Gwm H6 GT vs KIA Sonet

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.

Gwm H6 GT in South Africa

Gwm H6 GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 769,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 6.2 km/l
VS
KIA Sonet in South Africa

KIA Sonet

1.5 EX+ CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 454,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 GT
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Tie
Sonet starts ZAR 699900 cheaper H6 GT from ZAR 699,900 · Sonet from ZAR 299,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H6 GT Sonet
Engine Power 150 85 kW
Torque 420 143 Nm
Engine Size 1999 1497
Claimed Mileage 6.2 16.9
Ground Clearance 192 211
Boot Space 460 392
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1740 1270
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

H6 GT

66
/ 100
+8
pts
#2

Sonet

58
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

H6 GT has a slight advantage, but Sonet remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 GT +8 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

H6 GT

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 20/20

Sonet

Performance 7/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H6 GT

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Sonet

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

H6 GT

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Sonet

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 GT Sonet
Body Type SUV Sub-Compact SUV
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Yes
DRL Yes Yes
LED Headlamps Yes Yes
Led Taillights Yes Yes
Fog Lights Yes Yes
Fog Lamps Yes Yes
Led Headlights Yes Yes
Front Fog Lights Yes Yes
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy Alloy Alloy
Rear Wiper Yes Yes
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes No
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Body Colour
Roof Type Metal Roof Standard
Rear Spoiler Yes Yes
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Electric
Body Cladding Yes No
Exterior Colour Options 6 Multiple
Rear Fog Lights Yes Yes
Roof Rails No Yes
Spec H6 GT Sonet
Number of Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 4653 3995
Width 1886 1790
Height 1695 1635
Wheelbase 2738 2500
Ground Clearance 192 211
Kerb Weight 1740 1270
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 45
Boot Space 460 392
Doors 5 5
Front Overhang 880 800
Rear Overhang 890 695
Front Track Width 1560 1544
Rear Track Width 1570 1536
Front Headroom 990 990
Rear Headroom 960 950
Front Legroom 1050 1030
Rear Legroom 890 860
Front Shoulder Room 1430 1380
Rear Shoulder Room 1390 1330
Gross Vehicle Weight 2200 1710
Boot Volume 460 392
Boot Space Seats Folded 660 1143
Turning Radius 11.8 10.4
Towing Capacity 1500 N/A
Max Payload - N/A
Load Bed Length - N/A
Load Bed Width - N/A

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm H6 GT wins with 66 pts vs 58 pts for Sonet

In structured scoring, H6 GT emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sonet 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 H6 GT 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: H6 GT 0 vs Sonet 0. 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: H6 GT 18, Sonet 18. 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: H6 GT 20, Sonet 20. 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: H6 GT 13, Sonet 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H6 GT 15, Sonet 7. 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 H6 GT edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H6 GT 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 H6 GT and Sonet in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H6 GT scores 15 vs 7.

Efficiency: H6 GT scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: H6 GT scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: H6 GT scores 13 vs 13.

Ownership: H6 GT scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives H6 GT the advantage in this comparison.