Honda Fit vs Hyundai i20

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.

Honda Fit in South Africa

Honda Fit

1.5 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 380,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 109 kW 🔧 253 Nm ⛽ 26 km/l
VS
Hyundai i20 in South Africa

Hyundai i20

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 328,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 74 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 18.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Fit
Fuel Economy Fit
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality i20
🔑 Ownership i20
i20 starts ZAR 380500 cheaper Fit from ZAR 380,500 · i20 from ZAR 296,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fit i20
Engine Power 109 74
Torque 253 172
Engine Size 1498 998
Claimed Mileage 26 18.2
Ground Clearance 135 195
Boot Space 304 352
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1150 1135
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Fit

69
/ 100
+12
pts
#2

i20

57
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Fit has a slight advantage, but i20 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fit +3 pts
Efficiency Fit +20 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality i20 +3 pts
Ownership i20 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Fit

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 12/20

i20

Performance 7/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Fit

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

i20

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Fit

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

i20

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fit i20
Ground Clearance 135 195
Wheelbase 2530 2580
Length 3995 4040
Width 1695 1775
Height 1515 1505
Kerb Weight 1150 1135
Gross Vehicle Weight 1550 1610
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 304 352
Towing Capacity 800 600 kg (Unbraked)
Number of Doors 5 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 1165
Front Track Width 1550 1551
Rear Track Width 1540 1565
Turning Radius Available 5.2
Load Bed Length Available Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Available Not Applicable
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Doors Available 5
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec Fit i20
Engine 1.5L Hybrid Petrol 1.0 T-GDI Turbo
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Atkinson Cycle with Electric Motor Petrol
Displacement 1498 998
Cylinders 4 3
Valves per Cylinder 4 12
Power 109 74
Torque 253 172
Fuel System Direct Injection + Electric Motor Assist Direct Injection
Top Speed 175 185
0-100 km/h 10.5 11.0
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard G3LE
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 10.0
Cylinder Bore 82.0 Available
Piston Stroke 92.0 Available
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Petrol
Power @ RPM 150 5500
Torque @ RPM 400 1500
Turbocharger Available Yes
Engine Position Available Front
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.6
Power 150 150
Variable Valve Timing Available Yes
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6500
Engine Type Config Available Inline
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Fit wins with 69 pts vs 57 pts for i20

In structured scoring, Fit emerges as the stronger overall package. However, i20 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 Fit 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: Fit 20 vs i20 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: Fit 18, i20 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: Fit 12, i20 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: Fit 9, i20 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fit 10, i20 7. 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 Fit edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Fit 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 Fit and i20 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fit scores 10 vs 7.

Efficiency: Fit scores 20 vs 0.

Safety: Fit scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Fit scores 9 vs 12.

Ownership: Fit scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Fit the advantage in this comparison.