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.
⚡ 88 kW🔧 172 Nm⛽ 15.5 km/l
+Add a 3rd car
At a Glance — Who Wins What
⚡PerformanceDashing
⛽Fuel EconomyKona
🛡SafetyKona
📦PracticalityDashing
🔑OwnershipDashing
Dashing starts ZAR 459900 cheaperDashing from ZAR 439,900 · Kona from ZAR 459,900
Key Specs Side by Side
The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Engine Power
115 kW
88 kW
Torque
230 Nm
172 Nm
Engine Size
1498 cc
998 cc
Claimed Mileage
12.8 km/l
15.5 km/l
Ground Clearance
160 mm
165 mm
Boot / Load Bay
977 l
466 l
Airbags
Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
6
Kerb Weight
1530-1580 kg
1460 kg
Seating Capacity
5
5
Warranty
10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty
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 Dashing and Kona are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.
Where They Actually Differ
Performance
Dashing
+9 pts
Efficiency
Kona
+10 pts
Safety
Kona
+26 pts
Practicality
Dashing
+10 pts
Ownership
Dashing
+4 pts
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
Dashing
Strengths
More powerful engine output
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
Lower fuel efficiency
Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to:Highway DrivingFamily Usage
🏆 Overall Winner
Kona
Strengths
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to:Fuel Efficiency
Which One's Right for You?
Dashing
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
Kona
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
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
Dashing
Kona
Model Introduced Year
-
2018
Generation
Current local listing
Second generation Kona on Hyundai's K2 GEN platform; the design is more conservative than the first gen but better resolved
Facelift History
Not listed by current South African source page.
Second generation launched globally in 2023 and brought to SA; softened styling compared to the sharper first gen, improved interior quality and tech
Facelift Launched Since
Original current-generation version
2023
Facelift Version Ending
Current
Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style
SUV
Not confirmed
Model Year
Current
Not confirmed
Production Status
Active
Not confirmed
Segment
SUV
Not confirmed
Vehicle Type
SUV
Not confirmed
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Ground Clearance
160 mm
165 mm
Wheelbase
2720 mm
2660 mm
Length
4590 mm
4355 mm
Width
1900 mm
1825 mm
Height
1685 mm
1570 mm
Kerb Weight
1530-1580 kg
1460 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight
1888 kg
Not confirmed
Seating Capacity
5
5
Boot Space
977 l
466 l
Towing Capacity
-
Not confirmed
Front Track Width
-
Not confirmed
Rear Track Width
-
Not confirmed
Turning Radius
-
Not confirmed
Load Bed Length
977 l
466 l
Load Bed Width
-
Not confirmed
Front Legroom
-
Not confirmed
Rear Legroom
-
Not confirmed
Front Headroom
-
Not confirmed
Rear Headroom
-
Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room
-
Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room
-
Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded
977 l
Not confirmed
Number of Doors
-
5
Max Payload
-
Not confirmed
Boot Volume
977 l
466 l
Doors
-
5
Seats
5
5
Fuel Tank Capacity
57 l
50 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg
1888 kg
Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max
160 mm
165 mm
Ground Clearance Min
160 mm
165 mm
Ground Clearance Mm
160 mm
165 mm
Height Mm
1685 mm
1570 mm
Length Mm
4590 mm
4355 mm
Loadbox Length Mm
977 l
466 l
Loadbox Width Mm
-
Not confirmed
Payload Kg
-
Not confirmed
Cargo Volume
977 l
466 l
Tare Mass Kg
1530-1580 kg
1460 kg
Turning Circle
-
Not confirmed
Turning Circle M
-
Not confirmed
Width Mm
1900 mm
1825 mm
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Engine
SQRE4T15C
1.0 T-GDI Turbo
Engine Type
1.5-litre turbo petrol
Petrol
Displacement
1498 cc
998 cc
Cylinders
-
3
Valves per Cylinder
-
Not confirmed
Power
115 kW
88 kW
Power @ RPM
5500
5500
Torque
230 Nm
172 Nm
Torque @ RPM
1750-4000
1500
Fuel System
-
Direct Injection
Turbocharger
-
Yes
Top Speed
180 km/h
185 km/h
0-100 km/h
-
10.5 sec
