Nissan Navara Double Cab vs Hyundai Tucson

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.

Nissan Navara Double Cab in South Africa

Nissan Navara Double Cab

2.5D LE Plus Double Cab 4x4 AT Diesel Current
ZAR 785,700 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai Tucson in South Africa

Hyundai Tucson

2.0D AT Executive AWD Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 764,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 416 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Nissan Navara Double Cab vs Hyundai Tucson: the short answer

Navara Double Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Tucson remains close.

Navara Double Cab starts ZAR 75,900 cheaper Navara Double Cab from ZAR 493,000 · Tucson from ZAR 568,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Navara Double Cab Tucson
Maximum Power Navara Double Cab140 kW @ 3600 rpm Tucson137 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque Navara Double Cab450 Nm @ 2000 rpm Tucson416 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size Navara Double Cab2488 cc Tucson1995 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Navara Double Cab13.9 km/l Tucson13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance Navara Double Cab221 mm Tucson181 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.

Nissan Navara Double Cab

2.5D LE Plus Double Cab 4x4 AT

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

Hyundai Tucson

2.0D AT Executive AWD

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)

Specification evidence leader

Navara Double Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Tucson

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Navara Double Cab

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Tucson

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Navara Double Cab Tucson
Model Introduced Year 1997 2004
Generation Current Navara generation focuses on improved comfort and stronger safety credentials Fourth generation Tucson on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; distinctive parametric design language makes it one of the more striking mid-size SUVs in SA
Facelift History Updated in recent years with improved styling, safety upgrades, and suspension refinement Fourth generation launched in SA in 2021; major step change in styling, interior quality, and technology over the third-gen car
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2021
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double Cab SUV
Body Type Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name -
Color Note White, Silver, Black, Grey, Red, Blue White, Black, Silver, Blue, Grey, Green
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Executive grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.5D LE Plus Double Cab 4x4 AT Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0D AT Executive AWD
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active active
Segment Double-cab bakkie SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2023 kg 1720 kg
Vehicle Type Double Cab SUV
Spec Navara Double Cab Tucson
Length 5260 mm 4630 mm
Width 1850 mm 1865 mm
Height 1815 mm 1665 mm
Wheelbase 3150 mm 2755 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 221 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 1161 l 540 l
Kerb Weight 2023 kg 1720 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3115 kg 2110 kg
Payload Capacity 1003 kg 390 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.7 m 5.4 m
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - Not Officially Disclosed
Number of Rows - 2 rows
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 Navara Double Cab and Tucson 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: Navara Double Cab 75 vs Tucson 69.

Efficiency index: Navara Double Cab 58 vs Tucson 56.

Safety-equipment index: Navara Double Cab 93 vs Tucson 92.

Practicality index: Navara Double Cab 90 vs Tucson 68.

Ownership-cover index: Navara Double Cab not separately scored vs Tucson 65.

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 Double Cab leads by 9 points

Navara Double Cab has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Tucson remains close.

Evidence leader 80 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 65% source coverage
80
#1 Evidence leader

Navara Double Cab

65% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 58
Performance 75
Efficiency 58
Safety 93
Practicality 90
Leads by 9 points
71
#2

Tucson

93% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 56
Performance 69
Efficiency 56
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Navara Double Cab +6 Efficiency Navara Double Cab +2 Safety Navara Double Cab +1 Practicality Navara Double Cab +22

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Navara Double Cab

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 58/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 90/100

Tucson

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Nissan Navara Double Cab leads the specification evidence index with 80 pts vs 71 pts for Tucson

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

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
Tiggo 8 Pro
Tiggo 8 Pro
Navara Double Cab vs Tiggo 8 Pro →
Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
D-Max Extended Cab
D-Max Extended Cab
Navara Double Cab vs D-Max Extended Cab →
Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
Territory
Territory
Navara Double Cab vs Territory →
Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
Eclipse Cross
Eclipse Cross
Navara Double Cab vs Eclipse Cross →
Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
CX-30
CX-30
Navara Double Cab vs CX-30 →
Navara Double Cab
Navara Double Cab
VS
C7
C7
Navara Double Cab vs C7 →
Tucson
Tucson
VS
Tiggo 8 Pro
Tiggo 8 Pro
Tucson vs Tiggo 8 Pro →
Tucson
Tucson
VS
D-Max Extended Cab
D-Max Extended Cab
Tucson vs D-Max Extended Cab →

Navara Double Cab vs Tucson 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.