Hyundai i20 vs Opel Corsa
Value retention, real cost and monthly money, compared on the same 2026 South African data.
The Hyundai i20 wins on money kept: 66% retained after three years vs 57%, worth about R 72 525 at trade-in time.
Both curves, one chart
Head to head
| i20 | Corsa | |
|---|---|---|
| New price (from) | R 309 900 | R 489 900 |
| ±Monthly instalment | R 5 417/m | R 8 563/m |
| Retained after 1 year | 82% | 76% |
| Retained after 3 years | 66% | 57% |
| Value after 3 years | R 205 836 | R 278 361 |
| Lost to depreciation (3y) | R 104 064 | R 211 539 |
| Value after 5 years | R 163 042 | R 209 434 |
| Our tier | Mainstream | Weak-franchise mainstream |
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
Opel Corsa →
One of South Africa's best known small hatches, on sale since the mid 1990s and once built locally in Port Elizabeth. The budget Corsa Lite kept the older generation alive well into the 2000s, while the current French-platform Corsa is imported by Stellantis. Used demand is steady but modern Corsas shed value faster than a Polo.
Known for: affordable german-badged city hatch
Common questions
Which holds value better, the Hyundai i20 or the Opel Corsa?
The Hyundai i20. It keeps about 66% of its price after three years against 57% for the Opel Corsa, a gap of 10 points.
Which is cheaper to own over three years?
Depreciation is the biggest ownership cost. The Hyundai i20 loses about R 104 064 over three years and the Opel Corsa loses about R 211 539. 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 Hyundai i20 runs about R 5 417 per month and the Opel Corsa about R 8 563, before fees and insurance.
Keep going
Modelled estimates on a retail basis; spec levels and real transaction prices vary.