Compression Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Cylinder Bore
-
Not confirmed
Piston Stroke
-
Not confirmed
Engine Code
SQRE4T15C
Not confirmed
Power
154 bhp
Not confirmed
Fuel Grade Required
Petrol
Petrol
Cylinder Layout
-
Not confirmed
Engine Aspiration
-
Not confirmed
Engine Type Config
-
Inline
0–100 km/h
-
10.5 sec
Engine Displacement
1498 cc
998 cc
Engine Displacement Litres
1498 cc
998 cc
Acceleration 0 100
-
10.5 sec
Engine Config
-
Not confirmed
Engine Cylinders
-
3
Engine Displacement Cc
1498 cc
998 cc
Engine Power kW
115 kW
88 kW
Engine Torque Nm
230 Nm
172 Nm
Engine Valves
-
Not confirmed
Induction
-
Not confirmed
Max Power kW
115 kW
88 kW
Max Torque Nm
230 Nm
172 Nm
Maximum Power
115 kW
88 kW
Maximum Torque
230 Nm
172 Nm
Power kW Rpm
5500
5500
Torque Nm Rpm
1750-4000
1500
Turbo Type
-
Not confirmed
Engine Position
-
Front
Variable Valve Timing
-
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
Drive Type
-
Front-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain Layout
-
FWD
LSD Available
-
No
Transfer Case
-
Not confirmed
Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Paddle Shifters
-
Yes
Final Drive Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Number of Gears
6 km/h
Not confirmed
Transmission Type
Automatic
Automatic
Clutch Type
-
Not confirmed
Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission
Automatic
Automatic
4WD Engagement
-
Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range
-
Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range
-
Not confirmed
4WD Selector
-
Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles
-
Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Gearbox Type
Automatic
Automatic
Low Range
-
Not confirmed
Axle Layout
-
Front-Wheel Drive
Rear Differential Lock
-
Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds
6 km/h
Not confirmed
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Claimed Mileage
12.8 km/l
15.5 km/l
City Mileage
10.5 km/l
12.5 km/l
Highway Mileage
14.7 km/l
19.0 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
57 l
50 l
Emission Standard
Euro VI
Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity
-
Not confirmed
Auto Start Stop
-
Not confirmed
Average Fuel Consumption
7.8 l/100km
Yes
Claimed Fuel Consumption
7.8 l/100km
Yes
Fuel Efficiency
7.8 l/100km
Yes
Real-world Mileage
12.8 km/l
15.5 km/l
AC Charging Power
-
Not confirmed
Charging Port Type
-
Not confirmed
Charging Time AC Full
-
Not confirmed
Charging Time DC Fast 80pct
-
Not confirmed
Charging Type
-
Not confirmed
Combined Consumption
7.8 l/100km
Yes
Combined Consumption L 100km
7.8 l/100km
Yes
DC Charging Power
-
Not confirmed
Fuel Economy Combined
7.8 l/100km
Yes
Fuel Tank Litres
57 l
50 l
Fuel Type
Petrol
Not confirmed
Low Range Ratio
-
Not confirmed
Combined Driving Range
-
Not confirmed
Electric Consumption
-
Not confirmed
Range Real World Highway
-
Not confirmed
Range Real World Mixed
-
Not confirmed
Range Wltp
-
Not confirmed
Distance To Empty
-
Yes
Low Fuel Warning
-
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Airbags
Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
6
ABS
Yes
Yes
Electronic Stability Control
-
Yes
Traction Control
Yes
Yes
Hill Descent Control
-
No
Hill Start Assist
Yes
Yes
Child Safety Lock
-
Yes
ISOFIX Mounts
Yes
Yes
Brake Assist
-
Yes
Tyre Pressure Monitor
Yes
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
-
Yes
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
-
Yes
Front Parking Sensors
-
Not confirmed
AEB
-
No
BA
-
Yes
Brake Override System
-
Not confirmed
Curtain Airbags
Yes
Not confirmed
Driver Airbag
Yes
Yes
EBD
Yes
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
-
Yes
Hill Hold
Yes
Yes
Passenger Airbag
Yes
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Yes
Yes
Seatbelt Pretensioners
-
Yes
Side Airbags
Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
Not confirmed
TCS
Yes
Yes
Knee Airbag
-
Not confirmed
ABS EBD
Yes
Yes
Driver Passenger Airbags
Yes
Not confirmed
Front Seat Side Airbags
Yes
Not confirmed
Central Locking
-
Yes
Speed Alert System
-
Yes
Safety Rating
-
Not Rated (SA)
