Gwm H6 vs Toyota Starlet Cross

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 Starlet Cross in South Africa

Toyota Starlet Cross

1.5 XR CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 375,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 77 kW 🔧 140 Nm ⛽ 18.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H6
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety H6
📦 Practicality H6
🔑 Ownership H6
Starlet Cross starts ZAR 589900 cheaper H6 from ZAR 589,900 · Starlet Cross from ZAR 304,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H6 Starlet Cross
Engine Power 115 77
Torque 260 140
Engine Size 1497 1498
Claimed Mileage 5.8 18.5
Ground Clearance 198 185
Boot Space 530 270
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 1680 1080
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

H6

63
/ 100
+22
pts
#2

Starlet Cross

41
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

H6 holds a noticeable edge over Starlet Cross, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H6 +5 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety H6 +6 pts
Practicality H6 +3 pts
Ownership H6 +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

H6

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

Starlet Cross

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H6

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

Starlet Cross

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

Which One's Right for You?

H6

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Starlet Cross

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H6 Starlet Cross
Body Type SUV Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Standard
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Standard
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes Standard
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy Standard
Rear Wiper Yes Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Not Available
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler Yes Not Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Body Cladding Yes Standard
Exterior Colour Options 6 Pearl White
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Roof Rails Yes Not Available
Spec H6 Starlet Cross
Number of Doors 5 Available
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 4653 4055
Width 1886 1740
Height 1730 1575
Wheelbase 2738 2520
Ground Clearance 198 185
Kerb Weight 1680 1080
Fuel Tank Capacity 58 Available
Boot Space 530 270
Doors 5 Available
Front Overhang 880 Available
Rear Overhang 890 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1520
Rear Track Width 1570 1510
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 1480
Boot Volume 530 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 730 1500
Turning Radius 11.8 5.1
Towing Capacity 1500 Not Available
Load Bed Length - Available
Load Bed Width - Available
Max Payload - Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm H6 wins with 63 pts vs 41 pts for Starlet Cross

In structured scoring, H6 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Starlet Cross 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 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 Starlet Cross 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 18, Starlet Cross 12. 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, Starlet Cross 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, Starlet Cross 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H6 11, Starlet Cross 6. 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 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H6 scores 11 vs 6.

Efficiency: H6 scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: H6 scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: H6 scores 14 vs 11.

Ownership: H6 scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives H6 the advantage in this comparison.