Toyota Fortuner vs Hyundai IONIQ 5

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 IONIQ 5
Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance IONIQ 5
⛽ Fuel Economy IONIQ 5
🛡 Safety IONIQ 5
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership IONIQ 5
Fortuner starts ZAR 859900 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 685,900 · IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fortuner IONIQ 5
Engine Power 150 kW 225 kW
Torque 500 Nm 605 Nm
Engine Size 2755 cc Not confirmed
Claimed Mileage 13.2 km/l 454 km/l
Ground Clearance 279 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 l
Airbags Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags 7
Kerb Weight GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 2190 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 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

IONIQ 5 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +20 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 5 +41 pts
Safety IONIQ 5 +71 pts
Practicality Fortuner +19 pts
Ownership IONIQ 5 +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Fortuner

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

IONIQ 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • 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 Fortuner IONIQ 5
Model Introduced Year 2006 2022
Generation Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers
Facelift History Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch
Facelift Launched Since 2021 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Not confirmed
Model Year Current Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Fortuner IONIQ 5
Ground Clearance 279 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 3000 mm
Length 4795 mm 4635 mm
Width 1855 mm 1890 mm
Height 1835 mm 1605 mm
Kerb Weight GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 2190 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2735 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 l
Towing Capacity 2800 kg Not confirmed
Front Track Width - Not confirmed
Rear Track Width - Not confirmed
Turning Radius - Not confirmed
Load Bed Length Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 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 - Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - Not confirmed
Boot Volume Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 72.6 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2735 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 279 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 279 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 279 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1835 mm 1605 mm
Length Mm 4795 mm 4635 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 l
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg - Not confirmed
Cargo Volume Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 527 l
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 2190 kg
Turning Circle - Not confirmed
Turning Circle M - Not confirmed
Width Mm 1855 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 25 points

IONIQ 5 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 87 /100
Lead 25 points
Data 86% confidence
87
#1 Winner

IONIQ 5

86% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 99
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 25 points
62
#2

Fortuner

74% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 89 Check Safety 28
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 28
Practicality 89
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +20 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +41 Safety IONIQ 5 +71 Practicality Fortuner +19 Ownership IONIQ 5 +14

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 87 pts vs 62 pts for Fortuner

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Fortuner may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the IONIQ 5 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: Fortuner 56 vs IONIQ 5 97. 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: Fortuner 28, IONIQ 5 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: Fortuner 51, IONIQ 5 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: Fortuner 89, IONIQ 5 70. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fortuner 80, IONIQ 5 100. 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 Fortuner and IONIQ 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Fortuner scores 80 vs 100.

Efficiency: Fortuner scores 56 vs 97.

Safety: Fortuner scores 28 vs 99.

Practicality: Fortuner scores 89 vs 70.

Ownership: Fortuner scores 51 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.