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Cruise Control
-
Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Yes
Lane Keep Assist
-
Yes
Lane Departure Warning
-
Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring
Yes
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Yes
Yes
Parking Sensors
Rear
Front & Rear
Rear View Camera
Yes
Yes
360 Degree Camera
Yes
Yes
Autonomous Emergency Braking
-
No
Driver Fatigue Alert
-
Not confirmed
Traffic Sign Recognition
-
No
Auto Highbeam
-
Not confirmed
Auto Wipers
Yes
No
Drive Modes
-
Eco / Normal
Rear Parking Sensors
Rear
Not confirmed
Reverse Camera
Yes
Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control
-
Yes
Park Assist
-
Not confirmed
Around View Monitor
Yes
Yes
Blind Spot Warning
Yes
Yes
Forward Collision Warning
-
Not confirmed
Auto Lights
-
Yes
Eco Mode
-
Yes
EV Mode
-
No
Sport Mode
-
No
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Seat Material
Black synthetic leather seats with red stitching
Leather
Seat Adjustment
Driver electric 6-way; passenger manual 4-way
Power Driver
Heated Seats
-
Front
Ventilated Seats
-
Front
Ambient Lighting
8 colours
Yes
Steering Wheel Material
-
Leather
60 40 Split Seat
-
Yes
Driver Seat Adjustment
Driver electric 6-way; passenger manual 4-way
Not confirmed
Passenger Seat Adjustment
Driver electric 6-way; passenger manual 4-way
Not confirmed
Seat Trim
Black synthetic leather seats with red stitching
Not confirmed
Steering Type
-
Electric
Steering Adjustment
-
Tilt & Telescopic
Folding Rear Seats
-
60/40 Split
Front Armrest
-
Yes
Rear Armrest
-
No
Cup Holders
-
4
Instrument Cluster Type
-
Analogue + MID
Door Map Pockets
-
Yes
Adjustable Driver Seat
-
Manual
Adjustable Front Seat
-
Manual
Cooled Seats
-
No
Fabric Seats
-
Yes
Front Headrest
-
Yes
Leather Seats
-
No
Memory Seats
-
No
Rear Headrest
-
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Climate Control
-
Dual Zone Auto Climate
Power Windows
-
All
Keyless Entry
-
Yes
Push Button Start
-
Yes
Wireless Charging
40W
Yes
Sunroof
Yes
Electric Panoramic Sunroof
Electric Tailgate
Yes
Yes
Automatic Headlamps
Yes
Not confirmed
Rain Sensing Wipers
Yes
No
Follow Me Home Headlamps
Yes
Yes
AC Type
-
Dual Zone Auto Climate
Fuel Consumption Combined
7.8
Not confirmed
Gear Shift Type
-
Not confirmed
Seatbelt Reminder
-
Not confirmed
Service Plan
5-year/60,000 km service plan
4
Spare Wheel
Non full-size
Steel
Stability Control
-
Yes
Valves Per Cylinder
-
Not confirmed
Auto Dimming Mirror
-
No
Rear Window Defroster
-
Yes
12V Accessory Socket
-
12V
Boot Opener
-
Inside
Door Ajar Warning
-
Yes
Electric Folding Mirrors
-
Yes
Engine Check Warning
-
Yes
Engine Start Stop
-
Yes
Engine Start Stop Button
-
Yes
Front Armrest
-
Yes
Front Power Outlet
-
Yes
Fuel Lid Opener
-
Inside
Headlamp Height Adjust
-
Manual
Headlamp Washer
-
No
Power Mirrors
-
Yes
Push Button Start
-
Yes
Rear Reading Lamps
-
Yes
Service Reminder
-
Yes
Tachometer
-
Yes
Telescopic Steering
-
No
Tilt Steering
-
Yes
Trip Computer
-
Yes
Vanity Mirror
-
Yes
Air Conditioning
-
Dual Zone Auto Climate
Rim Size
19
18-inch Alloy
Sound System
6
8 Bose Premium
Unlocking
-
Yes
Wireless Charger
40W
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Infotainment Screen
Dual 10.25-inch instrument cluster and infotainment system
10.25-inch Touchscreen
Apple CarPlay
Yes
Yes
Android Auto
Yes
Yes
Bluetooth Connectivity
Yes
Yes
Number of Speakers
6
8 Bose Premium
Digital Instrument Cluster
-
10.25-inch Digital Cluster
USB Ports
Front Type-A x2; rear USB ports listed
2 USB-A + 1 USB-C
Infotainment Screen
10.25-inch
Not confirmed
Touchscreen
10.25-inch
Not confirmed
Navigation System
-
Yes
Wireless Apple CarPlay
Yes
Yes
FM Radio
-
Yes
Steering Wheel Audio Controls
-
Yes
Voice Recognition
-
Yes
AUX Input
-
Yes
Audio Controls On Steering
-
Yes
Infotainment Display
-
Touchscreen
Rear Usb
-
Yes
Audio Speakers
6
8 Bose Premium
Wireless Android Auto
Yes
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
LED Headlamps
Yes
Full LED
Daytime Running Lamps
Yes
LED
Fog Lamps
-
LED
Roof Rails
-
Yes
Exterior Colour Options
See OEM source page for colour availability.
