GWM H6 PHEV vs Hyundai IONIQ 5

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 an archived model

Current and archived cars are compared side by side. Archived models keep their verified historical specs, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai IONIQ 5
GWM H6 PHEV in South Africa

GWM H6 PHEV

1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT Phev Automatic
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 268 kW 🔧 760 Nm ⛽ 90.9 km/l
VS
Hyundai IONIQ 5 in South Africa

Hyundai IONIQ 5

72kWh AWD Executive Electric Automatic Archive reference
ZAR 1,068,900 last listed
No longer sold new Specs stay visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 225 kW 🔧 605 Nm ⛽ 454 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance IONIQ 5
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety IONIQ 5
📦 Practicality IONIQ 5
🔑 Ownership Tie
H6 PHEV starts ZAR 859900 cheaper H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900 · IONIQ 5 from ZAR 859,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H6 PHEV IONIQ 5
Engine Power 268 kW 225 kW
Torque 760 Nm 605 Nm
Engine Size 1500 cc Not confirmed
Claimed Mileage 90.9 km/l 454 km/l
Ground Clearance 170 mm 160 mm
Boot / Load Bay 560 l 527 l
Airbags Front double, front side and side curtain airbags 7
Kerb Weight 1980 kg 2190 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 years / 200 000 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

IONIQ 5 has a slight advantage, but H6 PHEV remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance IONIQ 5 +2 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety IONIQ 5 +61 pts
Practicality IONIQ 5 +2 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H6 PHEV

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

IONIQ 5

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H6 PHEV

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

IONIQ 5

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 H6 PHEV IONIQ 5
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2022
Generation Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. First generation Ioniq 5 on Hyundai's dedicated E-GMP electric platform; 800V fast charging architecture allows rapid 18-minute charge from 10-80% at suitable DC fast chargers
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Launched in SA in 2022; updates to battery specifications and charging capabilities followed; the car has been on Hyundai SA's EV flagship from launch
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style SUV Not confirmed
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Not confirmed
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Not confirmed
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT Not confirmed
Model Year 2026 Not confirmed
Production Status published Not confirmed
Segment SUV Not confirmed
Vehicle Type SUV Not confirmed
Spec H6 PHEV IONIQ 5
Ground Clearance 170 mm 160 mm
Wheelbase 2738 mm 3000 mm
Length 4703 mm 4635 mm
Width 1886 mm 1890 mm
Height 1730 mm 1605 mm
Kerb Weight 1980 kg 2190 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2400 kg Not confirmed
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 560 l 527 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg Not confirmed
Front Track Width - Not confirmed
Rear Track Width - Not confirmed
Turning Radius - Not confirmed
Load Bed Length 560 l 527 l
Load Bed Width - Not confirmed
Front Legroom - Not confirmed
Rear Legroom - Not confirmed
Front Headroom - Not confirmed
Rear Headroom - Not confirmed
Front Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Rear Shoulder Room - Not confirmed
Boot Space Seats Folded 1445 l Not confirmed
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - Not confirmed
Boot Volume 560 l 527 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 55 l 72.6 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2400 kg Not confirmed
Ground Clearance Max 170 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Min 170 mm 160 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 170 mm 160 mm
Height Mm 1730 mm 1605 mm
Length Mm 4703 mm 4635 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 560 l 527 l
Loadbox Width Mm - Not confirmed
Payload Kg - Not confirmed
Cargo Volume 560 l 527 l
Tare Mass Kg 1980 kg 2190 kg
Turning Circle - Not confirmed
Turning Circle M - Not confirmed
Width Mm 1886 mm 1890 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

IONIQ 5 leads by 14 points

IONIQ 5 has a slight advantage, but H6 PHEV remains highly competitive.

Winner 87 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 86% confidence
87
#1 Winner

IONIQ 5

86% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 99
Practicality 70
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 points
73
#2

H6 PHEV

76% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 38
Performance 98
Efficiency 97
Safety 38
Practicality 68
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance IONIQ 5 +2 Efficiency Level Safety IONIQ 5 +61 Practicality IONIQ 5 +2 Ownership Level

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

IONIQ 5

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 65/100

H6 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Hyundai IONIQ 5 wins with 87 pts vs 73 pts for H6 PHEV

In structured scoring, IONIQ 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H6 PHEV 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 IONIQ 5 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 PHEV 97 vs IONIQ 5 97. 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 PHEV 38, IONIQ 5 99. 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 PHEV 65, IONIQ 5 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: H6 PHEV 68, IONIQ 5 70. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H6 PHEV 98, IONIQ 5 100. 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 IONIQ 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The IONIQ 5 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 PHEV and IONIQ 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H6 PHEV scores 98 vs 100.

Efficiency: H6 PHEV scores 97 vs 97.

Safety: H6 PHEV scores 38 vs 99.

Practicality: H6 PHEV scores 68 vs 70.

Ownership: H6 PHEV scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives IONIQ 5 the advantage in this comparison.