Hyundai EX-8 Dropside vs Hyundai Grand i10 Cargo

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.

Hyundai EX-8 Dropside in South Africa

Hyundai EX-8 Dropside

3.9D Dropside 5MT Diesel Current
ZAR 656,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 103 kW 🔧 373 Nm ⛽ 5.2 km/l
VS
Hyundai Grand i10 Cargo in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10 Cargo

1.2 Executive Cargo 4AT Petrol Current
ZAR 299,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance EX-8 Dropside
Fuel Economy Grand i10 Cargo
🛡 Safety EX-8 Dropside
📦 Practicality EX-8 Dropside
🔑 Ownership Tie
Grand i10 Cargo starts ZAR 396,000 cheaper EX-8 Dropside from ZAR 656,500 · Grand i10 Cargo from ZAR 260,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec EX-8 Dropside Grand i10 Cargo
Maximum Power 103 kW @ 2800 rpm 61 kW
Maximum Torque 373 Nm 114 Nm
Engine Size 3907 cc 1197 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 5.2 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 165 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 1210 l
Airbags Airbags not listed in official Hyundai EX8 brochure 2 front airbags
Kerb Weight 2650 kg -
Seating Capacity 3 seats 2 seats
Warranty 5 5 years / 150 000 km plus 2 years / 50 000 km powertrain

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

EX-8 Dropside has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Grand i10 Cargo remains close.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EX-8 Dropside +28 pts
Efficiency Grand i10 Cargo +35 pts
Safety EX-8 Dropside +54 pts
Practicality EX-8 Dropside +3 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

EX-8 Dropside

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

Grand i10 Cargo

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

EX-8 Dropside

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Grand i10 Cargo

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec EX-8 Dropside Grand i10 Cargo
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African EX-8 Dropside listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African Grand i10 Cargo listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Dropside truck Panel van
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Mid grade in the South Africa lineup Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Van Van
Tare Mass Kg 2650 kg 900-950 kg
Vehicle Type Van Van
Spec EX-8 Dropside Grand i10 Cargo
Length 6620 mm 3815 mm
Width 2100 mm 1680 mm
Height 2355 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 3850 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 165 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 100 l 37 l
Kerb Weight 2650 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 7800 kg -
Payload Capacity 5150 kg -
Seating Capacity 3 seats 2 seats
Doors 2 doors 5 doors
Boot/Cargo Space - 1210 l

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

EX-8 Dropside leads by 13 points

EX-8 Dropside has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Grand i10 Cargo remains close.

Index leader 64 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 74% source coverage
64
#1 Index leader

EX-8 Dropside

74% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 31
Performance 58
Efficiency 31
Safety 94
Practicality 67
Ownership 65
Leads by 13 points
51
#2

Grand i10 Cargo

76% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 66 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 66
Safety 40
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance EX-8 Dropside +28 Efficiency Grand i10 Cargo +35 Safety EX-8 Dropside +54 Practicality EX-8 Dropside +3 Ownership Level

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

EX-8 Dropside

Performance 58/100
Efficiency 31/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 65/100

Grand i10 Cargo

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 40/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Hyundai EX-8 Dropside leads the catalogue index with 64 pts vs 51 pts for Grand i10 Cargo

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, EX-8 Dropside leads. However, Grand i10 Cargo may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This EX-8 Dropside and Grand i10 Cargo 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: EX-8 Dropside 58 vs Grand i10 Cargo 30.

Efficiency index: EX-8 Dropside 31 vs Grand i10 Cargo 66.

Safety-equipment index: EX-8 Dropside 94 vs Grand i10 Cargo 40.

Practicality index: EX-8 Dropside 67 vs Grand i10 Cargo 64.

Ownership-cover index: EX-8 Dropside 65 vs Grand i10 Cargo 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.