GWM H6 PHEV vs GWM ORA 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.

GWM H6 PHEV in South Africa

GWM H6 PHEV

1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 749,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 268 kW 🔧 760 Nm ⛽ 90.9 km/l
VS
GWM ORA 5 in South Africa

GWM ORA 5

BEV Ultra Luxury Electric Current
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 260 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6 PHEV
Fuel Economy H6 PHEV
🛡 Safety ORA 5
📦 Practicality H6 PHEV
🔑 Ownership ORA 5
ORA 5 starts ZAR 335,000 cheaper H6 PHEV from ZAR 699,900 · ORA 5 from ZAR 364,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H6 PHEV ORA 5
Maximum Power 268 kW 150 kW
Maximum Torque 760 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1500 cc Not Applicable
Claimed Mileage 90.9 km/l -
Ground Clearance 170 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay 560 l -
Airbags Front double, front side and side curtain airbags 6
Kerb Weight 1980 kg -
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 7 years / 200 000 km 7 years / 200,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both H6 PHEV and ORA 5 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 PHEV +42 pts
Efficiency H6 PHEV +6 pts
Safety ORA 5 +54 pts
Practicality H6 PHEV +5 pts
Ownership ORA 5 +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H6 PHEV

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

ORA 5

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

H6 PHEV

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

ORA 5

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 PHEV ORA 5
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2026
Generation Current South African H6 PHEV listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. First-generation ORA 5; South African launch specification
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. No facelift; first South African model year
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style SUV Compact SUV
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 1.5T Ultra Luxury Hi-4 4WD PHEV DHT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published On sale
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Tare Mass Kg 1946 kg -
Spec H6 PHEV ORA 5
Drivetrain Layout 4WD / AWD -
LSD Available Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Not Applicable -
Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable -
Gearbox Automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable -
Number of Gears Not Applicable -
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable -
Gear Shift Indicator Yes -
Drivetrain 4x2 -
4WD Engagement Available -
4WD Hi Range Available -
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable -
4WD Selector Not Applicable -
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable -
Drive Mode Selector 4WD/off-road drive mode support -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable -
Low Range Not Applicable -
Axle Layout Two-wheel drive -
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable -
Gear Shift Type Automatic Electronic column shifter

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ORA 5 leads by 1 points

Both H6 PHEV and ORA 5 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 56% confidence
74
#1 Winner

ORA 5

56% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 63
Ownership 77
Leads by 1 points
73
#2

H6 PHEV

79% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 38
Performance 98
Efficiency 96
Safety 38
Practicality 68
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 PHEV +42 Efficiency H6 PHEV +6 Safety ORA 5 +54 Practicality H6 PHEV +5 Ownership ORA 5 +12

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ORA 5

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 77/100

H6 PHEV

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 96/100
Safety 38/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM ORA 5 wins with 74 pts vs 73 pts for H6 PHEV

In structured scoring, ORA 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 ORA 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 96 vs ORA 5 90. 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, ORA 5 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: H6 PHEV 65, ORA 5 77. 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, ORA 5 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

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

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

Performance: H6 PHEV scores 98 vs 56.

Efficiency: H6 PHEV scores 96 vs 90.

Safety: H6 PHEV scores 38 vs 92.

Practicality: H6 PHEV scores 68 vs 63.

Ownership: H6 PHEV scores 65 vs 77.

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