Ford EcoSport 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.

Includes an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Ford EcoSport
Ford EcoSport in South Africa

Ford EcoSport

1.0 EcoBoost Titanium Automatic Petrol Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 395,000 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 92 kW 🔧 170 Nm ⛽ 17.2 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 EcoSport
🛡 Safety EcoSport
📦 Practicality H6 PHEV
🔑 Ownership H6 PHEV
EcoSport starts ZAR 699900 cheaper EcoSport from ZAR 310,000 · H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec EcoSport H6 PHEV
Engine Power 92 268
Torque 170 760
Engine Size 998 1500
Claimed Mileage 17.2 Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 200 170 mm
Boot Space 352 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 Not Available
Kerb Weight 1290 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 4 5

= 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

Both EcoSport and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 PHEV +58 pts
Efficiency EcoSport +14 pts
Safety EcoSport +33 pts
Practicality H6 PHEV +5 pts
Ownership H6 PHEV +10 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

EcoSport

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

H6 PHEV

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

Which One's Right for You?

EcoSport

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

H6 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

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 EcoSport H6 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2013 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Single generation on Ford B2E platform. Produced in India for global markets. SA received the facelift model with improved interior quality and revised safety kit. Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Facelift in 2017 — revised front fascia and SYNC 3 infotainment introduced 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 2017 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec EcoSport H6 PHEV
Ground Clearance 200 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2519 mm 2738 mm
Length 4325 mm 4703 mm
Width 1765 mm 1886 mm
Height 1653 mm 1730 mm
Kerb Weight 1290 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 1740 kg Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 352 l Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 950 kg 2000 kg
Boot Volume 352 l Not Applicable
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1740 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 1653 mm 1730 mm
Length Mm 4325 mm 4703 mm
Cargo Volume 352 l Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg 1290 kg Not Applicable
Width Mm 1765 mm 1886 mm
Front Track Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not confirmed Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not confirmed Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not confirmed Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not confirmed Not Applicable
Number of Doors Not confirmed 5
Max Payload Not confirmed Not Applicable
Doors Not confirmed 5
Loadbox Length Mm Not confirmed Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not confirmed Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not confirmed Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H6 PHEV leads by 7 points

Both EcoSport and H6 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 64 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 58% confidence
64
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 7 points
57
#2

EcoSport

86% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 71 Check Performance 40
Performance 40
Efficiency 64
Safety 71
Practicality 58
Ownership 55
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 PHEV +58 Efficiency EcoSport +14 Safety EcoSport +33 Practicality H6 PHEV +5 Ownership H6 PHEV +10

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H6 PHEV

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

EcoSport

Performance 40/100
Efficiency 64/100
Safety 71/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 55/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H6 PHEV wins with 64 pts vs 57 pts for EcoSport

In structured scoring, H6 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, EcoSport 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 H6 PHEV 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: EcoSport 64 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: EcoSport 71, 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: EcoSport 55, 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: EcoSport 58, H6 PHEV 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: EcoSport 40, 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 H6 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: EcoSport scores 40 vs 98.

Efficiency: EcoSport scores 64 vs 50.

Safety: EcoSport scores 71 vs 38.

Practicality: EcoSport scores 58 vs 63.

Ownership: EcoSport scores 55 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives H6 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.