Hyundai Staria Panelvan 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.

Hyundai Staria Panelvan in South Africa

Hyundai Staria Panelvan

2.2D Panel Van 8AT Diesel Current
ZAR 699,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 130 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 11.5 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

Hyundai Staria Panelvan vs Suzuki Swift Sport: the short answer

Staria Panelvan holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Swift Sport.

Swift Sport starts ZAR 230,000 cheaper Staria Panelvan from ZAR 699,900 · Swift Sport from ZAR 469,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Staria Panelvan Swift Sport
Maximum Power Staria Panelvan130 kW Swift Sport103 kW
Maximum Torque Staria Panelvan430 Nm Swift Sport230 Nm
Engine Size Staria Panelvan2199 cc Swift Sport1373 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Staria Panelvan11.5 km/l Swift Sport16.1 km/l
Ground Clearance Staria Panelvan186 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.

Hyundai Staria Panelvan

2.2D Panel Van 8AT

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

Staria Panelvan

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

Swift Sport

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

Which One's Right for You?

Staria Panelvan

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

Swift Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Staria Panelvan Swift Sport
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2026
Generation Current South African Staria Panelvan listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current market generation
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Current market specification
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Panel van Hatchback
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Base grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Van Hatchback
Tare Mass Kg 1990+ kg -
Vehicle Type Van Hatchback
Spec Staria Panelvan Swift Sport
Length 5253 mm 3860 mm
Width 1997 mm 1735 mm
Height 1990 mm 1520 mm
Wheelbase 3273 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 186 mm 0 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 l 37 l
Boot/Cargo Space 4935 l 265 l
Kerb Weight Not Officially Disclosed 920 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 1380 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 460 kg
Towing Capacity 2500 kg 500 kg
Seating Capacity 3 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.2 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 1000 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 950 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1050 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 900 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Staria Panelvan 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: Staria Panelvan 67 vs Swift Sport 45.

Efficiency index: Staria Panelvan 51 vs Swift Sport 62.

Safety-equipment index: Staria Panelvan 89 vs Swift Sport 67.

Practicality index: Staria Panelvan 72 vs Swift Sport 42.

Ownership-cover index: Staria Panelvan 65 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

Staria Panelvan leads by 17 points

Staria Panelvan holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Swift Sport.

Evidence leader 70 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 71% source coverage
70
#1 Evidence leader

Staria Panelvan

71% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 67
Efficiency 51
Safety 89
Practicality 72
Ownership 65
Leads by 17 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 Staria Panelvan +22 Efficiency Swift Sport +11 Safety Staria Panelvan +22 Practicality Staria Panelvan +30

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Staria Panelvan

Performance 67/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 72/100
Ownership 65/100

Swift Sport

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai Staria Panelvan leads the specification evidence index with 70 pts vs 53 pts for Swift Sport

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

Staria Panelvan 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.