Honda CR-V 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
Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 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 CR-V
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety CR-V
📦 Practicality CR-V
🔑 Ownership CR-V
Recorded price context CR-V: current from ZAR 689,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V H1
Maximum Power 204 kW 78 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 335 Nm 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1993 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 7.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l Not confirmed
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 1750 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity - Not confirmed
Warranty 3 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

CR-V dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CR-V +47 pts
Efficiency CR-V +45 pts
Safety CR-V +36 pts
Practicality CR-V +5 pts
Ownership CR-V +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

H1

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

H1

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

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 CR-V H1
Model Introduced Year 2023 2015
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety 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 Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology 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 Original current-generation version 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg Not confirmed
Spec CR-V H1
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive Not confirmed
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox eCVT Automatic 6-Speed CVT
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.94:1
Number of Gears Not Applicable 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic CVT
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque Converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Not confirmed
Drivetrain AWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Available Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Available Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not confirmed
Low Range Not Applicable Not confirmed
Axle Layout AWD Not confirmed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 6
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Not confirmed
Engine Position - Transverse Front-Mounted
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 3.2

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 29 points

CR-V dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 29 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 29 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 CR-V +47 Efficiency CR-V +45 Safety CR-V +36 Practicality CR-V +5 Ownership CR-V +7

High confidence result.

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

H1

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, CR-V 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.

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 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, H1 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, 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 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 H1 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 30.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 35.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 56.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 63.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 44.

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