Geely Coolray vs GWM H1

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 H1 Discontinued model
Geely Coolray in South Africa

Geely Coolray

Vertex Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 429,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 128 kW 🔧 290 Nm ⛽ 15.38 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

Geely Coolray vs GWM H1: the short answer

Coolray holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Recorded price context Coolray: current from ZAR 369,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Coolray H1
Maximum Power Coolray128 kW H178 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Coolray290 Nm H1135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size CoolrayNot Officially Disclosed H11497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Coolray15.38 km/l H17.0 km/l
Ground Clearance Coolray180 mm H1160 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for GWM H1 1.5 LS

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Coolray

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

H1

Strengths
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Coolray

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

H1

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

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 Coolray H1
Model Introduced Year 2026 2015
Generation Current South African model / exact generation number not separately published 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 No applicable South African facelift history established 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 Not Applicable 2017
Facelift Version Ending Not Applicable Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status active Not confirmed
Segment Passenger vehicle Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Coolray H1
Length 4380 mm 4002 mm
Width 1795 mm 1740 mm
Height 1609 mm 1567 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 180 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 330 l Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1815 kg Not confirmed
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Not Officially Disclosed 1770 kg
Payload Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Seating Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 5 seats
Number of Rows Not Officially Disclosed Not confirmed
Doors Not Officially Disclosed 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 Coolray and H1 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Coolray 60 vs H1 30.

Efficiency index: Coolray 61 vs H1 35.

Safety-equipment index: Coolray 90 vs H1 68.

Practicality index: Coolray 56 vs H1 63.

Ownership-cover index: Coolray not separately scored 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

Coolray leads by 18 points

Coolray holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Evidence leader 67 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 67% source coverage
67
#1 Evidence leader

Coolray

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Practicality 56
Performance 60
Efficiency 61
Safety 90
Practicality 56
Leads by 18 points
49
#2

H1

80% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 68 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 68
Practicality 63
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Coolray +30 Efficiency Coolray +26 Safety Coolray +22 Practicality H1 +7

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Coolray

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 61/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 56/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Geely Coolray leads the specification evidence index with 67 pts vs 49 pts for H1

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

Coolray vs H1 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.