KIA Picanto vs Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab

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 in South Africa

KIA Picanto

1.2 EX+ Auto Petrol 4-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 325,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 61 kW 🔧 121 Nm ⛽ 15.9 km/l
VS
Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab in South Africa

Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab

LTD 4x4 Diesel Mild Hybrid 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 120 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 11.11 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

KIA Picanto vs Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab: the short answer

Tunland V9 Double Cab holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Picanto.

Picanto starts ZAR 488,905 cheaper Picanto from ZAR 236,995 · Tunland V9 Double Cab from ZAR 725,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Picanto Tunland V9 Double Cab
Maximum Power Picanto61 kW @ 6000 rpm Tunland V9 Double Cab120 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque Picanto121 Nm @ 4000 rpm Tunland V9 Double Cab450 Nm
Engine Size Picanto1248 cc Tunland V9 Double Cab2000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Picanto15.9 km/l Tunland V9 Double Cab11.11 km/l
Ground Clearance Picanto155 mm Tunland V9 Double Cab240 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

1.2 EX+ 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

Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab

LTD 4x4

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

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)

Picanto

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

Tunland V9 Double Cab

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

Which One's Right for You?

Picanto

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Tunland V9 Double Cab

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Picanto Tunland V9 Double Cab
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 4-Speed Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Number of Gears 4 8
Clutch Type Torque Converter Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Final Drive Ratio 4.058:1 Not Officially Disclosed
Drivetrain Layout Front Wheel Drive Front-engine, four-wheel drive
Drivetrain FWD — Front Wheel Drive 4WD
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 2.8 -
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock Not Applicable Front and rear electronically controlled differential locks
Transfer Case Not Applicable Yes
Gear Shift Type Floor-Mounted Selector Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Gearbox Type 4-Speed Automatic Torque-Converter Automatic
Transmission Speeds 4 8
Axle Layout FWD 4x4
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Electronically controlled
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Low Range Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Spec Picanto Tunland V9 Double Cab
Variable Valve Timing CVVT on Intake Camshaft -
Fuel Octane Requirement 93 RON Unleaded -
CO2 Emissions 145 g/km Not Officially Disclosed
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 145 -

In depth: how these cars differ

This Picanto and Tunland V9 Double Cab 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 28 vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 71.

Efficiency index: Picanto 61 vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 53.

Safety-equipment index: Picanto 89 vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 90.

Practicality index: Picanto 53 vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 84.

Ownership-cover index: Picanto 77 vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 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

Tunland V9 Double Cab leads by 16 points

Tunland V9 Double Cab holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Picanto.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 16 points
Data 66% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

Tunland V9 Double Cab

66% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 53
Performance 71
Efficiency 53
Safety 90
Practicality 84
Leads by 16 points
60
#2

Picanto

92% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 28
Performance 28
Efficiency 61
Safety 89
Practicality 53
Ownership 77
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tunland V9 Double Cab +43 Efficiency Picanto +8 Safety Tunland V9 Double Cab +1 Practicality Tunland V9 Double Cab +31

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tunland V9 Double Cab

Performance 71/100
Efficiency 53/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 84/100

Picanto

Performance 28/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 53/100
Ownership 77/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Foton Tunland V9 Double Cab leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 60 pts for Picanto

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tunland V9 Double Cab leads. However, Picanto may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Picanto vs Tunland V9 Double Cab 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.