Toyota Fortuner 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 Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 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 Fortuner
Fuel Economy Fortuner
🛡 Safety H1
📦 Practicality Fortuner
🔑 Ownership Fortuner
Recorded price context Fortuner: current from ZAR 685,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Fortuner H1
Maximum Power 150 kW 78 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 500 Nm 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 2755 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.2 km/l 7.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 279 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay - Not confirmed
Airbags Side, curtain, driver, passenger and driver knee airbags 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

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Fortuner +50 pts
Efficiency Fortuner +21 pts
Safety H1 +28 pts
Practicality Fortuner +26 pts
Ownership Fortuner +7 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Fortuner

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

H1

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

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

H1

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

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 Fortuner H1
Model Introduced Year 2006 2015
Generation Currently sold Fortuner belongs to the second generation with periodic feature and safety upgrades 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 Major updates in 2016 (new generation) and feature refreshes in 2021 with improved infotainment, safety tech, and design tweaks 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 2021 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Dark Green, Grey Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Not confirmed
Model Year Current Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass Not confirmed
Spec Fortuner H1
Drivetrain Layout Ladder frame Not confirmed
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Confirmed 4WD derivative Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gearbox Automatic 6-Speed CVT
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.94:1
Number of Gears 6 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic CVT
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque Converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Not confirmed
Drivetrain 4WD / AWD Front Wheel Drive
4WD Engagement Available Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Available Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Available where 4WD low range is fitted Not confirmed
4WD Selector Confirmed 4WD derivative Not confirmed
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Not confirmed
Drive Mode Selector 4WD/off-road drive mode support Not confirmed
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not confirmed
Low Range Available where 4WD low range is fitted Not confirmed
Axle Layout 4x4 Not confirmed
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds 6 6
Gear Shift Type 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

Fortuner leads by 16 points

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

Winner 62 /100
Lead 16 points
Data 74% confidence
62
#1 Winner

Fortuner

74% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 89 Check Safety 28
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 28
Practicality 89
Ownership 51
Leads by 16 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 Fortuner +50 Efficiency Fortuner +21 Safety H1 +28 Practicality Fortuner +26 Ownership Fortuner +7

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 28/100
Practicality 89/100
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?

🏆 Toyota Fortuner wins with 62 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Fortuner 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 Fortuner 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: Fortuner 56 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: Fortuner 28, 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: Fortuner 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: Fortuner 89, H1 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Fortuner 80, 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 Fortuner edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Fortuner scores 80 vs 30.

Efficiency: Fortuner scores 56 vs 35.

Safety: Fortuner scores 28 vs 56.

Practicality: Fortuner scores 89 vs 63.

Ownership: Fortuner scores 51 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Fortuner the advantage in this comparison.