GWM H2 vs Mahindra Scorpio-N

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 H2 Discontinued model
GWM H2 in South Africa

GWM H2

1.5T LT Petrol 6-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 339,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ 7.5 km/l
VS
Mahindra Scorpio-N in South Africa

Mahindra Scorpio-N

Z8L 4x4 AT Adventure Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 699,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 129 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 14.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Scorpio-N
Fuel Economy Scorpio-N
🛡 Safety H2
📦 Practicality Scorpio-N
🔑 Ownership Tie
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Scorpio-N: current from ZAR 489,999

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Scorpio-N
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 128.6 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 400 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 2184 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 14.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 187 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 460 l
Airbags 4 Front, side and curtain airbags
Kerb Weight Not confirmed -
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 5 years / 150 000 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

Scorpio-N has a slight advantage, but H2 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Scorpio-N +24 pts
Efficiency Scorpio-N +25 pts
Safety H2 +19 pts
Practicality Scorpio-N +12 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

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

Scorpio-N

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

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Scorpio-N

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 H2 Scorpio-N
Model Introduced Year 2017 Not Available
Generation First generation Haval H2 in SA, on sale 2017-2022. Discontinued in favour of the Jolion, which used a more modern platform and powertrain. Current local listing
Facelift History H2 received a mid-cycle update in 2019 that brought minor exterior styling changes, improved infotainment software and refinements to the DCT calibration. Updates continued through the model life to address recurring DCT issues, with the final 2022 specification being notably improved over the original 2017 launch model. Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed Current
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1825-2070 kg
Spec H2 Scorpio-N
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Mechanical locking differential and brake locking differential
Paddle Shifters Yes Not Applicable
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 -
Number of Gears 6 6
Transmission Type Automatic DCT 6-speed automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Not Applicable
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive 4x4
Gearbox Type Automatic 6-speed automatic
Transmission Speeds 6 6
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed 4x4
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Selectable shift-on-fly 4WD
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Selectable shift-on-fly 4WD
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed 4x2
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Mechanical locking differential and brake locking differential
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Scorpio-N leads by 9 points

Scorpio-N has a slight advantage, but H2 remains highly competitive.

Winner 61 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 76% confidence
61
#1 Winner

Scorpio-N

76% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 78 Check Ownership 44
Performance 69
Efficiency 60
Safety 47
Practicality 78
Ownership 44
Leads by 9 points
52
#2

H2

87% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 66 Check Efficiency 35
Performance 45
Efficiency 35
Safety 66
Practicality 66
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Scorpio-N +24 Efficiency Scorpio-N +25 Safety H2 +19 Practicality Scorpio-N +12 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Scorpio-N

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 60/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 44/100

H2

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Mahindra Scorpio-N wins with 61 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Scorpio-N emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H2 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 Scorpio-N 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: H2 35 vs Scorpio-N 60. 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: H2 66, Scorpio-N 47. 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: H2 44, Scorpio-N 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: H2 66, Scorpio-N 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, Scorpio-N 69. 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 Scorpio-N edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Scorpio-N 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 H2 and Scorpio-N in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 69.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 60.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 47.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 78.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Scorpio-N the advantage in this comparison.