Leapmotor C10 REEV vs Hyundai IONIQ 5

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 IONIQ 5
Leapmotor C10 REEV in South Africa

Leapmotor C10 REEV

Design Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 158 kW 🔧 320 Nm
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance IONIQ 5
⛽ Fuel Economy C10 REEV
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality IONIQ 5
🔑 Ownership IONIQ 5
C10 REEV starts ZAR 859900 cheaper C10 REEV from ZAR 759,900 · IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec C10 REEV IONIQ 5
Engine Power 158 kW 225 kW
Torque 320 Nm 605 Nm
Engine Size 1.5 l Not confirmed
Claimed Mileage 333.3 454 km/l
Ground Clearance 180 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 400 l 527 l
Airbags 7 7
Kerb Weight 1950 kg 2190 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 years / 100,000 km 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

IONIQ 5 has a slight advantage, but C10 REEV remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +35 pts
Efficiency C10 REEV +3 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality IONIQ 5 +5 pts
Ownership IONIQ 5 +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

C10 REEV

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

C10 REEV

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

IONIQ 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

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 C10 REEV IONIQ 5
Model Introduced Year 2025 2022
Generation First-generation Leapmotor C10 range-extended electric SUV First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers
Facelift History The C10 REEV launched in South Africa in October 2025 as Leapmotor's first local model. Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status Active Not confirmed
Segment D-segment family SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec C10 REEV IONIQ 5
Ground Clearance 180 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2825 mm 3000 mm
Length 4739 mm 4635 mm
Width 1900 mm 1890 mm
Height 1680 mm 1605 mm
Kerb Weight 1950 kg 2190 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 400 l 527 l
Turning Radius 5.6 m Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 400 l 527 l
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 1375 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 5
Boot Volume 400 l 527 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 72.6 l
Ground Clearance Max 180 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 180 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 180 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1680 mm 1605 mm
Length Mm 4739 mm 4635 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 400 l 527 l
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 400 l 527 l
Tare Mass Kg 1950 kg 2190 kg
Turning Circle 5.6 m Not confirmed
Turning Circle M 5.6 m Not confirmed
Width Mm 1900 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 10 points

IONIQ 5 has a slight advantage, but C10 REEV remains highly competitive.

Winner 87 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 86% confidence
87
#1 Winner

IONIQ 5

86% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 99
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 10 points
77
#2

C10 REEV

87% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 100 Check Ownership 55
Performance 65
Efficiency 100
Safety 99
Practicality 65
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +35 Efficiency C10 REEV +3 Safety Level Practicality IONIQ 5 +5 Ownership IONIQ 5 +10

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

C10 REEV

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 100/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 87 pts vs 77 pts for C10 REEV

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, C10 REEV 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 IONIQ 5 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: C10 REEV 100 vs IONIQ 5 97. 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: C10 REEV 99, IONIQ 5 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: C10 REEV 55, IONIQ 5 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: C10 REEV 65, IONIQ 5 70. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C10 REEV 65, IONIQ 5 100. 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 C10 REEV and IONIQ 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C10 REEV scores 65 vs 100.

Efficiency: C10 REEV scores 100 vs 97.

Safety: C10 REEV scores 99 vs 99.

Practicality: C10 REEV scores 65 vs 70.

Ownership: C10 REEV scores 55 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.