GWM H2 vs KIA Sonet

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 Sonet in South Africa

KIA Sonet

1.5 EX+ CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 469,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H2
Fuel Economy Sonet
🛡 Safety Sonet
📦 Practicality Sonet
🔑 Ownership Sonet
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Sonet: current from ZAR 329,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Sonet
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 85 kW @ 6300 rpm
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 143 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1497 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 211 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 392 l
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1270 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

Sonet has a slight advantage, but H2 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H2 +9 pts
Efficiency Sonet +30 pts
Safety Sonet +28 pts
Practicality Sonet +2 pts
Ownership Sonet +27 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Sonet

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Sonet

  • 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 Sonet
Model Introduced Year 2017 2021
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 (BC3); launched globally 2020, SA 2021
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 model year update with revised front styling and expanded ADAS features
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
Color Note Not confirmed Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Pewter Olive, Intense Red, Steel Grey, Glacier White Pearl (two-tone options on SX)
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1270 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Spec H2 Sonet
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Yes No
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Transverse
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 3.56
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 15.1:1
Number of Gears 6 CVT
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Continuously Variable Transmission
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Torque Converter
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive FWD
Gearbox Type Automatic Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)
Transmission Speeds 6 CVT
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed No
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed FWD
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed No
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 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
Axle Layout Not confirmed FWD
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Sonet leads by 14 points

Sonet has a slight advantage, but H2 remains highly competitive.

Winner 66 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 93% confidence
66
#1 Winner

Sonet

93% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 65
Safety 94
Practicality 68
Ownership 71
Leads by 14 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 H2 +9 Efficiency Sonet +30 Safety Sonet +28 Practicality Sonet +2 Ownership Sonet +27

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Sonet

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 65/100
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 Sonet wins with 66 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Sonet 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 Sonet 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 Sonet 65. 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, Sonet 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, Sonet 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, Sonet 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, Sonet 36. 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 Sonet edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 36.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 65.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 94.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 68.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Sonet the advantage in this comparison.