Toyota Fortuner vs KIA Sportage

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.

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
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Fortuner
⛽ Fuel Economy Fortuner
🛡 Safety Sportage
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership Sportage
Sportage starts ZAR 685900 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 685,900 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fortuner Sportage
Engine Power 150 kW 132 kW
Torque 500 Nm 265 Nm
Engine Size 2755 cc 1591 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.2 km/l 13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 279 mm 181 mm
Boot / Load Bay Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Airbags Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags 7
Kerb Weight GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 1570 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 km 7 Years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Sportage has a slight advantage, but Fortuner remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fortuner +23 pts
Efficiency Fortuner +2 pts
Safety Sportage +72 pts
Practicality Fortuner +24 pts
Ownership Sportage +20 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Fortuner

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Sportage

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Sportage

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Fortuner Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2006 2022
Generation Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
Facelift History Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2021 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Model Year Current 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Fortuner Sportage
Ground Clearance 279 mm 181 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 2680 mm
Length 4795 mm 4515 mm
Width 1855 mm 1865 mm
Height 1835 mm 1660 mm
Kerb Weight GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2735 kg 2080 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Towing Capacity 2800 kg 1500 kg
Front Track Width - 1601 mm
Rear Track Width - 1608 mm
Turning Radius - 10.8 m
Load Bed Length Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1040 mm
Rear Legroom - 855 mm
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - 955 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1405 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1350 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded - 1455 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 54 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2735 kg 2080 kg
Ground Clearance Max 279 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance Min 279 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 279 mm 181 mm
Height Mm 1835 mm 1660 mm
Length Mm 4795 mm 4515 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume Three-row cargo area; Toyota SA does not publish litre volume 466 l
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish kerb mass 1570 kg
Turning Circle - 10.8 m
Turning Circle M - 10.8 m
Width Mm 1855 mm 1865 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded - 1455 l
Rear Overhang - 760 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Sportage leads by 8 points

Sportage has a slight advantage, but Fortuner remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 97% confidence
70
#1 Winner

Sportage

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 65
Ownership 71
Leads by 8 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 Fortuner +23 Efficiency Fortuner +2 Safety Sportage +72 Practicality Fortuner +24 Ownership Sportage +20

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 71/100

Fortuner

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Sportage wins with 70 pts vs 62 pts for Fortuner

In structured scoring, Sportage 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 Sportage 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 Sportage 54. 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, Sportage 100. 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, Sportage 71. 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, Sportage 65. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fortuner 80, Sportage 57. 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 Sportage edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Fortuner scores 80 vs 57.

Efficiency: Fortuner scores 56 vs 54.

Safety: Fortuner scores 28 vs 100.

Practicality: Fortuner scores 89 vs 65.

Ownership: Fortuner scores 51 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Sportage the advantage in this comparison.