Suzuki Dzire vs Hyundai Elantra

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 a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Elantra Discontinued model
Suzuki Dzire in South Africa

Suzuki Dzire

1.2 GL+ CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 272,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 60 kW 🔧 112 Nm ⛽ 21.7 km/l
VS
Hyundai Elantra in South Africa

Hyundai Elantra

1.5 IVT Fluid Petrol Discontinued model
ZAR 492,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Suzuki Dzire vs Hyundai Elantra: the short answer

Dzire and Elantra are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context Dzire: current from ZAR 229,900 · Elantra: last listed from ZAR 448,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Dzire Elantra
Maximum Power Dzire60 kW @ 5700 rpm Elantra85 kW @ 6300 rpm
Maximum Torque Dzire112 Nm @ 4300 rpm Elantra143 Nm @ 4500 rpm
Engine Size Dzire1197 cc Elantra1497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Dzire21.7 km/l Elantra17.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Dzire145 mm Elantra130 mm

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

Evidence for Hyundai Elantra 1.5 IVT Fluid

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Dzire

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Elantra

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

Which One's Right for You?

Dzire

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Elantra

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

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 Dzire Elantra
Model Introduced Year 2020 1990
Generation Second generation Dzire on HEARTECT platform — same structural architecture as the fifth-generation Swift, updated with Z12E DualJet engine for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Seventh generation Elantra on Hyundai's K3 platform; bold parametric design language marks a clear break from the conservative sixth gen
Facelift History Second-generation Dzire (ZD41S) introduced globally in 2017; engine updated to Z12E DualJet in SA specification for 2024 launch; minor equipment and colour updates in 2026. Seventh generation launched globally in 2020 and brought to SA; significant leap in styling and interior quality over the previous generation
Facelift Launched Since 2026 2020
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style Sedan Not confirmed
Color Note Arctic White Pearl, Grandeur Grey Metallic, Midnight Black Pearl, Burning Red Pearl, Speedy Blue Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment Sedan Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 940 kg 1355 kg
Vehicle Type Sedan Not confirmed
Spec Dzire Elantra
Length 3995 mm 4680 mm
Width 1735 mm 1825 mm
Height 1525 mm 1415 mm
Wheelbase 2450 mm 2720 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 145 mm 130 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 37 l 47 l
Boot/Cargo Space 378 l 473 l
Kerb Weight 940 kg 1355 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not confirmed
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) - 1860 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

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

Performance index: Dzire 26 vs Elantra 36.

Efficiency index: Dzire 80 vs Elantra 67.

Safety-equipment index: Dzire 88 vs Elantra 87.

Practicality index: Dzire 60 vs Elantra 64.

Ownership-cover index: Dzire 71 vs Elantra 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

Dzire leads by 0 points

Dzire and Elantra are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 63 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 86% source coverage
63
#1 Evidence leader

Dzire

86% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 26
Performance 26
Efficiency 80
Safety 88
Practicality 60
Ownership 71
Leads by 0 points
63
#2

Elantra

89% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 87 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 67
Safety 87
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Elantra +10 Efficiency Dzire +13 Safety Dzire +1 Practicality Elantra +4 Ownership Dzire +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Dzire

Performance 26/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 71/100

Elantra

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 87/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Dzire leads the specification evidence index with 63 pts vs 63 pts for Elantra

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

Dzire vs Elantra questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.