Not confirmed
Headlamps
Yes
Full LED
Headlight Type
Yes
Full LED
Headlights
Yes
Full LED
Panoramic Sunroof
Yes
Not confirmed
Alloy Wheel Design
-
18-inch Alloy
Rear Spoiler
-
Yes
Wing Mirror Type
-
Power Adjustable
Rear Wiper
-
Yes
Door Handle Finish
-
Body Coloured
Body Type
-
SUV
DRL
Yes
LED
Fog Lights
-
Yes
Front Fog Lights
-
Yes
Led Headlights
Yes
Full LED
Daytime Running Lights
Yes
LED
Exterior Mirror Electric
-
Yes
Front Fog Lamps
-
LED
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Approach Angle
-
Not confirmed
Departure Angle
-
Not confirmed
Wading Depth
-
Not confirmed
Terrain Modes
-
Not confirmed
Locking Differential
-
No
4WD System Type
-
Front-Wheel Drive
Breakover Angle
-
Not confirmed
Ramp Breakover Angle
-
20 deg
Hill Descent Control
-
No
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Tyre Size
235/55R19
235/45 R18
Front Brake Type
Ventilated disc brake
Disc
Rear Brake Type
Solid disc brake
Disc
Spare Wheel Type
Non full-size
Steel
Wheel Rim Size
19
18-inch Alloy
Brake Type Front
Ventilated disc brake
Disc (Ventilated)
Brake Type Rear
Solid disc brake
Disc
Spare Tyre
Non full-size
Steel
Handbrake Type
-
Not confirmed
Wheel Type
-
18-inch Alloy
Parking Brake Type
-
Manual
Tyre Load Index
-
91
Tyre Speed Rating
-
H
Tyre Type
-
Tubeless Radial
Wheel Diameter
19
18-inch Alloy
Wheelbase Mm
2720 mm
2660 mm
Wheels
-
18-inch Alloy
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Front Suspension
MacPherson strut suspension
MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension
Multiple link independent suspension
Multi-Link
Front Suspension Type
MacPherson strut suspension
MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension Type
Multiple link independent suspension
Multi-Link
Chassis Type
-
Monocoque
Power Steering
-
Electric
Steering Column
-
Tilt
Spec
Dashing
Kona
CO2 Emissions
185 g/km
120 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement
Petrol
Unleaded 95
Start Stop System
-
No
Fuel Evaporation Control
-
Yes
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Gear Shift Indicator
-
Yes
Service Interval
-
15000 km / 12 months
Maintenance Plan
-
3 Years / 45000 km
First Service At
-
15000
Service Plan Duration
5-year/60,000 km service plan
4
Service Plan Distance
5-year/60,000 km service plan
4
Alternator
-
120A
Battery Type
-
Lead-acid
Service Intervals
-
15000 km / 12 months
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Ownership Role
South Africa market model
Not confirmed
Price Source
https://jetour.co.za/models-dashing/
Not confirmed
Price Zar
469900 ZAR
Not confirmed
Pricing Role
top
Not confirmed
Starting Price
439900
Not confirmed
Starting Price Zar
439900
Not confirmed
Spec
Dashing
Kona
Warranty
10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty
5
Warranty Years
10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty
5
Warranty Kilometers
10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty
5
Roadside Assistance
-
5 Years
Anti-Corrosion Warranty
-
5 Years
Basic Warranty
10-year/1,000,000 km engine warranty
5
Roadside Assistance
-
5 Years
Overall Verdict Score
Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.
Weighted / 100
Verdict readout
Kona leads by 3 points
Both Dashing and Kona are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.
Performance
Dashing +9
Efficiency
Kona +10
Safety
Kona +26
Practicality
Dashing +10
Ownership
Dashing +4
Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.
Why this scoreView full breakdown
Overall Winner
Kona
Performance
40/100
Efficiency
60/100
Safety
92/100
Practicality
67/100
Ownership
65/100
Dashing
Performance
49/100
Efficiency
50/100
Safety
66/100
Practicality
77/100
Ownership
69/100
So, Which One Should You Buy?
🏆Hyundai Kona
wins with 65 pts
vs 62 pts for Dashing
In structured scoring, Kona emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Dashing 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 Kona 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: Dashing 50 vs Kona 60. 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: Dashing 66, Kona 92. 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: Dashing 69, Kona 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: Dashing 77, Kona 67. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.
Performance scores: Dashing 49, Kona 40. 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 Kona edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.
The Kona 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 Dashing and Kona in South Africa
evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.
Performance: Dashing scores 49 vs 40.
Efficiency: Dashing scores 50 vs 60.
Safety: Dashing scores 66 vs 92.
Practicality: Dashing scores 77 vs 67.
Ownership: Dashing scores 69 vs 65.
Final structured scoring gives Kona
the advantage in this comparison.
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