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

Decision summary

GWM H2 vs Toyota Starlet Cross: the short answer

H2 and Starlet Cross are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Starlet Cross: current from ZAR 304,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification H2 Starlet Cross
Maximum Power H2110 kW @ 5500 rpm Starlet Cross77 kW
Maximum Torque H2210 Nm Starlet Cross140 Nm
Engine Size H21497 cc Starlet Cross1498 cc
Combined Fuel Economy H27.5 km/l Starlet Cross18.5 km/l
Ground Clearance H2175 mm Starlet Cross185 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
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

Starlet Cross

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

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
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1080 kg
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec H2 Starlet Cross
Length 4290 mm 4055 mm
Width 1800 mm 1740 mm
Height 1645 mm 1575 mm
Wheelbase 2560 mm 2520 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 175 mm 185 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 42 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1800 kg 1480 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 5.1 m
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 960 mm -
Front Legroom 1040 mm -
Rear Legroom 870 mm -
Boot/Cargo Space Not confirmed 270 l
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1080 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

This H2 and Starlet Cross comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. 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 Starlet Cross 34.

Efficiency index: H2 35 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Safety-equipment index: H2 72 vs Starlet Cross 70.

Practicality index: H2 66 vs Starlet Cross 58.

Ownership-cover index: H2 44 vs Starlet Cross 43.

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

Starlet Cross leads by 1 points

H2 and Starlet Cross are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 55 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 79% source coverage
55
#1 Evidence leader

Starlet Cross

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 70 Check Performance 34
Performance 34
Efficiency 70
Safety 70
Practicality 58
Ownership 43
Leads by 1 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 H2 +11 Efficiency Starlet Cross +35 Safety H2 +2 Practicality H2 +8 Ownership H2 +1

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Starlet Cross

Performance 34/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 70/100
Practicality 58/100
Ownership 43/100

H2

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Starlet Cross leads the specification evidence index with 55 pts vs 54 pts for H2

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

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South African models and comparable body styles.

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H2 vs Starlet Cross questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.