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 EconomyC10 REEV
🛡SafetyTie
📦PracticalitySanta Fe
🔑OwnershipSanta Fe
C10 REEV starts ZAR 899900 cheaperC10 REEV from ZAR 759,900 · Santa Fe from ZAR 899,900
Key Specs Side by Side
The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.
Spec
C10 REEV
Santa Fe
Engine Power
158 kW
147 kW
Torque
320 Nm
440 Nm
Engine Size
1.5 l
2199 cc
Claimed Mileage
333.3
13.8 km/l
Ground Clearance
180 mm
188 mm
Boot / Load Bay
400 l
703 l
Airbags
7
7
Kerb Weight
1950 kg
1980 kg
Seating Capacity
5
7
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
Both C10 REEV and Santa Fe are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.
Where They Actually Differ
Performance
Santa Fe
+9 pts
Efficiency
C10 REEV
+50 pts
Safety
Equal
Practicality
Santa Fe
+24 pts
Ownership
Santa Fe
+10 pts
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
🏆 Overall Winner
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
Santa Fe
Strengths
More powerful engine output
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to:Highway DrivingFamily Usage
Which One's Right for You?
C10 REEV
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Santa Fe
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
Santa Fe
Model Introduced Year
2025
2001
Generation
First-generation Leapmotor C10 range-extended electric SUV
Fifth generation Santa Fe on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; 'Sensuous Sportiness' design with distinctive parametric LED lighting signature
Facelift History
The C10 REEV launched in South Africa in October 2025 as Leapmotor's first local model.
Fifth generation launched in SA in 2022; significant styling and interior quality upgrade; distinctive boxy design language with vertical lighting
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
Santa Fe
Ground Clearance
180 mm
188 mm
Wheelbase
2825 mm
2815 mm
Length
4739 mm
4830 mm
Width
1900 mm
1900 mm
Height
1680 mm
1750 mm
Kerb Weight
1950 kg
1980 kg
Seating Capacity
5
7
Boot Space
400 l
703 l
Turning Radius
5.6 m
Not confirmed
Load Bed Length
400 l
703 l
Load Bed Width
-
Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded
1375 l
Not confirmed
Number of Doors
5
5
Boot Volume
400 l
703 l
Doors
5
5
Seats
5
7
Fuel Tank Capacity
50 l
67 l
Ground Clearance Max
180 mm
188 mm
Ground Clearance Min
180 mm
188 mm
Ground Clearance Mm
180 mm
188 mm
Height Mm
1680 mm
1750 mm
Length Mm
4739 mm
4830 mm
Loadbox Length Mm
400 l
703 l
Loadbox Width Mm
-
Not confirmed
Cargo Volume
400 l
703 l
Tare Mass Kg
1950 kg
1980 kg
Turning Circle
5.6 m
Not confirmed
Turning Circle M
5.6 m
Not confirmed
Width Mm
1900 mm
1900 mm
Spec
C10 REEV
Santa Fe
Engine
Rear permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol range extender
2.2 R-Series CRDi Diesel
Engine Type
Rear permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol range extender
Diesel
Cylinders
4
4
Power
158 kW
147 kW
Torque
320 Nm
440 Nm
Top Speed
171 km/h
205 km/h
0-100 km/h
8.5 sec
8.5 sec
Power
215 bhp
Not confirmed
Cylinder Layout
Inline
Not confirmed
Engine Type Config
Rear permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol range extender
Inline
0–100 km/h
8.5 sec
8.5 sec
Battery Capacity
28.4 kWh LFP
Not confirmed
Engine Displacement Litres
1.5 l
2199 cc
Acceleration 0 100
8.5 sec
8.5 sec
Engine Config
Rear permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol range extender
Performance
Santa Fe +9
Efficiency
C10 REEV +50
Safety
Level
Practicality
Santa Fe +24
Ownership
Santa Fe +10
Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Overall Winner
C10 REEV
Performance
65/100
Efficiency
100/100
Safety
99/100
Practicality
65/100
Ownership
55/100
Santa Fe
Performance
74/100
Efficiency
50/100
Safety
99/100
Practicality
89/100
Ownership
65/100
So, Which One Should You Buy?
🏆Leapmotor C10 REEV
wins with 77 pts
vs 77 pts for Santa Fe
In structured scoring, C10 REEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Santa Fe 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 C10 REEV 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 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: C10 REEV 99, 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: C10 REEV 55, 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: C10 REEV 65, Santa Fe 89. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.
Performance scores: C10 REEV 65, 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 C10 REEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.
The C10 REEV 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 Santa Fe in South Africa
evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.
Performance: C10 REEV scores 65 vs 74.
Efficiency: C10 REEV scores 100 vs 50.
Safety: C10 REEV scores 99 vs 99.
Practicality: C10 REEV scores 65 vs 89.
Ownership: C10 REEV scores 55 vs 65.
Final structured scoring gives C10 REEV
the advantage in this comparison.
Compare
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