Hyundai IONIQ 5 vs Hyundai Palisade

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.

Archive comparison

These models are no longer sold new in South Africa. Verified final local specs and last-listed prices remain available for owners and used-car shoppers.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Hyundai Palisade
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 km/l
VS
Hyundai Palisade in South Africa

Hyundai Palisade

2.2D Elite AWD 8AT 7-Seater Diesel Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,204,500 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 142 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 8.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance IONIQ 5
⛽ Fuel Economy IONIQ 5
🛡 Safety IONIQ 5
📦 Practicality Palisade
🔑 Ownership IONIQ 5
IONIQ 5 starts ZAR 1204500 cheaper IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900 · Palisade from ZAR 1,204,500

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec IONIQ 5 Palisade
Engine Power 225 kW 142 kW
Torque 605 Nm 440 Nm
Engine Size Not confirmed 2199 cc
Claimed Mileage 454 km/l 8.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 160 mm Not confirmed
Boot / Load Bay 527 l Not confirmed
Airbags 7 Driver, passenger, side and curtain
Kerb Weight 2190 kg 1952 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 5 years / 150 000 km plus 2 years / 50 000 km powertrain

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

IONIQ 5 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +26 pts
Efficiency IONIQ 5 +57 pts
Safety IONIQ 5 +61 pts
Practicality Palisade +7 pts
Ownership IONIQ 5 +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Palisade

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

IONIQ 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Palisade

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 IONIQ 5 Palisade
Model Introduced Year 2022 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers Current South African Palisade listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style Not confirmed Seven-seat SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Spec IONIQ 5 Palisade
Ground Clearance 160 mm Not confirmed
Wheelbase 3000 mm Not confirmed
Length 4635 mm Not confirmed
Width 1890 mm Not confirmed
Height 1605 mm Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 2190 kg 1952 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 527 l Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 527 l Not confirmed
Load Bed Width Not confirmed Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 Not confirmed
Boot Volume 527 l Not confirmed
Doors 5 Not confirmed
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 72.6 l 71 l
Ground Clearance Max 160 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Min 160 mm Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Mm 160 mm Not confirmed
Height Mm 1605 mm Not confirmed
Length Mm 4635 mm Not confirmed
Loadbox Length Mm 527 l Not confirmed
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 527 l Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 2190 kg 1952 kg
Width Mm 1890 mm Not confirmed
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 2200 kg

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 29 points

IONIQ 5 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 87 /100
Lead 29 points
Data 86% confidence
87
#1 Winner

IONIQ 5

86% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 99
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 29 points
58
#2

Palisade

69% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 77 Check Safety 38
Performance 74
Efficiency 40
Safety 38
Practicality 77
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +26 Efficiency IONIQ 5 +57 Safety IONIQ 5 +61 Practicality Palisade +7 Ownership IONIQ 5 +14

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

Palisade

Performance 74/100
Efficiency 40/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 77/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 87 pts vs 58 pts for Palisade

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Palisade may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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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 97 vs Palisade 40. 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 99, Palisade 38. 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 65, Palisade 51. 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 70, Palisade 77. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: IONIQ 5 100, Palisade 74. 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 Palisade in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: IONIQ 5 scores 100 vs 74.

Efficiency: IONIQ 5 scores 97 vs 40.

Safety: IONIQ 5 scores 99 vs 38.

Practicality: IONIQ 5 scores 70 vs 77.

Ownership: IONIQ 5 scores 65 vs 51.

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