Ford Tourneo Custom vs Changan UNI-S

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.

Ford Tourneo Custom in South Africa

Ford Tourneo Custom

2.0L SWB Titanium X 8AT Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,278,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
VS
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Ford Tourneo Custom vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

Tourneo Custom and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

UNI-S starts ZAR 685,600 cheaper Tourneo Custom from ZAR 1,075,500 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Tourneo Custom UNI-S
Maximum Power Tourneo Custom125 kW UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Tourneo Custom390 Nm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size Tourneo Custom1996 cc UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Tourneo Custom13.5 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance Tourneo Custom130 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

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.

Ford Tourneo Custom

2.0L SWB Titanium X 8AT

Hagalu editorial rating
4.2/5

Desk research · Exact variant

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

Read the review and score breakdown

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

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)

Specification evidence leader

Tourneo Custom

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

UNI-S

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Tourneo Custom

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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

UNI-S

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tourneo Custom UNI-S
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2026
Generation Current South African Tourneo Custom listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
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. No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style MPV SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Wheelbase Type Short wheelbase -
Production Status active active
Segment Passenger van Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg Kerb not published; GVM 3200 kg -
Vehicle Type MPV Passenger car
Spec Tourneo Custom UNI-S
Length 5050 mm 4539 mm
Width 2032 mm 1865 mm
Height 1979 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 3100 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 130 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 482 l 475 l
Kerb Weight 1559 kg 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3200 kg 1825 kg
Payload Capacity 454 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 2500 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 8 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 5.66 m
Front Headroom 996 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 957 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1048 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 890 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Tourneo Custom and UNI-S 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: Tourneo Custom 66 vs UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Tourneo Custom 57 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Tourneo Custom 93 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Tourneo Custom 70 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Tourneo Custom not separately scored vs UNI-S 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

Tourneo Custom leads by 3 points

Tourneo Custom and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 72 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 71% source coverage
72
#1 Evidence leader

Tourneo Custom

71% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 57
Performance 66
Efficiency 57
Safety 93
Practicality 70
Leads by 3 points
69
#2

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tourneo Custom +7 Efficiency Tourneo Custom +2 Safety Tourneo Custom +1 Practicality Tourneo Custom +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tourneo Custom

Performance 66/100
Efficiency 57/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 70/100

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Ford Tourneo Custom leads the specification evidence index with 72 pts vs 69 pts for UNI-S

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tourneo Custom leads. However, UNI-S may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Tourneo Custom vs UNI-S 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.