Toyota Corolla Cross 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
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 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

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Corolla Cross
⛽ Fuel Economy Corolla Cross
🛡 Safety Corolla Cross
📦 Practicality H1
🔑 Ownership Corolla Cross
Recorded price context Corolla Cross: current from ZAR 385,000 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Corolla Cross H1
Maximum Power 72 kW @ 5200 rpm 78 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 142 Nm @ 3600 rpm 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1798 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 23.3 km/l 7.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 161 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 434 l Not confirmed
Airbags Passenger, Driver Knee 4
Kerb Weight - Not confirmed
Seating Capacity - Not confirmed
Warranty 3 years / 100 000 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

Corolla Cross holds a noticeable edge over H1, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Corolla Cross +4 pts
Efficiency Corolla Cross +55 pts
Safety Corolla Cross +38 pts
Practicality H1 +8 pts
Ownership Corolla Cross +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Corolla Cross

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

H1

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?

Corolla Cross

  • 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

H1

  • 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 Corolla Cross H1
Model Introduced Year 2026 2015
Generation Facelifted first-generation Corolla Cross built in South Africa 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 2026 range adds petrol and HEV GR-S derivatives alongside Xi, XS and XR grades 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 2026 range adds petrol and HEV GR-S derivatives alongside Xi, XS and XR grades 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current South African 2026 specification Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1385-1430 kg Not confirmed
Spec Corolla Cross H1
Drivetrain Layout FWD Not confirmed
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Available Not Applicable
Gearbox CVT 6-Speed CVT
Number of Gears Not Applicable 6
Transmission Type CVT Automatic CVT
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 Not Available Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type CVT 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 Not Applicable 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not confirmed
LSD Available - Not Applicable
Differential Lock - Not Applicable
Engine Position - Transverse Front-Mounted
Final Drive Ratio - 3.94:1
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 3.2
Clutch Type - Torque Converter

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Corolla Cross leads by 17 points

Corolla Cross holds a noticeable edge over H1, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 63 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 78% confidence
63
#1 Winner

Corolla Cross

78% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 90
Safety 94
Practicality 55
Ownership 46
Leads by 17 points
46
#2

H1

87% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 63 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 56
Practicality 63
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Corolla Cross +4 Efficiency Corolla Cross +55 Safety Corolla Cross +38 Practicality H1 +8 Ownership Corolla Cross +2

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Corolla Cross

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 55/100
Ownership 46/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 56/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Corolla Cross wins with 63 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Corolla Cross emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H1 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Corolla Cross 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: Corolla Cross 90 vs H1 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: Corolla Cross 94, H1 56. 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: Corolla Cross 46, H1 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: Corolla Cross 55, H1 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Corolla Cross 34, H1 30. 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 Corolla Cross edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross and H1 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Corolla Cross scores 34 vs 30.

Efficiency: Corolla Cross scores 90 vs 35.

Safety: Corolla Cross scores 94 vs 56.

Practicality: Corolla Cross scores 55 vs 63.

Ownership: Corolla Cross scores 46 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Corolla Cross the advantage in this comparison.