Hyundai ALCAZAR vs GWM H7

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.

Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 5.9 km/l
VS
GWM H7 in South Africa

GWM H7

2.0T LX Petrol Automatic
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 185 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 8.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H7
Fuel Economy H7
🛡 Safety H7
📦 Practicality H7
🔑 Ownership Tie
ALCAZAR starts ZAR 649900 cheaper ALCAZAR from ZAR 499,900 · H7 from ZAR 649,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec ALCAZAR H7
Engine Power 85 185
Torque 250 420
Engine Size 1493 1999
Claimed Mileage 5.9 8.5
Ground Clearance 200 mm 195
Boot Space 180 620
Airbags Not Available 8
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 1830
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

H7 holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H7 +24 pts
Efficiency H7 +4 pts
Safety H7 +72 pts
Practicality H7 +9 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

ALCAZAR

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

H7

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

H7

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec ALCAZAR H7
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2024
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. First generation, derived from Haval's larger SUV platform launched in 2023. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic model in suspension calibration and equipment loading.
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. First-generation H7 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the all-wheel-drive system calibration and the driver-assistance behaviour.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Seven-seat SUV SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof options available on LT and LX trims.
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec ALCAZAR H7
Ground Clearance 200 mm 195 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2800 mm
Length 4560 mm 4772 mm
Width 1800 mm 1910 mm
Height 1710 mm 1750 mm
Kerb Weight Not Applicable 1830 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable 2200 kg
Seating Capacity 7 5
Boot Space 180 l 620 l
Towing Capacity Not Applicable 1500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable 1560 mm
Rear Track Width Not Applicable 1570 mm
Turning Radius Not Applicable 12.2 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable 1050 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 890 mm
Front Headroom Not Applicable 990 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 960 mm
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1430 mm
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1390 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l 820 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 180 l 620 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 7 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 63 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not Applicable 2200 kg
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 195 mm
Height Mm 1710 mm 1750 mm
Length Mm 4560 mm 4772 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 180 l 620 l
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable 1830 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable 12.2 m
Turning Circle M Not Applicable 12.2 m
Width Mm 1800 mm 1910 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Load Sill Height - Low
Rear Overhang - 890 mm
Tracking System - Optional
Boot Space Seats Folded 180 l 820 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H7 leads by 24 points

H7 holds a noticeable edge over ALCAZAR, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 24 points
Data 97% confidence
70
#1 Winner

H7

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 37
Performance 68
Efficiency 37
Safety 100
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 24 points
46
#2

ALCAZAR

76% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Ownership 65 Check Safety 28
Performance 44
Efficiency 33
Safety 28
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H7 +24 Efficiency H7 +4 Safety H7 +72 Practicality H7 +9 Ownership Level

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H7

Performance 68/100
Efficiency 37/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 33/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H7 wins with 70 pts vs 46 pts for ALCAZAR

In structured scoring, H7 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, ALCAZAR 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 H7 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: ALCAZAR 33 vs H7 37. 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: ALCAZAR 28, H7 100. 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: ALCAZAR 65, H7 65. 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: ALCAZAR 64, H7 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: ALCAZAR 44, H7 68. 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 H7 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H7 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 ALCAZAR and H7 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: ALCAZAR scores 44 vs 68.

Efficiency: ALCAZAR scores 33 vs 37.

Safety: ALCAZAR scores 28 vs 100.

Practicality: ALCAZAR scores 64 vs 73.

Ownership: ALCAZAR scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H7 the advantage in this comparison.