Hyundai Grand i10 vs Suzuki Swift Sport

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.

Hyundai Grand i10 in South Africa

Hyundai Grand i10

1.2 Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 242,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 114 Nm ⛽ 16.5 km/l
VS
Suzuki Swift Sport in South Africa

Suzuki Swift Sport

1.4 Turbo AT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 493,900 ex-showroom
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Swift Sport
Fuel Economy Grand i10
🛡 Safety Grand i10
📦 Practicality Grand i10
🔑 Ownership Grand i10
Grand i10 starts ZAR 469900 cheaper Grand i10 from ZAR 218,900 · Swift Sport from ZAR 469,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Grand i10 Swift Sport
Engine Power 61 -
Torque 114 -
Engine Size 1197 -
Claimed Mileage 16.5 -
Ground Clearance 170 -
Boot Space 235 -
Airbags 6 -
Kerb Weight 975 -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Warranty 5 -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Grand i10 holds a noticeable edge over Swift Sport, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Swift Sport +23 pts
Efficiency Grand i10 +14 pts
Safety Grand i10 +76 pts
Practicality Grand i10 +5 pts
Ownership Grand i10 +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Grand i10

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

Swift Sport

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Grand i10

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Swift Sport

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Grand i10 Swift Sport
Model Introduced Year 2014 -
Generation Second generation Grand i10 sold in SA with a 2023 facelift; based on the global third-gen i10 platform adapted for emerging markets -
Facelift History Second generation arrived in 2017; facelift with updated front styling and infotainment in 2023 -
Facelift Launched Since 2023 -
Facelift Version Ending Current -
Body Style Hatchback -
Color Note White, Silver, Red, Blue, Grey -
Dealer Stock Note Fluid grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 -
Production Status published -
Segment Hatchback -
Vehicle Type Hatchback -
Spec Grand i10 Swift Sport
Ground Clearance 170 mm -
Wheelbase 2385 mm -
Length 3665 mm -
Width 1660 mm -
Height 1520 mm -
Kerb Weight 975 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 1410 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 -
Boot Space 235 l -
Towing Capacity Not Applicable -
Front Track Width Not Applicable -
Rear Track Width Not Applicable -
Turning Radius Not Applicable -
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Front Legroom Not Applicable -
Rear Legroom Not Applicable -
Front Headroom Not Applicable -
Rear Headroom Not Applicable -
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Boot Space Seats Folded 235 l -
Number of Doors 5 -
Max Payload Not Applicable -
Boot Volume 235 l -
Doors 5 -
Seats 5 -
Fuel Tank Capacity 35 l -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1410 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm -
Height Mm 1520 mm -
Length Mm 3665 mm -
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable -
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable -
Payload Kg Not Applicable -
Cargo Volume 235 l -
Tare Mass Kg 975 kg -
Turning Circle Not Applicable -
Turning Circle M Not Applicable -
Width Mm 1660 mm -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Grand i10 leads by 17 points

Grand i10 holds a noticeable edge over Swift Sport, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 56 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 91% confidence
56
#1 Winner

Grand i10

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 76 Check Performance 27
Performance 27
Efficiency 64
Safety 76
Practicality 55
Ownership 65
Leads by 17 points
39
#2

Swift Sport

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Swift Sport +23 Efficiency Grand i10 +14 Safety Grand i10 +76 Practicality Grand i10 +5 Ownership Grand i10 +15

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Grand i10

Performance 27/100
Efficiency 64/100
Safety 76/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 65/100

Swift Sport

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Grand i10 wins with 56 pts vs 39 pts for Swift Sport

In structured scoring, Grand i10 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Swift Sport 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 Grand i10 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: Grand i10 64 vs Swift Sport 50. 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: Grand i10 76, Swift Sport 0. 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: Grand i10 65, Swift Sport 50. 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: Grand i10 55, Swift Sport 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Grand i10 27, Swift Sport 50. 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 Grand i10 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Grand i10 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 Grand i10 and Swift Sport in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Grand i10 scores 27 vs 50.

Efficiency: Grand i10 scores 64 vs 50.

Safety: Grand i10 scores 76 vs 0.

Practicality: Grand i10 scores 55 vs 50.

Ownership: Grand i10 scores 65 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives Grand i10 the advantage in this comparison.