Hyundai i30 vs Nissan Navara Single Cab

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai i30 Discontinued model
Hyundai i30 in South Africa

Hyundai i30

1.0T Fluid Petrol 7-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 468,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Nissan Navara Single Cab in South Africa

Nissan Navara Single Cab

2.5D SE Single Cab 4x4 MT Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 592,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 403 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai i30 vs Nissan Navara Single Cab: the short answer

Navara Single Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while i30 remains close.

Recorded price context i30: last listed from ZAR 432,900 · Navara Single Cab: current from ZAR 433,500

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification i30 Navara Single Cab
Maximum Power i3088 kW @ 5500 rpm Navara Single Cab120 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque i30172 Nm @ 1500 rpm Navara Single Cab403 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size i30998 cc Navara Single Cab2488 cc
Combined Fuel Economy i3016.9 km/l Navara Single Cab13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance i30135 mm Navara Single Cab208 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.

Hyundai i30

1.0T Fluid

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

Nissan Navara Single Cab

2.5D SE Single Cab 4x4 MT

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

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)

i30

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Navara Single Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

i30

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Navara Single Cab

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec i30 Navara Single Cab
Model Introduced Year 2007 1997
Generation Third generation i30 on Hyundai's i-GMP-derived platform; the N Performance uses a more heavily engineered chassis with limited-slip differential and performance suspension Current Navara generation focuses on improved comfort and stronger safety credentials
Facelift History Third generation launched globally in 2017; N Performance model arrived in SA as a standalone performance derivative; third gen has received ongoing tech updates Updated in recent years with improved styling, safety upgrades, and suspension refinement
Facelift Launched Since 2017 Original current-generation version
Body Style Hatchback Single Cab
Production Status discontinued Active
Segment Hatchback Single-cab bakkie
Tare Mass Kg 1285 kg 1803 kg
Vehicle Type Hatchback Single Cab
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Type Cab Not confirmed Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Color Note Not confirmed White, Silver, Black, Grey, Red, Blue
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.5D SE Single Cab 4x4 MT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Spec i30 Navara Single Cab
Length 4340 mm 5235 mm
Width 1795 mm 1790 mm
Height 1455 mm 1760 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm 3150 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 135 mm 208 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed -
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 80 l
Boot/Cargo Space 395 l -
Kerb Weight 1285 kg 1803 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 3010 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1119 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 3500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 2 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 2 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 6.4 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed -
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed -

In depth: how these cars differ

This i30 and Navara Single Cab 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: i30 39 vs Navara Single Cab 67.

Efficiency index: i30 66 vs Navara Single Cab 56.

Safety-equipment index: i30 84 vs Navara Single Cab 90.

Practicality index: i30 60 vs Navara Single Cab 72.

Ownership-cover index: i30 65 vs Navara Single Cab 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

Navara Single Cab leads by 10 points

Navara Single Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while i30 remains close.

Evidence leader 72 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 56% source coverage
72
#1 Evidence leader

Navara Single Cab

56% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 56
Performance 67
Efficiency 56
Safety 90
Practicality 72
Leads by 10 points
62
#2

i30

90% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 66
Safety 84
Practicality 60
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Navara Single Cab +28 Efficiency i30 +10 Safety Navara Single Cab +6 Practicality Navara Single Cab +12

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Navara Single Cab

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 72/100

i30

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 66/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Nissan Navara Single Cab leads the specification evidence index with 72 pts vs 62 pts for i30

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Navara Single Cab leads. However, i30 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

i30 vs Navara Single Cab 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.