Hyundai ALCAZAR vs GWM H1

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM H1 Discontinued model
Hyundai ALCAZAR in South Africa

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT Diesel Current
ZAR 669,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
GWM H1 in South Africa

GWM H1

1.5 LS Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 229,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 78 kW 🔧 135 Nm ⛽ 7.0 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai ALCAZAR vs GWM H1: the short answer

ALCAZAR holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Recorded price context ALCAZAR: current from ZAR 499,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification ALCAZAR H1
Maximum Power ALCAZAR85 kW H178 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque ALCAZAR250 Nm H1135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size ALCAZAR1493 cc H11497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy ALCAZAR16.9 km/l H17.0 km/l
Ground Clearance ALCAZAR200 mm H1160 mm

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.

Hyundai ALCAZAR

1.5D Elite AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

GWM H1

1.5 LS

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

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

ALCAZAR

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

H1

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

Which One's Right for You?

ALCAZAR

  • 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 warranty or service cover

H1

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec ALCAZAR H1
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2015
Generation Current South African ALCAZAR listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Single generation in South Africa from 2015-2019. The H1 was based on an older Great Wall platform and was discontinued without a direct successor.
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. H1 received a single mid-cycle update in 2017 that brought minor exterior styling refinements and an updated infotainment system. No significant mechanical changes through the model life.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2017
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. Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1445 kg Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec ALCAZAR H1
Length 4560 mm 4002 mm
Width 1800 mm 1740 mm
Height 1710 mm 1567 mm
Wheelbase 2760 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 200 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 180 l 450 l
Kerb Weight 1445 kg 1650 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2090 kg 1770 kg
Payload Capacity 645 kg 550 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 3 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.2 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 975 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 950 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1020 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 840 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This ALCAZAR and H1 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: ALCAZAR 44 vs H1 30.

Efficiency index: ALCAZAR 68 vs H1 35.

Safety-equipment index: ALCAZAR 89 vs H1 70.

Practicality index: ALCAZAR 64 vs H1 64.

Ownership-cover index: ALCAZAR 65 vs H1 44.

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

ALCAZAR leads by 17 points

ALCAZAR holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Evidence leader 66 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 70% source coverage
66
#1 Evidence leader

ALCAZAR

70% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Performance 44
Performance 44
Efficiency 68
Safety 89
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Leads by 17 points
49
#2

H1

94% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 70 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 70
Practicality 64
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance ALCAZAR +14 Efficiency ALCAZAR +33 Safety ALCAZAR +19 Practicality Level Ownership ALCAZAR +21

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

ALCAZAR

Performance 44/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Hyundai ALCAZAR leads the specification evidence index with 66 pts vs 49 pts for H1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, ALCAZAR leads. However, H1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

ALCAZAR vs H1 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.