Hyundai H1 vs Ford Puma

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 H1 in South Africa

Hyundai H1

2.5 CRDi Executive Diesel Automatic
ZAR 899,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 441 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Ford Puma in South Africa

Ford Puma

1.0T EcoBoost ST-Line Automatic Petrol Automatic
ZAR 459,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H1
Fuel Economy Puma
🛡 Safety Puma
📦 Practicality H1
🔑 Ownership H1
Puma starts ZAR 899900 cheaper H1 from ZAR 899,900 · Puma from ZAR 389,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H1 Puma
Engine Power 125 92
Torque 441 170
Engine Size 2497 999
Claimed Mileage 11.8 16.4
Ground Clearance 185 170
Boot Space 820 456
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 2220 1325
Seating Capacity 9 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

H1

70
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

Puma

61
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

H1 has a slight advantage, but Puma remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H1 +6 pts
Efficiency Puma +9 pts
Safety Puma +2 pts
Practicality H1 +6 pts
Ownership H1 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 18/20
Ownership 20/20

Puma

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 9/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H1

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Puma

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Puma

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H1 Puma
Length 5125 4186
Width 1920 1805
Height 1925 1531
Wheelbase 3200 2594
Ground Clearance 185 170
Kerb Weight 2220 1325
Seating Capacity 9 5
Boot Space 820 456
Towing Capacity 2500 1200
Rear Track Width 1675 1534
Gross Vehicle Weight 3030 1775
Front Track Width 1665 1541
Turning Radius 5.6 5.4
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Available
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Available
Doors 5 Available
Seats 9 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 3076 1500
Front Headroom 1010 Available
Rear Headroom 1000 Available
Front Legroom 1090 Available
Rear Legroom 990 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1530 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1530 Available
Number of Doors Available 5
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available Available
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec H1 Puma
Engine 2.5 CRDi VGT Diesel 1.0L EcoBoost Mild Hybrid
Engine Type Diesel Inline 3 Cylinder Turbo Mild Hybrid
Displacement 2497 999
Cylinders 4 3
Power 125 92
Torque 441 170
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Turbocharger Yes (VGT) Single Turbo
Top Speed 180 185
0-100 km/h 12.5 10.5
Power @ RPM 3600 6000 rpm
Torque @ RPM 2000 2000-4500 rpm
Valves per Cylinder 16 4
Compression Ratio 17.5 10.5:1
Engine Position Front Front Transverse
Fuel Grade Required Diesel Petrol
Engine Code D4CB Standard
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Maximum Engine RPM 4000 Available
Engine Oil Capacity 6.5 Available
Engine Type Config Inline Available
Variable Valve Timing Yes Available
Cylinder Bore Available 82.0
Piston Stroke Available 92.0
Power 150 150
Cylinder Layout Available Inline 4 (I4)
0–100 km/h Available Available
Battery Capacity Available Available
Charging Port Available Available
AC Charging Time Available Available
Engine Displacement Available Available
EV Range Available Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai H1 wins with 70 pts vs 61 pts for Puma

In structured scoring, H1 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Puma 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 H1 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: H1 0 vs Puma 9. 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: H1 18, Puma 20. 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: H1 20, Puma 12. 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: H1 18, Puma 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 14, Puma 8. 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 H1 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H1 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 H1 and Puma in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H1 scores 14 vs 8.

Efficiency: H1 scores 0 vs 9.

Safety: H1 scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: H1 scores 18 vs 12.

Ownership: H1 scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives H1 the advantage in this comparison.