GWM H2 vs Toyota Starlet Cross

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
Toyota Starlet Cross in South Africa

Toyota Starlet Cross

1.5 XR CVT Petrol CVT Current
ZAR 375,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance H2
⛽ Fuel Economy Starlet Cross
🛡 Safety H2
📦 Practicality H2
🔑 Ownership Tie
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Starlet Cross: current from ZAR 304,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Starlet Cross
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 77 kW
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 140 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1498 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 185 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 270 l
Airbags 4 4
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1080 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 3 years / 100 000 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

Both H2 and Starlet Cross are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H2 +11 pts
Efficiency Starlet Cross +35 pts
Safety H2 +3 pts
Practicality H2 +8 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Starlet Cross

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

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 Starlet Cross
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. First generation Starlet Cross for SA market
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. Introduced to SA in 2022 as a Starlet-based crossover
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2022
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Black, Blue, Red
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1080 kg
Spec H2 Starlet Cross
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Yes No
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT CVT
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 -
Number of Gears 6 5
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Continuously Variable Transmission
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Not Applicable
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive FWD
Gearbox Type Automatic CVT
Transmission Speeds 6 5
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed FF
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed No
Differential Type Front Not confirmed Not Available
Differential Type Rear Not confirmed Not Available
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not confirmed Not Available
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed CVT

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Starlet Cross leads by 1 points

Both H2 and Starlet Cross are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 53 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 91% confidence
53
#1 Winner

Starlet Cross

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 70 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 70
Safety 63
Practicality 58
Ownership 44
Leads by 1 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 +11 Efficiency Starlet Cross +35 Safety H2 +3 Practicality H2 +8 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Starlet Cross

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 63/100
Practicality 58/100
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?

🏆 Toyota Starlet Cross wins with 53 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Starlet Cross 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.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Starlet Cross 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 Starlet Cross 70. 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, Starlet Cross 63. 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, Starlet Cross 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, Starlet Cross 58. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, Starlet Cross 34. 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 Starlet Cross edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 34.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 70.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 63.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 58.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 44.

Final structured scoring gives Starlet Cross the advantage in this comparison.