BAIC B30 vs Hyundai i20

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.

BAIC B30 in South Africa

BAIC B30

B30 Elite Adventure Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 519,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 305 Nm ⛽ 12.41 km/l
VS
Hyundai i20 in South Africa

Hyundai i20

1.0T Fluid Petrol 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 328,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 74 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BAIC B30 vs Hyundai i20: the short answer

B30 and i20 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

i20 starts ZAR 223,000 cheaper B30 from ZAR 519,900 · i20 from ZAR 296,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification B30 i20
Maximum Power B30138 kW i2074 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque B30305 Nm i20172 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size B301498 cc i20998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy B3012.41 km/l i2014.5 km/l
Ground Clearance B30215 mm i20195 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.

BAIC B30

B30 Elite Adventure

Hagalu editorial rating
4.1/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Hyundai i20

1.0T Fluid

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)

Specification evidence leader

B30

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance

i20

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

B30

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

i20

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec B30 i20
Model Introduced Year 2025 2008
Generation Current first-generation BAIC B30 for South Africa, introduced locally for the 2025 model year with petrol and self-charging HEV derivatives. Third generation i20 on the K2 platform; sold in SA with 1.0T three-cylinder turbo across all variants
Facelift History The B30 was unveiled locally in August 2025 and launched in November 2025 as the first South African version; no later local facelift has been announced. Third generation launched globally in 2020 and arrived in SA shortly after; significant improvement over the second gen in styling, tech, and driving dynamics
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2020
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Five-door mid-size SUV Hatchback
Model Year 2025 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Mid-size SUV Hatchback
Vehicle Type SUV Hatchback
Color Note - White, Black, Silver, Blue, Red, Yellow
Dealer Stock Note - Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1135 kg
Spec B30 i20
Length 4730 mm 4040 mm
Width 1910 mm 1775 mm
Height 1790 mm 1505 mm
Wheelbase 2820 mm 2580 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 215 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel Tank Capacity 60 l 40 l
Boot/Cargo Space Not Officially Disclosed 352 l
Kerb Weight 1575 kg 1135 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2034 kg 1610 kg
Payload Capacity 459 kg 475 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.2 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This B30 and i20 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: B30 59 vs i20 37.

Efficiency index: B30 51 vs i20 59.

Safety-equipment index: B30 92 vs i20 84.

Practicality index: B30 61 vs i20 61.

Ownership-cover index: B30 not separately scored vs i20 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

B30 leads by 5 points

B30 and i20 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 66 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 70% source coverage
66
#1 Evidence leader

B30

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 59
Efficiency 51
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Leads by 5 points
61
#2

i20

93% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 37
Performance 37
Efficiency 59
Safety 84
Practicality 61
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance B30 +22 Efficiency i20 +8 Safety B30 +8 Practicality Level

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

B30

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

i20

Performance 37/100
Efficiency 59/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BAIC B30 leads the specification evidence index with 66 pts vs 61 pts for i20

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, B30 leads. However, i20 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

B30 vs i20 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.