Ford EcoSport vs KIA Pegas

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.

Ford EcoSport in South Africa

Ford EcoSport

1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic Petrol Automatic
ZAR 395,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
VS
KIA Pegas in South Africa

KIA Pegas

1.4 EX Auto Petrol Automatic
ZAR 318,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 132 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance EcoSport
Fuel Economy EcoSport
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Pegas
Pegas starts ZAR 310000 cheaper EcoSport from ZAR 310,000 · Pegas from ZAR 292,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec EcoSport Pegas
Engine Power 92 73 kW
Torque 170 132 Nm
Engine Size 998 1368
Claimed Mileage 17.2 16.9
Ground Clearance 200 148
Boot Space 352 502
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1290 1130
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 4 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

EcoSport

63
/ 100
+7
pts
#2

Pegas

56
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both EcoSport and Pegas are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EcoSport +2 pts
Efficiency EcoSport +9 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Pegas +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

EcoSport

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 9/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 16/20

Pegas

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

EcoSport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Pegas

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

EcoSport

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Pegas

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec EcoSport Pegas
Ground Clearance 200 148
Wheelbase 2519 2570
Length 4325 4400
Width 1765 1700
Height 1653 1470
Kerb Weight 1290 1130
Gross Vehicle Weight 1740 1450
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 352 502
Towing Capacity 950 N/A
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 502
Front Track Width 1550 1475
Rear Track Width 1540 1475
Turning Radius Available 10.4
Load Bed Length Available N/A
Load Bed Width Available N/A
Front Legroom Available 1030
Rear Legroom Available 860
Front Headroom Available 990
Rear Headroom Available 950
Front Shoulder Room Available 1380
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1330
Max Payload Available N/A
Boot Volume Available 502
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 810
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 40
Rear Overhang Available 1020
Spec EcoSport Pegas
Engine 1.0L EcoBoost Turbo Petrol 1.4 G4FA Inline-4 DOHC Petrol
Engine Type Inline 3 Turbocharged Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 998 1368
Cylinders 3 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 92 73 kW
Torque 170 132 Nm
Fuel System Direct Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection
Top Speed 185 172
0-100 km/h 10.5 11.5
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Naturally Aspirated
Engine Code Standard G4FA
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 11.0:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 77.0
Piston Stroke 92.0 73.4
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 Octane
Power @ RPM 150 6,000 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 4,200 rpm
Turbocharger Available No
Engine Position Available Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.5
Power 150 98
Variable Valve Timing Available CVVT
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6,500 rpm
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve
0–100 km/h Available 11.5
Battery Capacity Available N/A
Charging Port Available N/A
AC Charging Time Available N/A
Engine Displacement Available 1368
EV Range Available N/A

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford EcoSport wins with 63 pts vs 56 pts for Pegas

In structured scoring, EcoSport emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Pegas may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the EcoSport 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: EcoSport 9 vs Pegas 0. 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: EcoSport 18, Pegas 18. 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: EcoSport 16, Pegas 20. 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: EcoSport 12, Pegas 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: EcoSport 8, Pegas 6. 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 EcoSport edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The EcoSport 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 EcoSport and Pegas in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: EcoSport scores 8 vs 6.

Efficiency: EcoSport scores 9 vs 0.

Safety: EcoSport scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: EcoSport scores 12 vs 12.

Ownership: EcoSport scores 16 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives EcoSport the advantage in this comparison.