GWM H6 vs Toyota RAV4

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 in South Africa

GWM H6

1.5T Hybrid LX Hybrid Current
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 17.2 km/l
VS
Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 HEV GR-S CVT Hybrid CVT Current
ZAR 941,800 ex-showroom
⚡ 137 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 21.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6
Fuel Economy RAV4
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality RAV4
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
H6 starts ZAR 20,100 cheaper H6 from ZAR 589,900 · RAV4 from ZAR 610,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H6 RAV4
Maximum Power 115 kW @ 5500 rpm 137 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque 260 Nm 221 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 2500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 17.2 km/l 21.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 198 mm 186 mm
Boot / Load Bay 530 l 732 l
Airbags 6 Driver Knee, Front Side, Rear Curtain, Front Curtain
Kerb Weight 1680 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

H6 and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 +1 pts
Efficiency RAV4 +14 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality RAV4 +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H6

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance
Catalogue-index leader

RAV4

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

H6

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

RAV4

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 RAV4
Model Introduced Year 2022 2026
Generation H6 sold in South Africa is the third generation H6 under the Haval brand, launched globally in 2021 and adapted for SA in 2022. Suspension and powertrain calibration is tuned for South African road conditions and fuel quality. All-new sixth-generation RAV4 introduced in South Africa in July 2026
Facelift History H6 received a mid-cycle update in late 2024 that brought refined hybrid system calibration for South African altitude and fuel quality, an upgraded driver-assistance package across all variants, the 14.6-inch infotainment screen as standard on LT and LX (replacing the original 12.3-inch unit), and revised exterior detailing including new alloy wheel designs. Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Full model change for 2026 with HEV, PHEV and GR-Sport derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African 2026 specification
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue and Cosmos Grey. Two-tone roof options on LT and LX with selected base colours. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1680 kg 1725-1740 kg
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec H6 RAV4
Length 4653 mm 4645 mm
Width 1886 mm 1880 mm
Height 1730 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2738 mm 2690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 198 mm 186 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 530 l 732 l
Kerb Weight 1680 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2200 kg 2230 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 11.8 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 960 mm -
Front Legroom 1050 mm -
Rear Legroom 890 mm -

Source-backed Catalogue Index

A transparent specification index shown only when every vehicle clears the minimum comparable-data threshold.

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

RAV4 leads by 3 points

H6 and RAV4 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Index leader 73 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 61% source coverage
73
#1 Index leader

RAV4

61% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 50
Performance 50
Efficiency 84
Safety 93
Practicality 71
Leads by 3 points
70
#2

H6

96% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 51
Performance 51
Efficiency 70
Safety 93
Practicality 69
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H6 +1 Efficiency RAV4 +14 Safety Level Practicality RAV4 +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

RAV4

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 84/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 71/100

H6

Performance 51/100
Efficiency 70/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 69/100
Ownership 65/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 Toyota RAV4 leads the catalogue index with 73 pts vs 70 pts for H6

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, RAV4 leads. However, H6 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. 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

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives 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.

Hagalu does not publish a guaranteed resale winner. Depreciation depends on age, mileage, condition, derivative, colour, supply and demand. Compare several current used-market listings and obtain trade-in valuations for equivalent examples before relying on a resale estimate.

Check the exact derivatives for drive type, ground clearance, tyres, approach and departure angles, wading depth and low-range gearing where officially disclosed. SUV styling or all-wheel drive alone does not prove that a vehicle is suitable for demanding off-road use.

Calculate each exact derivative using your monthly distance and a current fuel or electricity price, then add finance, insurance, scheduled service, tyres and licence costs. Hagalu does not claim a fixed monthly saving without those buyer-specific inputs.

It is worth more only when the exact price difference buys equipment, space, performance or ownership cover that matters to you. Compare like-for-like lifecycle states and derivatives; a current offer and a historical last-listed price are not directly equivalent.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

This H6 and RAV4 comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: H6 51 vs RAV4 50.

Efficiency index: H6 70 vs RAV4 84.

Safety-equipment index: H6 93 vs RAV4 93.

Practicality index: H6 69 vs RAV4 71.

Ownership-cover index: H6 65 vs RAV4 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.