Honda CR-V 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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 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 ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 PHEV
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety CR-V
📦 Practicality CR-V
🔑 Ownership H6 PHEV
CR-V starts ZAR 699900 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V H6 PHEV
Engine Power 204 268
Torque 335 760
Engine Size 1993 1500
Claimed Mileage 20 Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 200 170 mm
Boot Space 497 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 Not Available
Kerb Weight 1750 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CR-V has a slight advantage, but H6 PHEV remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 PHEV +21 pts
Efficiency CR-V +30 pts
Safety CR-V +54 pts
Practicality CR-V +5 pts
Ownership H6 PHEV +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

H6 PHEV

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

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

H6 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V H6 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2023 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology 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 Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT
Spec CR-V H6 PHEV
Ground Clearance 200 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2738 mm
Length 4690 mm 4703 mm
Width 1860 mm 1886 mm
Height 1690 mm 1730 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 kg Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 497 l Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2000 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded 497 l Not Applicable
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 497 l Not Applicable
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2250 kg Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 170 mm
Height Mm 1690 mm 1730 mm
Length Mm 4690 mm 4703 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 497 l Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1860 mm 1886 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 11 points

CR-V has a slight advantage, but H6 PHEV remains highly competitive.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Leads by 11 points
64
#2

H6 PHEV

58% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 38
Performance 98
Efficiency 50
Safety 38
Practicality 63
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 PHEV +21 Efficiency CR-V +30 Safety CR-V +54 Practicality CR-V +5 Ownership H6 PHEV +14

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

H6 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 64 pts for H6 PHEV

In structured scoring, CR-V 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 CR-V 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: CR-V 80 vs H6 PHEV 50. 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, H6 PHEV 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, 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 CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 98.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 50.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 38.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 63.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.