GWM H2 vs Volkswagen Tiguan

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
Volkswagen Tiguan in South Africa

Volkswagen Tiguan

2.0 TSI 140kW R-Line 4Motion DSG Petrol Current
ZAR 856,200 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 13 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM H2 vs Volkswagen Tiguan: the short answer

Tiguan has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H2 remains close.

Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Tiguan: current from ZAR 668,100

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification H2 Tiguan
Maximum Power H2110 kW @ 5500 rpm Tiguan140 kW
Maximum Torque H2210 Nm Tiguan250 Nm
Engine Size H21497 cc Tiguan2000 cc
Combined Fuel Economy H27.5 km/l Tiguan13 km/l
Ground Clearance H2175 mm Tiguan201 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
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Tiguan

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

H2

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Tiguan

  • 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 space and capacity figures

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 Tiguan
Model Introduced Year 2017 2007
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 Tiguan generation offers modern safety and tech upgrades
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. Recent facelift improved technology and styling
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed 4x4 configuration for the local line-up
Model Year Not confirmed Current
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1599 kg
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Spec H2 Tiguan
Length 4290 mm 4539 mm
Width 1800 mm 1842 mm
Height 1645 mm 1660 mm
Wheelbase 2560 mm 2676 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 175 mm 201 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 52 l 58 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1800 kg 2210 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.4 m 11.5 m
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 960 mm -
Front Legroom 1040 mm -
Rear Legroom 870 mm -
Boot/Cargo Space Not confirmed 652 l
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1599 kg
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 1800 kg

In depth: how these cars differ

This H2 and Tiguan 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 Tiguan 60.

Efficiency index: H2 35 vs Tiguan 51.

Safety-equipment index: H2 72 vs Tiguan 82.

Practicality index: H2 66 vs Tiguan 77.

Ownership-cover index: H2 44 vs Tiguan not separately scored.

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

Tiguan leads by 14 points

Tiguan has a modest catalogue-index lead, while H2 remains close.

Evidence leader 68 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 66% source coverage
68
#1 Evidence leader

Tiguan

66% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Efficiency 51
Performance 60
Efficiency 51
Safety 82
Practicality 77
Leads by 14 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 Tiguan +15 Efficiency Tiguan +16 Safety Tiguan +10 Practicality Tiguan +11

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tiguan

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 51/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 77/100

H2

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Volkswagen Tiguan leads the specification evidence index with 68 pts vs 54 pts for H2

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

H2 vs Tiguan 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.