Hyundai Elantra vs Rolls-Royce Ghost

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
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
VS
Rolls-Royce Ghost in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Ghost Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 850 Nm ⛽ 6.37 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Ghost
Fuel Economy Elantra
🛡 Safety Ghost
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Elantra

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Elantra Ghost
Maximum Power 85 kW @ 6300 rpm 420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque 143 Nm @ 4500 rpm 850 Nm @ 1600 rpm
Engine Size 1497 cc 6749 cc
Claimed Mileage 17.5 km/l 6.37 km/l
Ground Clearance 130 mm 118 mm
Boot / Load Bay 473 l 500 l
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1355 kg 2490 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 4 years; regional conditions apply

= 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

Ghost has a slight advantage, but Elantra remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Ghost +64 pts
Efficiency Elantra +37 pts
Safety Ghost +7 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Elantra +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Elantra

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Ghost

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Elantra

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Ghost

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • 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 Elantra Ghost
Model Introduced Year 1990 2020
Generation Seventh generation Elantra on Hyundai's K3 platform; bold parametric design language marks a clear break from the conservative sixth gen Second-generation Ghost in standard-wheelbase Series II form
Facelift History Seventh generation launched globally in 2020 and brought to SA; significant leap in styling and interior quality over the previous generation The second-generation Ghost was introduced in South Africa in 2020 and evolved into Ghost Series II in October 2024
Facelift Launched Since 2020 2024
Tare Mass Kg 1355 kg -
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed Four-door luxury saloon
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed active
Segment Not confirmed Full-size super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Internal-combustion passenger car
Spec Elantra Ghost
Drivetrain Layout FWD All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering
LSD Available No -
Paddle Shifters No No
Engine Position Front -
Gearbox IVT Intelligent Variable Transmission 8-speed automatic
Transmission Type Automatic 8-speed automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes -
Gearbox Type Automatic 8-speed automatic
Transfer Case Not confirmed ATC 13 transfer case
Differential Lock Not confirmed No lockable differential
Final Drive Ratio Not confirmed 2.81:1
Number of Gears Not confirmed 8
Clutch Type Not confirmed Torque converter
Drivetrain Not confirmed All-wheel drive
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Rolls-Royce all-wheel drive
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed No
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed No lockable differential
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed No lockable differential
Transmission Speeds Not confirmed 8
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Satellite Aided automatic gear selection

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Ghost leads by 8 points

Ghost has a slight advantage, but Elantra remains highly competitive.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 91% confidence
72
#1 Winner

Ghost

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Efficiency 30
Performance 100
Efficiency 30
Safety 99
Practicality 64
Ownership 44
Leads by 8 points
64
#2

Elantra

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 67
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Ghost +64 Efficiency Elantra +37 Safety Ghost +7 Practicality Level Ownership Elantra +21

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Ghost

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 30/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 44/100

Elantra

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Ghost wins with 72 pts vs 64 pts for Elantra

In structured scoring, Ghost emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Elantra 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 Ghost 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: Elantra 67 vs Ghost 30. 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: Elantra 92, Ghost 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: Elantra 65, Ghost 44. 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: Elantra 64, Ghost 64. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Elantra 36, Ghost 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 Ghost edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Elantra scores 36 vs 100.

Efficiency: Elantra scores 67 vs 30.

Safety: Elantra scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: Elantra scores 64 vs 64.

Ownership: Elantra scores 65 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Ghost the advantage in this comparison.