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 Automatic
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 115 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 5.8 km/l
VS
Toyota RAV4 in South Africa

Toyota RAV4

2.5 Hybrid VX CVT AWD Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 760,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 160 kW 🔧 221 Nm ⛽ 20.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance RAV4
Fuel Economy RAV4
🛡 Safety RAV4
📦 Practicality RAV4
🔑 Ownership H6
H6 starts ZAR 610000 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
Engine Power 115 160
Torque 260 221
Engine Size 1497 2487
Claimed Mileage 5.8 20.5
Ground Clearance 198 195
Boot Space 530 580
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 1680 1740
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

RAV4

74
/ 100
+11
pts
#2

H6

63
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

RAV4 has a slight advantage, but H6 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance RAV4 +2 pts
Efficiency RAV4 +14 pts
Safety RAV4 +2 pts
Practicality RAV4 +1 pts
Ownership H6 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

RAV4

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 14/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 15/20
Ownership 12/20

H6

Performance 11/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 14/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H6

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

RAV4

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H6

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

RAV4

  • 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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 RAV4
Body Type SUV Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Projector LED
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes LED
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy 18-inch Dual Tone Alloy
Rear Wiper Yes Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Yes
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler Yes Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Body Cladding Yes Plastic Cladding
Exterior Colour Options 6 Pearl White
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Roof Rails Yes Silver
Spec H6 RAV4
Number of Doors 5 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 4653 4600
Width 1886 1855
Height 1730 1685
Wheelbase 2738 2690
Ground Clearance 198 195
Kerb Weight 1680 1740
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 Available
Boot Space 530 580
Doors 5 Available
Front Overhang 880 Available
Rear Overhang 890 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1550
Rear Track Width 1570 1540
Front Headroom 990 Available
Rear Headroom 960 Available
Front Legroom 1050 Available
Rear Legroom 890 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1430 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1390 Available
Gross Vehicle Weight 2200 2285
Boot Volume 530 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 730 1500
Turning Radius 11.8 Available
Towing Capacity 1500 1650
Load Bed Length - Available
Load Bed Width - Available
Max Payload - Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota RAV4 wins with 74 pts vs 63 pts for H6

In structured scoring, RAV4 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H6 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 RAV4 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 0 vs RAV4 14. 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 18, RAV4 20. 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 20, RAV4 12. 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 14, RAV4 15. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H6 11, RAV4 13. 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 RAV4 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The RAV4 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 and RAV4 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H6 scores 11 vs 13.

Efficiency: H6 scores 0 vs 14.

Safety: H6 scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: H6 scores 14 vs 15.

Ownership: H6 scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives RAV4 the advantage in this comparison.