Honda Elevate 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 Elevate in South Africa

Honda Elevate

1.5 Elegance CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 399,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 119 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 16.0 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 Elevate
🛡 Safety Elevate
📦 Practicality Elevate
🔑 Ownership H6 PHEV
Elevate starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Elevate from ZAR 369,900 · H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Elevate H6 PHEV
Engine Power 119 268
Torque 145 760
Engine Size 1498 1500
Claimed Mileage 16.0 Not Applicable
Ground Clearance 220 170 mm
Boot Space 458 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 Not Available
Kerb Weight 1240 Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 PHEV +59 pts
Efficiency Elevate +12 pts
Safety Elevate +44 pts
Practicality Elevate +3 pts
Ownership H6 PHEV +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Elevate

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
🏆 Overall Winner

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?

Elevate

  • 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 Elevate H6 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2023 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Built on Honda’s latest compact SUV platform with improved safety and structural strength Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Recently introduced model with latest design language and modern features 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, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Black 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 Elevate H6 PHEV
Ground Clearance 220 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm 2738 mm
Length 4312 mm 4703 mm
Width 1790 mm 1886 mm
Height 1650 mm 1730 mm
Kerb Weight 1240 kg Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight 1680 kg Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 458 l Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 1200 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 458 l Not Applicable
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 458 l Not Applicable
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1680 kg Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 220 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Min 220 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 220 mm 170 mm
Height Mm 1650 mm 1730 mm
Length Mm 4312 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 458 l Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg 1240 kg Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1790 mm 1886 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H6 PHEV leads by 4 points

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

Winner 64 /100
Lead 4 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 4 points
60
#2

Elevate

95% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 62
Safety 82
Practicality 66
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 PHEV +59 Efficiency Elevate +12 Safety Elevate +44 Practicality Elevate +3 Ownership H6 PHEV +14

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

Elevate

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H6 PHEV wins with 64 pts vs 60 pts for Elevate

In structured scoring, H6 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Elevate 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: Elevate 62 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: Elevate 82, 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: Elevate 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: Elevate 66, H6 PHEV 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Elevate 39, 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 Elevate and H6 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Elevate scores 39 vs 98.

Efficiency: Elevate scores 62 vs 50.

Safety: Elevate scores 82 vs 38.

Practicality: Elevate scores 66 vs 63.

Ownership: Elevate scores 51 vs 65.

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