Toyota Corolla Cross vs GWM H2

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 H2 Discontinued model
Toyota Corolla Cross in South Africa

Toyota Corolla Cross

1.8 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 575,400 ex-showroom
⚡ 72 kW 🔧 142 Nm ⛽ 23.3 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

Decision summary

Toyota Corolla Cross vs GWM H2: the short answer

Corolla Cross has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H2 remains close.

Recorded price context Corolla Cross: current from ZAR 385,000 · H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Corolla Cross H2
Maximum Power Corolla Cross72 kW @ 5200 rpm H2110 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque Corolla Cross142 Nm @ 3600 rpm H2210 Nm
Engine Size Corolla Cross1798 cc H21497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Corolla Cross23.3 km/l H27.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Corolla Cross161 mm H2175 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.

Toyota Corolla Cross

1.8 HEV GR-S CVT

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 H2

1.5T LT

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

Corolla Cross

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

H2

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

Which One's Right for You?

Corolla Cross

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

H2

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 Corolla Cross H2
Model Introduced Year 2026 2017
Generation Facelifted first-generation Corolla Cross built in South Africa 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 2026 range adds petrol and HEV GR-S derivatives alongside Xi, XS and XR grades 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 range adds petrol and HEV GR-S derivatives alongside Xi, XS and XR grades 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active Active
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1385-1430 kg Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec Corolla Cross H2
Length 4460 mm 4290 mm
Width 1825 mm 1800 mm
Height 1620 mm 1645 mm
Wheelbase 2640 mm 2560 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 161 mm 175 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 36 l 52 l
Boot/Cargo Space 434 l 450 l
Kerb Weight 1545 kg 1650 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1850 kg 1800 kg
Payload Capacity 443 kg 550 kg
Towing Capacity 400 kg 2000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.2 m 5.4 m
Front Headroom 984 mm 990 mm
Rear Headroom 943 mm 960 mm
Front Legroom 1039 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 899 mm 870 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Corolla Cross and H2 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: Corolla Cross 41 vs H2 45.

Efficiency index: Corolla Cross 90 vs H2 35.

Safety-equipment index: Corolla Cross 94 vs H2 73.

Practicality index: Corolla Cross 54 vs H2 65.

Ownership-cover index: Corolla Cross not separately scored vs H2 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

Corolla Cross leads by 14 points

Corolla Cross has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H2 remains close.

Evidence leader 68 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 74% source coverage
68
#1 Evidence leader

Corolla Cross

74% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 41
Performance 41
Efficiency 90
Safety 94
Practicality 54
Leads by 14 points
54
#2

H2

95% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 73 Check Efficiency 35
Performance 45
Efficiency 35
Safety 73
Practicality 65
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H2 +4 Efficiency Corolla Cross +55 Safety Corolla Cross +21 Practicality H2 +11

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Corolla Cross

Performance 41/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 54/100

H2

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 73/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Corolla Cross leads the specification evidence index with 68 pts vs 54 pts for H2

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Corolla Cross leads. However, H2 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Corolla Cross vs H2 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.