Changan Alsvin vs Hyundai Elantra

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 a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Elantra Discontinued model
Changan Alsvin in South Africa

Changan Alsvin

1.5 AT CE Petrol 5-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 289,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 78 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
VS
Hyundai Elantra in South Africa

Hyundai Elantra

1.5 IVT Fluid Petrol Discontinued model
ZAR 492,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Changan Alsvin vs Hyundai Elantra: the short answer

Elantra holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Alsvin.

Recorded price context Alsvin: current from ZAR 249,900 · Elantra: last listed from ZAR 448,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Alsvin Elantra
Maximum Power Alsvin78 kW Elantra85 kW @ 6300 rpm
Maximum Torque Alsvin145 Nm Elantra143 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Engine Size Alsvin1500 cc Elantra1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Alsvin14.49 km/l Elantra17.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Alsvin150 mm Elantra130 mm

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

Evidence for Hyundai Elantra 1.5 IVT Fluid

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Alsvin

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

Elantra

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

Which One's Right for You?

Alsvin

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Elantra

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

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 Alsvin Elantra
Model Introduced Year 2025 1990
Generation Current South African Alsvin generation launched with two locally named derivatives in 2025. Seventh generation Elantra on Hyundai's K3 platform; bold parametric design language marks a clear break from the conservative sixth gen
Facelift History No South African facelift has been announced since the current range entered local retail sale. Seventh generation launched globally in 2020 and brought to SA; significant leap in styling and interior quality over the previous generation
Facelift Launched Since Not Applicable 2020
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Not confirmed
Body Style Sedan Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment Compact sedan Not confirmed
Vehicle Type Passenger car Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg - 1355 kg
Spec Alsvin Elantra
Length 4390 mm 4680 mm
Width 1725 mm 1825 mm
Height 1490 mm 1415 mm
Wheelbase 2535 mm 2720 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 150 mm 130 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 47 l
Boot/Cargo Space 390 l 473 l
Kerb Weight 1069 kg 1355 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1470 kg 1860 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Towing Capacity 705 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not confirmed
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.5 m Not confirmed
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Alsvin and Elantra comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Alsvin 35 vs Elantra 36.

Efficiency index: Alsvin 56 vs Elantra 67.

Safety-equipment index: Alsvin 32 vs Elantra 87.

Practicality index: Alsvin 54 vs Elantra 64.

Ownership-cover index: Alsvin not separately scored vs Elantra 65.

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

Elantra leads by 20 points

Elantra holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Alsvin.

Evidence leader 63 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 89% source coverage
63
#1 Evidence leader

Elantra

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 67
Safety 87
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Leads by 20 points
43
#2

Alsvin

66% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 56 Check Safety 32
Performance 35
Efficiency 56
Safety 32
Practicality 54
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Elantra +1 Efficiency Elantra +11 Safety Elantra +55 Practicality Elantra +10

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Elantra

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

Alsvin

Performance 35/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 32/100
Practicality 54/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Elantra leads the specification evidence index with 63 pts vs 43 pts for Alsvin

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

Alsvin vs Elantra questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.