GWM H2 vs Hyundai Tucson

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
Hyundai Tucson in South Africa

Hyundai Tucson

2.0D AT Executive AWD Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 764,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 416 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tucson
Fuel Economy Tucson
🛡 Safety Tucson
📦 Practicality Tucson
🔑 Ownership Tucson
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · Tucson: current from ZAR 568,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 Tucson
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 137 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 416 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1995 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l 13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 175 mm 181 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 540 l
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1720 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 5

= 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

Tucson holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tucson +24 pts
Efficiency Tucson +21 pts
Safety Tucson +26 pts
Practicality Tucson +7 pts
Ownership Tucson +21 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

Tucson

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

Tucson

  • 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 Tucson
Model Introduced Year 2017 2004
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. Fourth generation Tucson on Hyundai's i-GMP platform; distinctive parametric design language makes it one of the more striking mid-size SUVs in SA
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. Fourth generation launched in SA in 2021; major step change in styling, interior quality, and technology over the third-gen car
Facelift Launched Since 2022 2021
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Color Note Not confirmed White, Black, Silver, Blue, Grey, Green
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Executive grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0D AT Executive AWD
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1720 kg
Spec H2 Tucson
LSD Available Not Applicable Yes
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Yes Yes
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT 8-speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 -
Number of Gears 6 7
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT Not Applicable
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive 4WD / AWD
Gearbox Type Automatic 8-speed Automatic
Transmission Speeds 6 7
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed AWD
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Yes
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 Yes
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed All-Wheel Drive
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed 8-speed Automatic

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tucson leads by 20 points

Tucson holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 91% confidence
72
#1 Winner

Tucson

91% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 56
Performance 69
Efficiency 56
Safety 92
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 20 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 Tucson +24 Efficiency Tucson +21 Safety Tucson +26 Practicality Tucson +7 Ownership Tucson +21

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tucson

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

H2

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai Tucson wins with 72 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, Tucson 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.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tucson 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 Tucson 56. 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, Tucson 92. 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, Tucson 65. 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, Tucson 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, Tucson 69. 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 Tucson edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 69.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 56.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 92.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 73.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Tucson the advantage in this comparison.