Hyundai EX-8 Dropside vs KIA K2700

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
KIA K2700 in South Africa

KIA K2700

2.7D Workhorse Tipper Diesel 5-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 404,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 56 kW 🔧 152 Nm ⛽ 10.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance EX-8 Dropside
Fuel Economy K2700
🛡 Safety EX-8 Dropside
📦 Practicality K2700
🔑 Ownership EX-8 Dropside
K2700 starts ZAR 304,505 cheaper EX-8 Dropside from ZAR 656,500 · K2700 from ZAR 351,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec EX-8 Dropside K2700
Maximum Power 103 kW @ 2800 rpm 56 kW @ 3200 rpm
Maximum Torque 373 Nm 152 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size 3907 cc 2665 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 5.2 km/l 10.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 195 mm
Boot / Load Bay - 3000 l
Airbags Airbags not listed in official Hyundai EX8 brochure 0
Kerb Weight 2650 kg 1880 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 2 seats
Warranty 5 5 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

EX-8 Dropside has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over K2700.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance EX-8 Dropside +26 pts
Efficiency K2700 +12 pts
Safety EX-8 Dropside +94 pts
Practicality K2700 +1 pts
Ownership EX-8 Dropside +16 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index leader

EX-8 Dropside

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

K2700

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

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 warranty or service cover

K2700

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec EX-8 Dropside K2700
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 1997
Generation Current South African EX-8 Dropside listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Long-running light commercial vehicle; established in SA commercial fleet market
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. Updated in 2005, 2012; current model ongoing production with specification updates
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2012
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Dropside truck Van
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. White (standard fleet specification)
Dealer Stock Note Mid grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Van Van
Tare Mass Kg 2650 kg 1880 kg
Vehicle Type Van Van
Spec EX-8 Dropside K2700
Length 6620 mm 4870 mm
Width 2100 mm 1840 mm
Height 2355 mm 2060 mm
Wheelbase 3850 mm 2685 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 195 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 100 l 70 l
Kerb Weight 2650 kg 1880 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 7800 kg 2850 kg
Payload Capacity 5150 kg 1300 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 2 seats
Doors 2 doors 2 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 145 mm
Boot/Cargo Space - 3000 l
Towing Capacity - 1180 kg
Number of Rows - 1 rows
Minimum Turning Radius - 11.4 m
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - Not Applicable
Front Legroom - 1040 mm
Rear Legroom - Not Applicable

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 27 points

EX-8 Dropside has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over K2700.

Index leader 64 /100
Lead 27 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 27 points
37
#2

K2700

84% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 68 Check Safety 0
Performance 32
Efficiency 43
Safety 0
Practicality 68
Ownership 49
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance EX-8 Dropside +26 Efficiency K2700 +12 Safety EX-8 Dropside +94 Practicality K2700 +1 Ownership EX-8 Dropside +16

Large 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

K2700

Performance 32/100
Efficiency 43/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 49/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Hyundai EX-8 Dropside leads the catalogue index with 64 pts vs 37 pts for K2700

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, EX-8 Dropside leads. However, K2700 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 K2700 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 K2700 32.

Efficiency index: EX-8 Dropside 31 vs K2700 43.

Safety-equipment index: EX-8 Dropside 94 vs K2700 0.

Practicality index: EX-8 Dropside 67 vs K2700 68.

Ownership-cover index: EX-8 Dropside 65 vs K2700 49.

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.