-
8 Meridian Premium
Digital Instrument Cluster
Digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch Digital Cluster
USB Ports
-
2 USB-A + 2 USB-C
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Standard
Yes
Infotainment Screen Size
SYNC
Not confirmed
Infotainment Screen
SYNC
Not confirmed
Multi Information Display
Digital display
Not confirmed
Connected Services
SYNC
Not confirmed
Smartphone Connectivity
Bluetooth
Not confirmed
Touchscreen
SYNC
Not confirmed
Wireless Android Auto
Standard
Yes
Navigation System
-
Yes
FM Radio
-
Yes
Steering Wheel Audio Controls
-
Yes
Voice Recognition
-
Yes
AUX Input
-
Yes
Audio Controls On Steering
-
Yes
Infotainment Display
-
Touchscreen
Rear Usb
-
Yes
Audio Speakers
-
8 Meridian Premium
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
LED Headlamps
Halogen
Full LED Parametric
Daytime Running Lamps
-
LED
Fog Lamps
-
LED
Roof Rails
-
Yes
Exterior Colour Options
3
Not confirmed
Body Type
SUV
SUV
Led Headlights
Halogen
Full LED Parametric
Exterior Colour Options
3
Not confirmed
Headlamps
Halogen
Full LED Parametric
Headlight Type
Halogen
Full LED Parametric
Headlights
Halogen
Full LED Parametric
Load Bed Liner
-
Not confirmed
Panoramic Sunroof
-
Not confirmed
Alloy Wheel Design
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Rear Spoiler
-
Yes
Wing Mirror Type
-
Power Adjustable
Rear Wiper
-
Yes
Door Handle Finish
-
Body Coloured
DRL
-
LED
Fog Lights
-
Yes
Front Fog Lights
-
Yes
Daytime Running Lights
-
LED
Exterior Mirror Electric
-
Yes
Front Fog Lamps
-
LED
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Approach Angle
-
Not confirmed
Departure Angle
-
Not confirmed
Wading Depth
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Modes
-
Not confirmed
Locking Differential
-
No
4WD System Type
Front-wheel drive
All-Wheel Drive
Breakover Angle
-
Not confirmed
Front Skid Plate Guard
-
Not confirmed
Off Road Descent Control
-
Not confirmed
Off Road Traction Assist
-
Not confirmed
Crawl Control
-
Not confirmed
Rear Skid Plate Guard
-
Not confirmed
Skid Plates Fuel Tank
-
Not confirmed
Skid Plates Transfer Case
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Mode Mud
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Mode Normal
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Mode Rock
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Mode Sand
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Mode Snow
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Response System
-
Not confirmed
Underbody Camera
-
Not confirmed
Ramp Breakover Angle
-
20 deg
Hill Descent Control
-
No
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Tyre Size
-
255/45 R20
Front Brake Type
-
Disc
Rear Brake Type
-
Disc
Spare Wheel Type
-
Steel
Wheel Rim Size
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Wheel Diameter
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Fifth Wheel Prep
-
Not confirmed
Handbrake Type
-
Not confirmed
Wheel Size Type
18 Inches
Not confirmed
Wheelbase Mm
2760 mm
2815 mm
Wheels
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Wheel Type
18 Inches
20-inch Alloy
Parking Brake Type
-
Manual
Tyre Load Index
-
91
Tyre Speed Rating
-
H
Brake Type Front
-
Disc (Ventilated)
Brake Type Rear
-
Disc
Spare Tyre
-
Steel
Tyre Type
-
Tubeless Radial
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Front Suspension
-
MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension
-
Multi-Link
MagneRide Damping
-
Not confirmed
Chassis Type
-
Monocoque
Power Steering
-
Electric
Steering Column
-
Tilt
Front Suspension Type
-
MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension Type
-
Multi-Link
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Service Interval
15000 km / 12 months
15000 km / 12 months
Battery Warranty
4
Not confirmed
Maintenance Plan
3 Years / 45000 km
3 Years / 45000 km
Engine Oil Change Interval
15000 km / 12 months
Not confirmed
First Service At
15000
15000
Service Plan Duration
3 Years / 45000 km
4
Service Plan Distance
3 Years / 45000 km
4
Alternator
120A
120A
Battery Type
Lead-acid
Lead-acid
Gear Shift Indicator
Yes
Yes
Service Intervals
15000 km / 12 months
15000 km / 12 months
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Warranty Years
5
5
Warranty Kilometers
5
5
Roadside Assistance
5 Years
5 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty
5 Years
5 Years
Basic Warranty
5
5
Roadside Assistance
5 Years
5 Years
Warranty
5
5
Warranty Roadside Assistance
5 Years
5 Years
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
CO2 Emissions
-
188 g/km
Hybrid System Type
-
Not confirmed
Fuel Octane Requirement
Diesel
Diesel
Start Stop System
-
No
Fuel Evaporation Control
-
Yes
Spec
ALCAZAR
Santa Fe
Ownership Role
Top
Not confirmed
Price Source
South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list
Not confirmed
Price Zar
669900 ZAR
Not confirmed
Pricing Role
Current listed price
Not confirmed
Starting Price
669900
Not confirmed
Starting Price Zar
669900
Not confirmed
Overall Verdict Score
Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.
Weighted / 100
Verdict readout
Santa Fe leads by 25 points
Santa Fe dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.
Performance
Santa Fe +30
Efficiency
ALCAZAR +18
Safety
Santa Fe +71
Practicality
Santa Fe +25
Ownership
Level
High confidence result.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Overall Winner
Santa Fe
Performance
74/100
Efficiency
50/100
Safety
99/100
Practicality
89/100
Ownership
65/100
ALCAZAR
Performance
44/100
Efficiency
68/100
Safety
28/100
Practicality
64/100
Ownership
65/100
So, Which One Should You Buy?
🏆Hyundai Santa Fe
wins with 77 pts
vs 52 pts for ALCAZAR
In structured scoring, Santa Fe 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.
Other Comparisons Worth Checking
See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.
On our scoring the Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe 50. 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, Santa Fe 99. 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, Santa Fe 65. 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, Santa Fe 89. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.
Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.
The Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe in South Africa
evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.
Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 74.
Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 68 vs 50.
Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 99.
Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 89.
Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 65.
Final structured scoring gives Santa Fe
the advantage in this comparison.
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