Honda Fit vs Hyundai i30

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 an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai i30
Honda Fit in South Africa

Honda Fit

1.5 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 380,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 109 kW 🔧 253 Nm ⛽ 26.3 km/l
VS
Hyundai i30 in South Africa

Hyundai i30

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual Archive reference
ZAR 468,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Fit
Fuel Economy Fit
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality i30
🔑 Ownership i30
Fit starts ZAR 432900 cheaper Fit from ZAR 380,500 · i30 from ZAR 432,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fit i30
Engine Power 109 kW 88 kW
Torque 253 Nm 172 Nm
Engine Size 1498 cc 998 cc
Claimed Mileage 26.3 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 135 mm 135 mm
Boot / Load Bay 304 l 395 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1150 kg 1285 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 5

= 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

Both Fit and i30 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fit +9 pts
Efficiency Fit +30 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality i30 +11 pts
Ownership i30 +14 pts

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

i30

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

i30

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

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 Fit i30
Model Introduced Year 2022 2007
Generation Based on Honda’s global small car platform with focus on efficiency and space utilization Third generation i30 on Hyundai's i-GMP-derived platform; the N Performance uses a more heavily engineered chassis with limited-slip differential and performance suspension
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with hybrid technology and updated design Third generation launched globally in 2017; N Performance model arrived in SA as a standalone performance derivative; third gen has received ongoing tech updates
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style Hatchback Not confirmed
Color Note White, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment Hatchback Not confirmed
Vehicle Type Hatchback Not confirmed
Spec Fit i30
Ground Clearance 135 mm 135 mm
Wheelbase 2530 mm 2650 mm
Length 3995 mm 4340 mm
Width 1695 mm 1795 mm
Height 1515 mm 1455 mm
Kerb Weight 1150 kg 1285 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1550 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 304 l 395 l
Towing Capacity 800 kg Not confirmed
Front Track Width - Not confirmed
Rear Track Width - Not confirmed
Turning Radius - Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 304 l 395 l
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Front Legroom - Not confirmed
Rear Legroom - Not confirmed
Front Headroom - Not confirmed
Rear Headroom - Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 304 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - Not confirmed
Boot Volume 304 l 395 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 50 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1550 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 135 mm 135 mm
Ground Clearance Min 135 mm 135 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 135 mm 135 mm
Height Mm 1515 mm 1455 mm
Length Mm 3995 mm 4340 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 304 l 395 l
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg - Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 304 l 395 l
Tare Mass Kg 1150 kg 1285 kg
Turning Circle - Not confirmed
Turning Circle M - Not confirmed
Width Mm 1695 mm 1795 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Fit leads by 2 points

Both Fit and i30 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 66 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 95% confidence
66
#1 Winner

Fit

95% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 95 Check Performance 48
Performance 48
Efficiency 95
Safety 92
Practicality 49
Ownership 51
Leads by 2 points
64
#2

i30

88% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 65
Safety 92
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Fit +9 Efficiency Fit +30 Safety Level Practicality i30 +11 Ownership i30 +14

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Fit

Performance 48/100
Efficiency 95/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 49/100
Ownership 51/100

i30

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda Fit wins with 66 pts vs 64 pts for i30

In structured scoring, Fit emerges as the stronger overall package. However, i30 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 95 vs i30 65. 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 92, i30 92. 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 51, i30 65. 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 49, i30 60. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fit 48, i30 39. 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 i30 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fit scores 48 vs 39.

Efficiency: Fit scores 95 vs 65.

Safety: Fit scores 92 vs 92.

Practicality: Fit scores 49 vs 60.

Ownership: Fit scores 51 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Fit the advantage in this comparison.