Hyundai i30 vs KIA Sportage

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
KIA Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai i30 vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

i30 and Sportage are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context i30: last listed from ZAR 432,900 · Sportage: current from ZAR 662,995

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification i30 Sportage
Maximum Power i3088 kW @ 5500 rpm Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque i30172 Nm @ 1500 rpm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size i30998 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy i3016.9 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance i30135 mm Sportage181 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

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT

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
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Sportage

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
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

Sportage

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

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 Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2007 2022
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 Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
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 Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2022
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Production Status discontinued active
Segment Hatchback SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1285 kg 1570 kg
Vehicle Type Hatchback SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note Not confirmed Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Spec i30 Sportage
Length 4340 mm 4515 mm
Width 1795 mm 1865 mm
Height 1455 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 135 mm 181 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 395 l 466 l
Kerb Weight 1285 kg 1570 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 2080 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 500 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 10.8 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 1010 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 955 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1040 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 855 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This i30 and Sportage 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 Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: i30 66 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: i30 84 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: i30 60 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: i30 65 vs Sportage 71.

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

Sportage leads by 7 points

i30 and Sportage are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 99% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
Leads by 7 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 Sportage +18 Efficiency i30 +12 Safety Sportage +16 Practicality Sportage +3 Ownership Sportage +6

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

i30

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Sportage leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 62 pts for i30

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

i30 vs Sportage 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.