Toyota Hilux Single Cab vs BMW i5

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Toyota Hilux Single Cab in South Africa

Toyota Hilux Single Cab

2.4 GD-6 4X4 RAIDER 6MT Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 636,300 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
VS
BMW i5 in South Africa

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 2,080,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Toyota Hilux Single Cab vs BMW i5: the short answer

i5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hilux Single Cab remains close.

Hilux Single Cab starts ZAR 1,485,800 cheaper Hilux Single Cab from ZAR 326,200 · i5 from ZAR 1,812,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Hilux Single Cab i5
Maximum Power Hilux Single Cab110 kW @ 3400 rpm i5442 kW
Maximum Torque Hilux Single Cab400 Nm i5795 Nm
Engine Size Hilux Single Cab2393 cc i5Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy Hilux Single Cab13.2 km/l i5Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Hilux Single Cab269 mm i5140 mm

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

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Toyota Hilux Single Cab

2.4 GD-6 4X4 RAIDER 6MT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BMW i5

M60 xDrive Sedan

Hagalu editorial rating
3.9/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Hilux Single Cab

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

i5

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

Which One's Right for You?

Hilux Single Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

i5

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Hilux Single Cab i5
Model Introduced Year 2020 2023
Generation Eighth-generation Hilux Single Cab in Toyota South Africa's current range G60 executive electric sedan sharing the 5 Series body architecture with dedicated electric propulsion.
Facelift History Current eighth-generation Toyota South Africa Hilux range Current G60-generation battery-electric i5 Sedan in South African specification.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current South African specification Current
Body Style Pickup Sedan
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Bakkie Premium Sedan
Vehicle Type Pickup Car
Spec Hilux Single Cab i5
Length 5325 mm 5060 mm
Width 1855 mm 1900 mm
Height 1795 mm 1505 mm
Wheelbase 3085 mm 2995 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 269 mm 140 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 185 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 484 l 490 l
Kerb Weight 2203 kg 2370 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2870 kg 2895 kg
Payload Capacity 850 kg 600 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 2 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 1 rows 2 rows
Doors 2 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.4 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 992 mm 985 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 940 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1047 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 890 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Hilux Single Cab and i5 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Hilux Single Cab 67 vs i5 100.

Efficiency index: Hilux Single Cab 61 vs i5 90.

Safety-equipment index: Hilux Single Cab 93 vs i5 92.

Practicality index: Hilux Single Cab 74 vs i5 64.

Ownership-cover index: Hilux Single Cab not separately scored vs i5 not separately scored.

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

i5 leads by 13 points

i5 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Hilux Single Cab remains close.

Evidence leader 87 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 69% source coverage
87
#1 Evidence leader

i5

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 64
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Leads by 13 points
74
#2

Hilux Single Cab

72% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 61
Performance 67
Efficiency 61
Safety 93
Practicality 74
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i5 +33 Efficiency i5 +29 Safety Hilux Single Cab +1 Practicality Hilux Single Cab +10

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100

Hilux Single Cab

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 74/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i5 leads the specification evidence index with 87 pts vs 74 pts for Hilux Single Cab

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i5 leads. However, Hilux Single Cab may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
Ranger Tremor
Ranger Tremor
Hilux Single Cab vs Ranger Tremor →
Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
Civic Type R
Civic Type R
Hilux Single Cab vs Civic Type R →
Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
SEAL
SEAL
Hilux Single Cab vs SEAL →
Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
4 Series Gran Coupé
4 Series Gran Coupé
Hilux Single Cab vs 4 Series Gran Coupé →
Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
SHARK 6 DMO
SHARK 6 DMO
Hilux Single Cab vs SHARK 6 DMO →
Hilux Single Cab
Hilux Single Cab
VS
Ranger Platinum
Ranger Platinum
Hilux Single Cab vs Ranger Platinum →
i5
i5
VS
Ranger Tremor
Ranger Tremor
i5 vs Ranger Tremor →
i5
i5
VS
Civic Type R
Civic Type R
i5 vs Civic Type R →

Hilux Single Cab vs i5 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.