GWM H2 vs KIA Sportage

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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 Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM H2 vs KIA Sportage: the short answer

Sportage holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H2.

Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Sportage: current from ZAR 662,995

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification H2 Sportage
Maximum Power H2110 kW @ 5500 rpm Sportage132 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque H2210 Nm Sportage265 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size H21497 cc Sportage1591 cc
Combined Fuel Economy H27.5 km/l Sportage13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance H2175 mm Sportage181 mm

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

Evidence for GWM H2 1.5T LT

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

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
Specification evidence leader

Sportage

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

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Sportage

  • 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

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 Sportage
Model Introduced Year 2017 2022
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. Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022
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. Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1570 kg
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec H2 Sportage
Length 4290 mm 4515 mm
Width 1800 mm 1865 mm
Height 1645 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2560 mm 2680 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 175 mm 181 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 54 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1800 kg 2080 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 10.8 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 1010 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 955 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 870 mm 855 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not confirmed 181 mm
Boot/Cargo Space Not confirmed 466 l
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1570 kg
Payload Capacity Not confirmed 500 kg
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 1500 kg
Number of Rows Not confirmed 2 rows

In depth: how these cars differ

This H2 and Sportage comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: H2 45 vs Sportage 57.

Efficiency index: H2 35 vs Sportage 54.

Safety-equipment index: H2 72 vs Sportage 100.

Practicality index: H2 66 vs Sportage 63.

Ownership-cover index: H2 44 vs Sportage 71.

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

Sportage leads by 15 points

Sportage holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over H2.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 15 points
Data 99% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

Sportage

99% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 63
Ownership 71
Leads by 15 points
54
#2

H2

82% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 72 Check Efficiency 35
Performance 45
Efficiency 35
Safety 72
Practicality 66
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Sportage +12 Efficiency Sportage +19 Safety Sportage +28 Practicality H2 +3 Ownership Sportage +27

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 71/100

H2

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 72/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index KIA Sportage leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 54 pts for H2

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Sportage leads. However, H2 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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H2 vs Sportage questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.