Hyundai H-1 vs Volkswagen Kombi vs Ford Tourneo Custom: Which one has the lowest running costs?
Beloved by large families and shuttle operators alike, large passenger vans offer plenty of seating space and versatility for a wide variety of uses. We compare the Hyundai H-1 to Volkswagen’s Kombi and the Ford Tourneo Custom, to determine which one has the lowest running costs.
Can you pre-determine your car’s running costs?
When considering a car’s running costs, it’s important to look at it over the full life-cycle. This allows third or fourth owners of older cars to get a clearer picture of possible future expenses, and it helps first owners to determine at what age their cars may become too expensive to run.
There are certain key points which could give an idea of a car’s general upkeep requirements. This includes the length of the service intervals, the cost of replacement tyres and service- and maintenance parts, and the prices of service parts. It’s likely that running costs will be of lesser importance to new-car buyers, on account of the comprehensive service plans standard on all of them.
For those fortunate buyers, the main concerns would be reduced to depreciation, tyre prices, insurance and fuel thirst. However, the second- and third owners might want to know just how fat their wallets really need to be to own one of these spacious people-movers, and which one will be the least-expensive to run for business- or private use.
Related: These three opponents have faced each other in an overall capability comparison. The result may surprise you!
Let’s meet the contenders
Hyundai H-1 2.5 VGTi bus Elite (R 704 500)
This is the most expensive passenger van in its range, and it’s also the most luxurious one in this trio. If you want an automatic or diesel H-1 bus, this is your only choice, because the lower-spec Executive variant only comes with a 2.4-litre, non-turbo petrol engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox). In Elite trim, this minibus also has better safety features, being the only one in its range with 4 airbags and stability control.
Motive power is provided by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine, sending 125 kW and 441 Nm to the rear wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission. It’s quite spritely for something this big and luxurious, but still not really quick: the 0 – 100 km/h amble is dispatched in 14.4 seconds, although its top speed is a fairly respectable 180 km/h.
Related: Hop on the bus, Gus – we review the Hyundai H-1 Elite.
Volkswagen Kombi 2.0 TDI SWB Trendline Plus (R 697 200)
Coming in slightly less expensive than the Hyundai, we have the mid-level Volkswagen Kombi equivalent. The SWB Kombi loses one seat and some cargo volume to the Hyundai, because it’s somewhat shorter. However, the Volkswagen is a bit wider, giving its 8 seats a decent amount of shoulder- and elbow room, although the airbag count drops to 2.
In Trendline Plus trim, the VW Group’s 2.0-litre turbodiesel gets a boost to 103 kW and 340 Nm, going to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Thanks to this sharp-shifting transmission and a lower kerb weight than the H-1, the Kombi almost matches the more-powerful Hyundai to 100 km/h, doing the run in 14.7 seconds before running out of puff at 172 km/h.
Related: The Top 5 Volkswagen Kombi, Caravelle and Transporter articles on AutoTrader.
Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0SiT LWB Trend (R 700 200)
An often-overlooked contender in this market segment comes from the Ford stable, in the shape of the Tourneo Custom – seen here with Ford’s new single-turbo diesel engine and a long wheelbase. It matches the Kombi’s seat count, but ups the safety ante with 6 airbags and a heap of extra cabin- and luggage space.
For some strange reason, the powerplant in the Tourneo Custom LWB is only available in a lower state of tune than you’d get in a Ranger, while the (pricier) SWB derivative gets a significant power bump (to 136 kW/415 Nm). In LWB form, there’s only 96 kW and 360 Nm on tap, so it will likely be a bit slower than the Kombi – Ford doesn’t quote performance figures, but it weighs more and has less power than the VW, and it has a smoother but less-efficient 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
Related: The Top 3 Ford Tourneo articles on AutoTrader.
Which one has the lowest running costs?
Purchase price and depreciation
The Volkswagen Kombi is the least-expensive one here, and (barely) squeezes in under the R 700 000 mark with a list price of R 697 200. Next up is the Ford Tourneo Custom at R 700 200, with the Hyundai H-1 topping this comparison at R 704 500. That’s a difference of R 7 300 (or about 10%) between the most- and the least-expensive.
Using data from 2018-model vehicles (the date of their last refresh) with less than 40 000 km on their odometers listed on AutoTrader, we calculated the depreciation of our three contenders. There wasn’t a single 2018 Tourneo Custom 2.0SiT listed at the time of writing, and only 3 automatic 2.0SiT Trends of any year. However, the listed 2018-model 2.2TDCi manual LWB Trends retained only 73.3% of their value, and there’s little reason to suspect that the 2.0SiT will be much different.
Applying the same search criteria to the other cars, it turned out that the luxury H-1 managed to retain an impressive 85.3% of its value when it was new in 2018. Move the mileage limit up to 80 000 km, and the H-1 2.5VGTi bus still retails for an average of 75.6% – frankly, an amazing showing.
And, in a shocking turnaround from the norm, the 2018 Volkswagen Kombi Trendline Plus Auto showed a value retention of only 68.5% after 2 years and a maximum of 40 000 km. Judging by the small number of listings, it would seem that this particular variant isn’t terribly popular, and its steep initial depreciation confirms this. This applies to the fancier Caravelle Comfortline Auto as well, albeit slightly less severely, so any VW bus would make for great-value second-hand shopping.
