GWM H2 vs KIA Seltos

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
KIA Seltos in South Africa

KIA Seltos

1.5D EX+ Auto Diesel 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 599,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tie
Fuel Economy Seltos
🛡 Safety Seltos
📦 Practicality Seltos
🔑 Ownership Seltos
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Seltos: current from ZAR 389,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Seltos
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 85 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 260 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1493 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 190 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 433 l
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1430 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 7 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

Seltos holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Equal
Efficiency Seltos +38 pts
Safety Seltos +28 pts
Practicality Seltos +2 pts
Ownership Seltos +27 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Seltos

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Seltos

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

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 Seltos
Model Introduced Year 2017 2020
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. First generation (SP2); SA launch 2020; 2023 facelift model current
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. 2023 facelift with revised front and rear styling, updated ADAS suite and interior upgrades
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2023
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1430 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Color Note Not confirmed Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Intense Red, Pewter Olive, Glacier White Pearl (dual-tone on GT-Line)
Spec H2 Seltos
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Yes Yes
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Transverse
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT 7-Speed DCT
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 3.63
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 15.1:1
Number of Gears 6 7
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Dual Clutch Transmission
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Dry Dual Clutch
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive FWD
Gearbox Type Automatic 7-Speed DCT
Transmission Speeds 6 7
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed No
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed FWD
Axle Layout Not confirmed FWD
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Yes
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not confirmed Not Available
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Not confirmed Not Available
Differential Type Rear Not confirmed Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Seltos leads by 18 points

Seltos holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 18 points
Data 93% confidence
70
#1 Winner

Seltos

93% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 45
Performance 45
Efficiency 73
Safety 94
Practicality 68
Ownership 71
Leads by 18 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 Level Efficiency Seltos +38 Safety Seltos +28 Practicality Seltos +2 Ownership Seltos +27

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Seltos

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 71/100

H2

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Seltos wins with 70 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Seltos 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 Seltos 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 Seltos 73. 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, Seltos 94. 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, Seltos 71. 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, Seltos 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

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

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

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 45.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 73.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 94.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 68.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Seltos the advantage in this comparison.