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 Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Fortuner vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

Fortuner and Sportage are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Sportage starts ZAR 22,905 cheaper Fortuner from ZAR 685,900 · Sportage from ZAR 662,995

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Fortuner Sportage
Maximum Power Fortuner150 kW Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque Fortuner500 Nm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size Fortuner2755 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Fortuner13.2 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Fortuner279 mm Sportage181 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Fortuner

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

Sportage

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

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

Sportage

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

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 active
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass 1570 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Fortuner Sportage
Length 4795 mm 4515 mm
Width 1855 mm 1865 mm
Height 1835 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 279 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 54 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2735 kg 2080 kg
Towing Capacity 2800 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius - 10.8 m
Kerb Weight - 1570 kg
Front Headroom - 1010 mm
Rear Headroom - 955 mm
Front Legroom - 1040 mm
Rear Legroom - 855 mm
Boot/Cargo Space - 466 l
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 181 mm
Payload Capacity - 500 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows

In depth: how these cars differ

This Fortuner and Sportage 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: Fortuner 80 vs Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: Fortuner 56 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: Fortuner 89 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: Fortuner 89 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: Fortuner 43 vs Sportage 71.

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Fortuner leads by 5 points

Fortuner and Sportage are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 74 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 59% source coverage
74
#1 Evidence leader

Fortuner

59% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Ownership 43
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 89
Practicality 89
Ownership 43
Leads by 5 points
69
#2

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Fortuner +23 Efficiency Fortuner +2 Safety Sportage +11 Practicality Fortuner +26 Ownership Sportage +28

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 43/100

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Fortuner leads the specification evidence index with 74 pts vs 69 pts for Sportage

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Fortuner leads. However, Sportage may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Fortuner vs Sportage questions

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.