Honda HR-V vs Jetour X70 Plus

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.

Honda HR-V in South Africa

Honda HR-V

1.5 Elegance CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 119 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 16.0 km/l
VS
Jetour X70 Plus in South Africa

Jetour X70 Plus

Deluxe Petrol Automatic
ZAR 484,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 7.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance X70 Plus
Fuel Economy HR-V
🛡 Safety HR-V
📦 Practicality X70 Plus
🔑 Ownership HR-V
X70 Plus starts ZAR 489900 cheaper HR-V from ZAR 489,900 · X70 Plus from ZAR 454,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec HR-V X70 Plus
Engine Power 119 115
Torque 145 230
Engine Size 1498 1498
Claimed Mileage 16.0 7.8
Ground Clearance 196 200
Boot Space 437 1680
Airbags 6 Front and front side airbags plus side curtain airbags
Kerb Weight 1360 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 3 -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both HR-V and X70 Plus are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance X70 Plus +8 pts
Efficiency HR-V +26 pts
Safety HR-V +26 pts
Practicality X70 Plus +28 pts
Ownership HR-V +11 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

HR-V

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

X70 Plus

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

Which One's Right for You?

HR-V

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

X70 Plus

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec HR-V X70 Plus
Model Introduced Year 2022 Not Available
Generation Built on Honda’s global compact SUV platform with improved safety and comfort Current local listing
Facelift History New generation introduced with updated design and improved features Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 Current
Production Status published Active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec HR-V X70 Plus
Ground Clearance 196 mm 200 mm
Wheelbase 2610 mm 2720 mm
Length 4340 mm 4724 mm
Width 1790 mm 1900 mm
Height 1590 mm 1720 mm
Kerb Weight 1360 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 1780 kg 2076 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 437 l 1680 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg Not Applicable
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded 437 l 1680 l
Number of Doors 5 Not Applicable
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 437 l 1680 l
Doors 5 Not Applicable
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 57 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1780 kg 2076 kg
Ground Clearance Max 196 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Min 196 mm 200 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 196 mm 200 mm
Height Mm 1590 mm 1720 mm
Length Mm 4340 mm 4724 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 437 l 1680 l
Tare Mass Kg 1360 kg Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1790 mm 1900 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

HR-V leads by 4 points

Both HR-V and X70 Plus are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 62 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 95% confidence
62
#1 Winner

HR-V

95% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 41
Performance 41
Efficiency 62
Safety 92
Practicality 63
Ownership 51
Leads by 4 points
58
#2

X70 Plus

68% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 91 Check Efficiency 36
Performance 49
Efficiency 36
Safety 66
Practicality 91
Ownership 40
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance X70 Plus +8 Efficiency HR-V +26 Safety HR-V +26 Practicality X70 Plus +28 Ownership HR-V +11

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

HR-V

Performance 41/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 51/100

X70 Plus

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 36/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 91/100
Ownership 40/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda HR-V wins with 62 pts vs 58 pts for X70 Plus

In structured scoring, HR-V emerges as the stronger overall package. However, X70 Plus 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 HR-V 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: HR-V 62 vs X70 Plus 36. 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: HR-V 92, X70 Plus 66. 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: HR-V 51, X70 Plus 40. 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: HR-V 63, X70 Plus 91. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: HR-V 41, X70 Plus 49. 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 HR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The HR-V 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 HR-V and X70 Plus in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: HR-V scores 41 vs 49.

Efficiency: HR-V scores 62 vs 36.

Safety: HR-V scores 92 vs 66.

Practicality: HR-V scores 63 vs 91.

Ownership: HR-V scores 51 vs 40.

Final structured scoring gives HR-V the advantage in this comparison.