Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs Gwm Tank 500

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 IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic
ZAR 1,068,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 km/l
VS
Gwm Tank 500 in South Africa

Gwm Tank 500

3.0T Hi4-T Luxury Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 340 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 2.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy IONIQ 5
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tank 500
🔑 Ownership Tie
IONIQ 5 starts ZAR 1149900 cheaper IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900 · Tank 500 from ZAR 1,149,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec IONIQ 5 Tank 500
Engine Power 225 340
Torque 605 750
Engine Size Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 2999
Claimed Mileage 454 2.5
Ground Clearance 160 224
Boot Space 527 580
Airbags 7 8
Kerb Weight 2190 2680
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

IONIQ 5

93
/ 100
+17
pts
#2

Tank 500

76
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

IONIQ 5 holds a noticeable edge over Tank 500, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency IONIQ 5 +20 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Tank 500 +3 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 20/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 20/20

Tank 500

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 16/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Tank 500

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

IONIQ 5

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tank 500

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec IONIQ 5 Tank 500
Length 4635 5060
Width 1890 1996
Height 1605 1905
Wheelbase 3000 2950
Ground Clearance 160 224
Kerb Weight 2190 2680
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 527 580
Rear Track Width 1648 mm 1570
Gross Vehicle Weight 2370 kg 3200
Front Track Width 1624 mm 1560
Turning Radius 5.9 m 13.0
Towing Capacity 1600 kg (Braked) 3000
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Front Legroom Available 1050
Rear Legroom Available 890
Front Headroom Available 990
Rear Headroom Available 960
Front Shoulder Room Available 1520
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1480
Boot Space Seats Folded Available 780
Number of Doors Available 5
Max Payload Available -
Boot Volume Available 580
Front Overhang Available 880
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 80
Rear Overhang Available 890
Spec IONIQ 5 Tank 500
Engine Dual Motor AWD Electric 3.0L GW4C30D V6 Turbocharged Petrol + Front Electric Motor
Engine Type Electric V6 Twin-Turbo Petrol Hybrid
Cylinders Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 6
Power 225 340
Torque 605 750
Fuel System Electric Drive Direct Injection
Turbocharger No Yes
Top Speed 185 210
0-100 km/h 5.1 340
Displacement Not Applicable (Electric Motor) 2999
Power @ RPM Instant Torque (0–7500 rpm) 5,500 rpm
Valves per Cylinder Not Applicable (Electric) 24
Torque @ RPM 0–3500 rpm 2,000-4,000 rpm
Compression Ratio Not Applicable (Electric) 10.5:1
Engine Position Front Front Transverse
Fuel Grade Required Electric Petrol
Engine Type Config Inline V6 (V6) DOHC 24-Valve Twin-Turbocharged
Variable Valve Timing Yes Yes
Cylinder Bore Available -
Piston Stroke Available -
Engine Code Available GW4C30D
Engine Oil Capacity Available 7.5
Power 150 456
Cylinder Layout Available V6
Engine Aspiration Available Twin-Turbocharged
Maximum Engine RPM Available 5,500
0–100 km/h Available 4.8
Battery Capacity Available 27.0 kWh
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 2999
EV Range Available 135

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 93 pts vs 76 pts for Tank 500

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Tank 500 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 IONIQ 5 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: IONIQ 5 20 vs Tank 500 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: IONIQ 5 20, Tank 500 20. 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: IONIQ 5 20, Tank 500 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: IONIQ 5 13, Tank 500 16. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: IONIQ 5 20, Tank 500 20. 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 IONIQ 5 and Tank 500 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 20.

Efficiency: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 0.

Safety: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: IONIQ 5 scores 13 vs 16.

Ownership: IONIQ 5 scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.