Instalment calculator
*Calculated according to the AutoTrader Car Finance Calculator, with a 72-month finance agreement, 10% interest rate, 10% deposit, and no residual value. All prices listed in this article were accurate at the time of writing, but may change without prior notice.
Hyundai H-1 2.5 VGTi bus Elite
List price: R 704 500
Instalment: R 11 746/month
Volkswagen Kombi 2.0TDI SWB Trendline Plus
List price: R 697 200
Instalment: R 11 624/month
Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0SiT LWB Trend
List Price: R 700 200
Instalment: R 11 674/month
Fuel efficiency
According to the manufacturers’ claims, the big-engined (and heavy) Hyundai has an average consumption of 9.8 ℓ/100 km, the Volkswagen should average 8.0 ℓ/100 km, while the Ford should return an impressive 6.7 ℓ/100 km (only 68% as much as the Hyundai). Officially, this puts the Ford first, the Volkswagen second, and the Hyundai a distant third.
Achieving such impressive numbers in the real world will be a different story altogether, although the Hyundai has been proven to get close to its claimed figure with conservative driving. The other two will most likely average mid-8 ℓ/100 km in normal driving, thanks to their weight advantages, extra gear ratios, and downsized engines.
Warranties, maintenance plans, and service intervals
The Kombi is first out of the starting blocks with a warranty for 3 years or 120 000 km – fairly generous, considering the significant mileages vehicles of this nature generally accrue. It also includes a maintenance plan for 5 years or 60 000 km in the package, which unfortunately counts against the kind of usage pattern encouraged by the warranty...
Ford brings a better warranty to the table, offering coverage for 4 years or 120 000 km. There’s only a service plan, however, but it runs for 4 years or 90 000 km – fewer years than the Volkswagen, but for a longer distance. But these are all moot points, because the Hyundai’s aftersales package blows them both out of the water.
It begins with Hyundai’s class-leading warranty, which covers the drivetrain for 7 years or 200 000 km, and the rest of the vehicle for 5 years or 150 000 km. The service plan is also rather more comprehensive, running for 5 years or 90 000 km. No wonder they’re so popular in the used market, then – these vehicles are perfect for second- and third owners’ peace of mind.
All three of these vehicles have service intervals set at 15 000 km, but the Volkswagen will likely have the least-expensive service parts simply due to its drivetrain’s ubiquity. The Ford will be next in line, for the same reason as the VW, while the stand-alone Hyundai will likely cost the most to service once its pre-paid servicing runs out.
Related: What is usually covered under a manufacturer’s warranty?
Insurance
Of these three, the Volkswagen is considered to attract the highest insurance risk, but the Ford isn’t far behind. The reason for this is simple: because they both share plenty of components with other popular Volkswagens and Fords, they are more prone to fall victim to chop-shop butchery. At least the Tourneo Custom doesn’t appear to be as prone to break-ins as earlier Fiestas and EcoSports.
By contrast, the Hyundai shares little with other vehicles in its family, and as a result, the demand among thieves is lower. However, its slower depreciation will increase insurance premiums in the long run, simply because the replacement value stays high for a long time.
Remember that insurance premiums will vary for different drivers, mostly based on the projected mileage to be covered and where the cars are kept and driven, both in the daytime and overnight. Younger drivers, or those with prior accident histories, will experience additional penalties due to their higher collision risk.
Related: Top tips to save on your car insurance.
Tyre replacement
Standard tyre prices play a significant part in any running cost evaluation, but it’s not always a given that smaller tyres will be less expensive – if they’re less commonly used, they might be harder to find and more expensive to replace than larger tyres which are in wider use.
Hyundai equips the H-1 Elite with 215/65R17 tyres, which is a very common size. In fact, we found 54 different replacements for the Hyundai, ranging from “store-brand” cheapies starting from R 1 200 per tyre to premium-brand commercial tyres for about R 2 400 each. Considering the H-1’s weight and load capabilities, it would be wise to rather shop for high-quality commercial tyres, but at least even those are fairly inexpensive.
There’s a similar array of replacements available for the Volkswagen’s 215/65R16 tyres – once again of commercial grade, and with a similar price spread. Even the Ford’s 235/55R17 tyres are widely available and similarly priced, so their individual tyre replacements won’t make much of a difference regarding these vehicles’ comparative running costs.
Related: How long is a tyre supposed to last?
Verdict
Depreciation counts against both the Kombi and the Tourneo Custom in a big way. Add the Kombi’s higher insurance premiums and shorter maintenance plan to the equation, and it becomes clear that it wouldn’t be the best economic decision in this trio – at least, not as a new vehicle. It’s a very capable minibus in its own right, but only really makes financial sense as a used car, where that depreciation makes for excellent value on nearly-new Kombis.
Choosing between the Ford and the Hyundai is much more difficult. In the Hyundai’s favour are very strong residuals, excellent warranty and cheaper insurance, but its fuel thirst may be too strong a deterrent for long-term ownership. However, that long-running service plan will alleviate much of the pain brought about by the Hyundai’s drinking habit, especially for first owners and long-distance drivers.
Used-car buyers would be better advised to consider the Ford Tourneo Custom, though: it also sheds a lot of its new-car value, and has low overall running costs. In fact, just based on its fuel efficiency and decent service plan, it offers the lowest running costs in this trio for new-car buyers as well. One can’t help but wonder why Ford’s MPV isn’t more popular with buyers – it’s clearly a good prospect for budget-minded owners.