Omoda C5 SHS vs GWM H2

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.

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 H2 Discontinued model
Omoda C5 SHS in South Africa

Omoda C5 SHS

C5 SHS Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 20.4 km/l
VS
GWM H2 in South Africa

GWM H2

1.5T LT Petrol 6-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 339,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ 7.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance C5 SHS
Fuel Economy C5 SHS
🛡 Safety C5 SHS
📦 Practicality H2
🔑 Ownership C5 SHS
Recorded price context C5 SHS: current from ZAR 469,900 · H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec C5 SHS H2
Maximum Power 150 kW @ 5500 rpm 110 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 310 Nm 210 Nm
Engine Size 1500 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 20.4 km/l 7.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 169 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 372 l Not confirmed
Airbags Multiple airbags 4
Kerb Weight 1546 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity - Not confirmed
Warranty 5 Years / 150 000 km 3 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

C5 SHS holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance C5 SHS +17 pts
Efficiency C5 SHS +47 pts
Safety C5 SHS +28 pts
Practicality H2 +11 pts
Ownership C5 SHS +11 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

C5 SHS

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

H2

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

C5 SHS

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

H2

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 C5 SHS H2
Model Introduced Year 2026 2017
Generation Current South Africa C5 SHS range First generation Haval H2 in SA, on sale 2017-2022. Discontinued in favour of the Jolion, which used a more modern platform and powertrain.
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source H2 received a mid-cycle update in 2019 that brought minor exterior styling changes, improved infotainment software and refinements to the DCT calibration. Updates continued through the model life to address recurring DCT issues, with the final 2022 specification being notably improved over the original 2017 launch model.
Facelift Launched Since 2026 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1546 kg Not confirmed
Spec C5 SHS H2
Drivetrain Layout FWD Not confirmed
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Standard Yes
Gearbox DHT 6-Speed DCT
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 4.12:1
Number of Gears Hybrid DHT 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic DCT
Clutch Type Automatic clutch Torque Converter DCT
Gear Shift Indicator Standard Not confirmed
Drivetrain FWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles Standard Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type DHT Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not confirmed
Low Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
Axle Layout FWD Not confirmed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds Hybrid DHT 6
Gear Shift Type Electric Not confirmed
Engine Position - Transverse Front-Mounted
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 3.4

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C5 SHS leads by 18 points

C5 SHS holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 76% confidence
70
#1 Winner

C5 SHS

76% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Practicality 55
Performance 62
Efficiency 82
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 55
Leads by 18 points
52
#2

H2

87% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 66 Check Efficiency 35
Performance 45
Efficiency 35
Safety 66
Practicality 66
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance C5 SHS +17 Efficiency C5 SHS +47 Safety C5 SHS +28 Practicality H2 +11 Ownership C5 SHS +11

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

C5 SHS

Performance 62/100
Efficiency 82/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 55/100

H2

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C5 SHS wins with 70 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, C5 SHS emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H2 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 C5 SHS 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: C5 SHS 82 vs H2 35. 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: C5 SHS 94, H2 66. 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: C5 SHS 55, H2 44. 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: C5 SHS 55, H2 66. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C5 SHS 62, H2 45. 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 C5 SHS edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C5 SHS 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 C5 SHS and H2 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C5 SHS scores 62 vs 45.

Efficiency: C5 SHS scores 82 vs 35.

Safety: C5 SHS scores 94 vs 66.

Practicality: C5 SHS scores 55 vs 66.

Ownership: C5 SHS scores 55 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives C5 SHS the advantage in this comparison.