Omoda C9 vs GWM H6 PHEV

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.

Omoda C9 in South Africa

Omoda C9

Explore AWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 885,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 192 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
GWM H6 PHEV in South Africa

GWM H6 PHEV

1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT Phev Automatic
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 268 kW 🔧 760 Nm ⛽ 90.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 PHEV
Fuel Economy H6 PHEV
🛡 Safety C9
📦 Practicality C9
🔑 Ownership C9
H6 PHEV starts ZAR 785900 cheaper C9 from ZAR 785,900 · H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec C9 H6 PHEV
Engine Power 192 kW 268 kW
Torque 400 Nm 760 Nm
Engine Size 2.0 cc 1500 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 90.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 165 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 660 l 560 l
Airbags Multiple airbags Front double, front side and side curtain airbags
Kerb Weight - 1980 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 Years / 200 000 km 7 years / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both C9 and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 PHEV +17 pts
Efficiency H6 PHEV +51 pts
Safety C9 +56 pts
Practicality C9 +10 pts
Ownership C9 +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

C9

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

H6 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

C9

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

H6 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C9 H6 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2024 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South Africa C9 range Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Color Note - Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT
Spec C9 H6 PHEV
Ground Clearance 165 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2738 mm
Length 4775 mm 4703 mm
Width 1920 mm 1886 mm
Height 1671 mm 1730 mm
Kerb Weight - 1980 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2281 kg 2400 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 660 l 560 l
Towing Capacity - 1500 kg
Front Track Width - -
Rear Track Width - -
Turning Radius - -
Load Bed Length 660 l 560 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - -
Rear Legroom - -
Front Headroom - -
Rear Headroom - -
Front Shoulder Room - -
Rear Shoulder Room - -
Boot Space Seats Folded 1783 l 1445 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 660 l 560 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 l 55 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2281 kg 2400 kg
Ground Clearance Max 165 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Min 165 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 165 mm 170 mm
Height Mm 1671 mm 1730 mm
Length Mm 4775 mm 4703 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 660 l 560 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 660 l 560 l
Tare Mass Kg - 1980 kg
Turning Circle - -
Turning Circle M - -
Width Mm 1920 mm 1886 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

C9 leads by 2 points

Both C9 and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

C9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 81
Efficiency 46
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 2 points
73
#2

H6 PHEV

76% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 38
Performance 98
Efficiency 97
Safety 38
Practicality 68
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 PHEV +17 Efficiency H6 PHEV +51 Safety C9 +56 Practicality C9 +10 Ownership C9 +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

C9

Performance 81/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

H6 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Omoda C9 wins with 75 pts vs 73 pts for H6 PHEV

In structured scoring, C9 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H6 PHEV 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 C9 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: C9 46 vs H6 PHEV 97. 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: C9 94, H6 PHEV 38. 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: C9 69, H6 PHEV 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: C9 78, H6 PHEV 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C9 81, H6 PHEV 98. 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 C9 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The C9 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 C9 and H6 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C9 scores 81 vs 98.

Efficiency: C9 scores 46 vs 97.

Safety: C9 scores 94 vs 38.

Practicality: C9 scores 78 vs 68.

Ownership: C9 scores 69 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives C9 the advantage in this comparison.