GWM H2 vs Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

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
Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

PHEV Apex Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Tiggo 8 PHEV
⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 8 PHEV
🛡 Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV
📦 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Tiggo 8 PHEV: current from ZAR 729,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 230 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1500 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 494 l
Airbags 4 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight Not confirmed -
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 7 Year / 200 000 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

Tiggo 8 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 8 PHEV +11 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +46 pts
Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV +28 pts
Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +12 pts
Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +25 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

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

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • 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: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tiggo 8 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
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. Current South Africa Tiggo 8 PHEV range
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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2026
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed Not Available
Spec H2 Tiggo 8 PHEV
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Yes Standard
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT 1 DHT
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 -
Number of Gears 6 Hybrid DHT
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Automatic clutch
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive FWD
Gearbox Type Automatic 1 DHT
Transmission Speeds 6 Hybrid DHT
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed FWD
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Standard
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 Standard
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
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Electric

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 8 PHEV leads by 23 points

Tiggo 8 PHEV holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 23 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 81
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 23 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV +11 Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +46 Safety Tiggo 8 PHEV +28 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +12 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +25

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

H2

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV wins with 75 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Tiggo 8 PHEV 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV 81. 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 69. 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, Tiggo 8 PHEV 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, Tiggo 8 PHEV 56. 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 8 PHEV 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 Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 56.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 81.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 94.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 78.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 8 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.