Honda Amaze vs KIA Sportage

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Honda Amaze in South Africa

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 289,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 66 kW 🔧 110 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
VS
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Honda Amaze vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

Sportage holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Amaze.

Amaze starts ZAR 408,095 cheaper Amaze from ZAR 254,900 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Amaze Sportage
Maximum Power Amaze66 kW Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque Amaze110 Nm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size Amaze1199 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Amaze18.2 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Amaze170 mm Sportage181 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Honda Amaze

1.2 Comfort CVT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amaze

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Sportage

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Amaze

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Sportage

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amaze Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2018 2022
Generation Based on Honda’s compact car platform optimized for affordability, efficiency, and ease of use Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
Facelift History Introduced in South Africa as a practical entry sedan with minor updates over time in features and safety Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan SUV
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Red, Blue Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Sedan SUV
Tare Mass Kg 954 kg 1570 kg
Vehicle Type Sedan SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Spec Amaze Sportage
Length 3995 mm 4515 mm
Width 1695 mm 1865 mm
Height 1498 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2470 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 170 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 170 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 420 l 466 l
Kerb Weight 954 kg 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1380 kg 2080 kg
Payload Capacity 426 kg 500 kg
Towing Capacity 900 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 4.9 m 10.8 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 920 mm 955 mm
Front Legroom 770 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 920 mm 855 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

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

Performance index: Amaze 26 vs Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: Amaze 69 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: Amaze 50 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: Amaze 56 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: Amaze 43 vs Sportage 71.

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

Sportage leads by 21 points

Sportage holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Amaze.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 21 points
Data 99% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
Leads by 21 points
48
#2

Amaze

86% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 69 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 69
Safety 50
Practicality 56
Ownership 43
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Sportage +31 Efficiency Amaze +15 Safety Sportage +50 Practicality Sportage +7 Ownership Sportage +28

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

Amaze

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 69/100
Safety 50/100
Practicality 56/100
Ownership 43/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Sportage leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 48 pts for Amaze

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

Amaze vs Sportage questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.