KIA Picanto Panel Van vs Suzuki Swift Sport

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.

KIA Picanto Panel Van in South Africa

KIA Picanto Panel Van

1.0 LS Panel Van Auto Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 269,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 49 kW 🔧 94 Nm ⛽ 16.4 km/l
VS
Suzuki Swift Sport in South Africa

Suzuki Swift Sport

1.4 Turbo AT Petrol 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 493,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 103 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 16.1 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

KIA Picanto Panel Van vs Suzuki Swift Sport: the short answer

Picanto Panel Van and Swift Sport are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Picanto Panel Van starts ZAR 219,905 cheaper Picanto Panel Van from ZAR 249,995 · Swift Sport from ZAR 469,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Picanto Panel Van Swift Sport
Maximum Power Picanto Panel Van49 kW @ 6000 rpm Swift Sport103 kW
Maximum Torque Picanto Panel Van94 Nm @ 3500 rpm Swift Sport230 Nm
Engine Size Picanto Panel Van998 cc Swift Sport1373 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Picanto Panel Van16.4 km/l Swift Sport16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance Picanto Panel Van155 mm Swift Sport0 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.

KIA Picanto Panel Van

1.0 LS Panel Van Auto

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

Suzuki Swift Sport

1.4 Turbo 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

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

Picanto Panel Van

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Swift Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

Picanto Panel Van

  • 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

Swift Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Picanto Panel Van Swift Sport
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 4-Speed Automatic 4-speed automatic
Transmission Type Automatic 4-speed automatic
Number of Gears 4 4
Clutch Type Torque Converter Automatic Torque converter / CVT
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable No
Final Drive Ratio 4.286:1 4.3
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive 2WD
Drivetrain FWD — Front Wheel Drive 2WD
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 2.8 -
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Floor-Mounted Selector Floor-mounted selector
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Gearbox Type 4-Speed Automatic 4-speed automatic
Transmission Speeds 4 4
Axle Layout FWD Front driven axle
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable No
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable No
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Spec Picanto Panel Van Swift Sport
Variable Valve Timing CVVT on Intake Camshaft -
Fuel Octane Requirement 93 RON Unleaded -
CO2 Emissions 140 g/km 145 g/km
Start Stop System No -
Noise Level 68 dB -
Hybrid System Type Not Applicable -
Particulate Filter GPF Fitted -
Euro Emission Standard Euro 5 -
Green NCAP Rating Not Independently NCAP Green Rated -
Idle CO2 Output Within Euro 5 Emission Limits -
Fuel Evaporation Control Evaporative Emission Control (EVAP) -
CO2 Emissions G Km 140 -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Picanto Panel Van and Swift Sport 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: Picanto Panel Van 22 vs Swift Sport 45.

Efficiency index: Picanto Panel Van 63 vs Swift Sport 62.

Safety-equipment index: Picanto Panel Van 68 vs Swift Sport 67.

Practicality index: Picanto Panel Van 59 vs Swift Sport 42.

Ownership-cover index: Picanto Panel Van 77 vs Swift Sport 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

Picanto Panel Van leads by 2 points

Picanto Panel Van and Swift Sport are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 55 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 92% source coverage
55
#1 Evidence leader

Picanto Panel Van

92% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Ownership 77 Check Performance 22
Performance 22
Efficiency 63
Safety 68
Practicality 59
Ownership 77
Leads by 2 points
53
#2

Swift Sport

74% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 67 Check Practicality 42
Performance 45
Efficiency 62
Safety 67
Practicality 42
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Swift Sport +23 Efficiency Picanto Panel Van +1 Safety Picanto Panel Van +1 Practicality Picanto Panel Van +17

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Picanto Panel Van

Performance 22/100
Efficiency 63/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 59/100
Ownership 77/100

Swift Sport

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 67/100
Practicality 42/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Picanto Panel Van leads the specification evidence index with 55 pts vs 53 pts for Swift Sport

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

Picanto Panel Van vs Swift Sport 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.