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

Decision summary

Toyota Fortuner vs GWM H1: the short answer

Fortuner has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over H1.

Recorded price context Fortuner: current from ZAR 685,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Fortuner H1
Maximum Power Fortuner150 kW H178 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Fortuner500 Nm H1135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size Fortuner2755 cc H11497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Fortuner13.2 km/l H17.0 km/l
Ground Clearance Fortuner279 mm H1160 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Evidence for GWM H1 1.5 LS

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Fortuner

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

H1

Strengths
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Fortuner

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

H1

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

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
Tare Mass Kg GVM 2735 kg; Toyota SA does not publish tare mass Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Fortuner H1
Length 4795 mm 4002 mm
Width 1855 mm 1740 mm
Height 1835 mm 1567 mm
Wheelbase 2745 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 279 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 42 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2735 kg 1770 kg
Towing Capacity 2800 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 7 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius - 5.2 m
Front Headroom - 975 mm
Rear Headroom - 950 mm
Front Legroom - 1020 mm
Rear Legroom - 840 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Fortuner and H1 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Fortuner 80 vs H1 30.

Efficiency index: Fortuner 56 vs H1 35.

Safety-equipment index: Fortuner 89 vs H1 68.

Practicality index: Fortuner 89 vs H1 63.

Ownership-cover index: Fortuner 43 vs H1 44.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Fortuner leads by 25 points

Fortuner has a large lead in Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index over H1.

Evidence leader 74 /100
Lead 25 points
Data 59% source coverage
74
#1 Evidence leader

Fortuner

59% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Ownership 43
Performance 80
Efficiency 56
Safety 89
Practicality 89
Ownership 43
Leads by 25 points
49
#2

H1

80% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 68 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 68
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 Fortuner +21 Practicality Fortuner +26 Ownership H1 +1

Large difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Fortuner

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 89/100
Ownership 43/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Fortuner leads the specification evidence index with 74 pts vs 49 pts for H1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Fortuner leads. However, H1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Fortuner vs H1 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.