Ford Fiesta vs Hyundai i20
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
Too close to call on resale: both keep about 66% of their value over three years. Decide on the deal, not the badge.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| Fiesta | i20 | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 322 500 | R 309 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 637/m | R 5 417/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 82% | 82% |
| Retained after 3 years | 66% | 66% |
| Value after 3 years | R 214 205 | R 205 836 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 108 295 | R 104 064 |
| Value after 5 years | R 169 671 | R 163 042 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Mainstream |
Ford Fiesta →
Sold here from 1997 until 2022 across four generations, including local assembly in the early years. Enthusiasts remember the ST fondly and used STs still fetch decent money. Standard 1.0 EcoBoost cars are common on the used market, though resale trails the Polo it fought for two decades.
Known for: sharp handling and the st hot hatch
Hyundai i20 →
Hyundai's Polo rival has been on sale here since 2009 and offers generous spec for the money. The current generation sells on comfort, space and warranty rather than driving thrills. Resale is respectable, if a notch below the Polo's.
Known for: well-specced polo alternative
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Ford Fiesta or the Hyundai i20?
They are close to inseparable: 66% vs 66% retained after three years. Buy on price, spec and the deal you can get, not on resale.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Ford Fiesta loses about R 108 295 over three years and the Hyundai i20 loses about R 104 064. Fuel, insurance and servicing can narrow or widen that, but the depreciation gap is the number to start from.
What do they cost per month?
On typical finance (10% deposit, 72 months, 11.75%), the Ford Fiesta runs about R 5 637 per month and the Hyundai i20 about R 5 417, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.