Suzuki Grand Vitara 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
Suzuki Grand Vitara in South Africa

Suzuki Grand Vitara

1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Petrol Mild Hybrid 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 542,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 76 kW 🔧 137 Nm ⛽ 17.9 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

Suzuki Grand Vitara vs GWM H1: the short answer

Grand Vitara holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Recorded price context Grand Vitara: current from ZAR 359,900 · H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Grand Vitara H1
Maximum Power Grand Vitara76 kW @ 6000 rpm H178 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque Grand Vitara137 Nm @ 4400 rpm H1135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size Grand Vitara1462 cc H11497 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Grand Vitara17.9 km/l H17.0 km/l
Ground Clearance Grand Vitara210 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

Grand Vitara

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

H1

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

Which One's Right for You?

Grand Vitara

  • 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 warranty or service cover

H1

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

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 Grand Vitara H1
Model Introduced Year 2022 2015
Generation Third generation YHB-series Grand Vitara; shared platform with Toyota Urban Cruiser (a partnership-specific platform development); mild-hybrid system uses belt-integrated starter generator technology; all-new design and powertrain versus the previous generation 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 Third-generation Grand Vitara launched in SA in 2022; previous second-generation model discontinued in SA in 2015; current generation is a complete redesign on a new platform shared with the Toyota Urban Cruiser 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 2022 2017
Facelift Version Ending Current Not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note Pearl Arctic White, Metallic Grandeur Grey, Metallic Midnight Blue, Premium Silver, Pearl Burning Red Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5 Hybrid GLX AllGrip AT Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 1225 kg Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec Grand Vitara H1
Length 4345 mm 4002 mm
Width 1795 mm 1740 mm
Height 1645 mm 1567 mm
Wheelbase 2600 mm 2450 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 210 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 45 l 42 l
Boot/Cargo Space 310 l Not confirmed
Kerb Weight 1225 kg Not confirmed
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1680 kg 1770 kg
Payload Capacity 530 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows Not confirmed
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.2 m
Front Headroom 1010 mm 975 mm
Rear Headroom 970 mm 950 mm
Front Legroom 1060 mm 1020 mm
Rear Legroom 935 mm 840 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Grand Vitara 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: Grand Vitara 34 vs H1 30.

Efficiency index: Grand Vitara 73 vs H1 35.

Safety-equipment index: Grand Vitara 88 vs H1 68.

Practicality index: Grand Vitara 62 vs H1 63.

Ownership-cover index: Grand Vitara 71 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

Grand Vitara leads by 15 points

Grand Vitara holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H1.

Evidence leader 64 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 89% source coverage
64
#1 Evidence leader

Grand Vitara

89% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 88 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 73
Safety 88
Practicality 62
Ownership 71
Leads by 15 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 Grand Vitara +4 Efficiency Grand Vitara +38 Safety Grand Vitara +20 Practicality H1 +1 Ownership Grand Vitara +27

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Grand Vitara

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 62/100
Ownership 71/100

H1

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Suzuki Grand Vitara leads the specification evidence index with 64 pts vs 49 pts for H1

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

Grand Vitara 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.