Hyundai i30 vs Suzuki Ignis

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 i30 in South Africa

Hyundai i30

1.0T Fluid Petrol Manual
ZAR 468,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Suzuki Ignis in South Africa

Suzuki Ignis

1.2 GLX AMT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 293,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 113 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance i30
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Ignis
🔑 Ownership Tie
Ignis starts ZAR 432900 cheaper i30 from ZAR 432,900 · Ignis from ZAR 237,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec i30 Ignis
Engine Power 88 61
Torque 172 113
Engine Size 998 1197
Claimed Mileage 16.9 13.5
Ground Clearance 135 180
Boot Space 395 400
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1285 855
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

i30

56
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Ignis

55
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both i30 and Ignis are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance i30 +3 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Ignis +2 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

i30

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

Ignis

Performance 5/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

i30

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Ignis

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

i30

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Ignis

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec i30 Ignis
Length 4340 3700
Width 1795 1690
Height 1455 1595
Wheelbase 2650 2435
Ground Clearance 135 180
Kerb Weight 1285 855
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 395 400
Rear Track Width 1546 mm 1540
Gross Vehicle Weight 1780 kg 1600
Front Track Width 1569 mm 1550
Turning Radius 5.4 m Available
Towing Capacity 1200 kg (Unbraked) 1500
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Available
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Available
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Front Legroom Available Available
Rear Legroom Available Available
Front Headroom Available Available
Rear Headroom Available Available
Front Shoulder Room Available Available
Rear Shoulder Room Available Available
Boot Space Seats Folded Available 1500
Number of Doors Available Available
Max Payload Available Available
Boot Volume Available 260
Front Overhang Available Available
Fuel Tank Capacity Available Available
Rear Overhang Available Available
Spec i30 Ignis
Engine 1.0 T-GDI Turbo 1.2L K12M 4-Cylinder Petrol
Engine Type Petrol Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated
Displacement 998 1197
Cylinders 3 4
Power 88 61
Torque 172 113
Fuel System Direct Injection Multi-Point Fuel Injection (MPFI)
Turbocharger Yes Not Applicable
Top Speed 190 152
0-100 km/h 10.8 14.0
Power @ RPM 5500 6,000 rpm
Torque @ RPM 1500 4,200 rpm
Valves per Cylinder 12 (4 per cylinder) 4
Compression Ratio 9.9:1 10.0:1
Engine Position Front Transverse Front-Mounted
Fuel Grade Required Petrol 93 RON Unleaded Petrol
Engine Type Config Inline Available
Variable Valve Timing Yes VVT on Intake Camshaft
Cylinder Bore Available 73.0
Piston Stroke Available 71.5
Engine Code Available K12M
Engine Oil Capacity Available 3.3
Power 150 83
Cylinder Layout Available Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Available Naturally Aspirated
Maximum Engine RPM Available 6500
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 i30 wins with 56 pts vs 55 pts for Ignis

In structured scoring, i30 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Ignis 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 i30 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: i30 0 vs Ignis 0. 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: i30 18, Ignis 18. 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: i30 20, Ignis 20. 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: i30 10, Ignis 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: i30 8, Ignis 5. 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 i30 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The i30 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 i30 and Ignis in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: i30 scores 8 vs 5.

Efficiency: i30 scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: i30 scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: i30 scores 10 vs 12.

Ownership: i30 scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives i30 the advantage in this comparison.