GWM Steed 5 vs KIA Tasman

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.

GWM Steed 5 in South Africa

GWM Steed 5

2.0VGT Single Cab S 2WD 6MT Diesel Manual
ZAR 307,950 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
VS
KIA Tasman in South Africa

KIA Tasman

2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,004,999 ex-showroom
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Steed 5
Fuel Economy Steed 5
🛡 Safety Steed 5
📦 Practicality Tasman
🔑 Ownership Steed 5
Steed 5 starts ZAR 679995 cheaper Steed 5 from ZAR 307,950 · Tasman from ZAR 679,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Steed 5 Tasman
Engine Power 110 -
Torque 320 -
Engine Size Not Applicable -
Claimed Mileage Not Applicable -
Ground Clearance 194 mm -
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Airbags 2 front airbags -
Kerb Weight Not Applicable -
Seating Capacity 2 -
Warranty 5 -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Steed 5 has a slight advantage, but Tasman remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Steed 5 +5 pts
Efficiency Steed 5 +15 pts
Safety Steed 5 +18 pts
Practicality Tasman +2 pts
Ownership Steed 5 +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Steed 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

Tasman

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?

Steed 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

Tasman

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Steed 5 Tasman
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed -
Generation Current South African Steed 5 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. -
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. -
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version -
Facelift Version Ending Current -
Body Style Single-cab pickup -
Body Type Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name -
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 -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0VGT Single Cab S 2WD 6MT -
Model Year 2026 -
Production Status published -
Segment Pickup -
Vehicle Type Pickup -
Spec Steed 5 Tasman
Ground Clearance 194 mm -
Wheelbase 3050 mm -
Length 5095 mm -
Width 1800 mm -
Height 1730 mm -
Kerb Weight Not Applicable -
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable -
Seating Capacity 2 -
Boot Space Not Applicable -
Towing Capacity Not Applicable -
Front Track Width Not Applicable -
Rear Track Width Not Applicable -
Turning Radius Not Applicable -
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Front Legroom Not Applicable -
Rear Legroom Not Applicable -
Front Headroom Not Applicable -
Rear Headroom Not Applicable -
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable -
Number of Doors 2 -
Max Payload Not Applicable -
Boot Volume Not Applicable -
Doors 2 -
Seats 2 -
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Applicable -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not Applicable -
Ground Clearance Max 194 mm -
Ground Clearance Min 194 mm -
Ground Clearance Mm 194 mm -
Height Mm 1730 mm -
Length Mm 5095 mm -
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable -
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable -
Payload Kg Not Applicable -
Cargo Volume Not Applicable -
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable -
Turning Circle Not Applicable -
Turning Circle M Not Applicable -
Width Mm 1800 mm -

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Steed 5 leads by 10 points

Steed 5 has a slight advantage, but Tasman remains highly competitive.

Winner 49 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 67% confidence
49
#1 Winner

Steed 5

67% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 65 Check Safety 18
Performance 55
Efficiency 65
Safety 18
Practicality 48
Ownership 65
Leads by 10 points
39
#2

Tasman

11% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Performance 50 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 50
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Steed 5 +5 Efficiency Steed 5 +15 Safety Steed 5 +18 Practicality Tasman +2 Ownership Steed 5 +15

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Steed 5

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 18/100
Practicality 48/100
Ownership 65/100

Tasman

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 50/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Steed 5 wins with 49 pts vs 39 pts for Tasman

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

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Steed 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: Steed 5 65 vs Tasman 50. 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: Steed 5 18, Tasman 0. 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: Steed 5 65, Tasman 50. 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: Steed 5 48, Tasman 50. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Steed 5 55, Tasman 50. 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 Steed 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Steed 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 Steed 5 and Tasman in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Steed 5 scores 55 vs 50.

Efficiency: Steed 5 scores 65 vs 50.

Safety: Steed 5 scores 18 vs 0.

Practicality: Steed 5 scores 48 vs 50.

Ownership: Steed 5 scores 65 vs 50.

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