GWM H7 vs Hyundai Kona

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Kona Discontinued model
GWM H7 in South Africa

GWM H7

2.0T LX Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 185 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Hyundai Kona in South Africa

Hyundai Kona

1.0T DCT Executive Petrol 7-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 565,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 15.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM H7 vs Hyundai Kona: the short answer

H7 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Kona remains close.

Recorded price context H7: current from ZAR 649,900 · Kona: last listed from ZAR 459,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification H7 Kona
Maximum Power H7185 kW @ 5500 rpm Kona88 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque H7420 Nm Kona172 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size H71999 cc Kona998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy H711.8 km/l Kona15.5 km/l
Ground Clearance H7195 mm Kona165 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

GWM H7

2.0T LX

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Hyundai Kona

1.0T DCT Executive

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

H7

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Kona

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H7

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Kona

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

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 H7 Kona
360 Degree Camera Yes Yes
Active Engine Braking No Not confirmed
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Around View Monitor Yes Yes
Attention Assist Yes Not confirmed
Autonomous Emergency Braking Yes No
Automatic High Beam Yes Not confirmed
Auto Highbeam Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Auto Lights Yes Yes
Auto Park Assist No Not confirmed
Auto Wipers Yes No
Blind Spot Monitoring Yes Yes
Blind Spot Warning Yes Yes
Cruise Control Yes Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Eco Mode Yes Yes
Emergency Braking Yes Not confirmed
EV Mode No No
Forward Collision Warning Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Front Camera Yes Not confirmed
Lane Departure Warning Yes Yes
Lane Keep Assist Yes Yes
Park Assist Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Parking Distance Sensors Front and Rear Not confirmed
Parking Sensor Front and Rear Not confirmed
Parking Sensors Front and Rear Front & Rear
Pre-Collision System Yes Not confirmed
Rain Sensor Wipers Yes Not confirmed
Rear View Camera Yes Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Yes Yes
Rear Parking Sensors Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Rear View Camera Yes Not confirmed
Reverse Camera Yes Yes
Reverse Camera Type Yes Not confirmed
Reversing Camera Yes Not confirmed
Sport Mode Yes No
Surround View Camera Yes Yes
Traffic Sign Recognition Yes No
Spec H7 Kona
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Axle Layout AWD FWD
Clutch Type Torque Converter Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock No Not Applicable
Drive Mode Selector Yes Not confirmed
Drivetrain All Wheel Drive FWD
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine All Wheel Drive FWD
Engine Position Front Transverse Front
Final Drive Ratio 3.42 Not Officially Disclosed
Number of Gears 8 Not Officially Disclosed
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 7-speed DCT Dual Clutch
Gearbox Type 8-Speed Automatic Automatic
LSD Available No No
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Yes Yes
Reverse Gear Warning Yes Not confirmed
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 14.7:1 Not confirmed
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds 8 Not Officially Disclosed
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Rear Differential Lock No Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable

In depth: how these cars differ

This H7 and Kona comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: H7 80 vs Kona 40.

Efficiency index: H7 46 vs Kona 62.

Safety-equipment index: H7 100 vs Kona 84.

Practicality index: H7 71 vs Kona 67.

Ownership-cover index: H7 65 vs Kona 65.

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.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

H7 leads by 11 points

H7 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while Kona remains close.

Evidence leader 74 /100
Lead 11 points
Data 99% source coverage
74
#1 Evidence leader

H7

99% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 80
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 71
Ownership 65
Leads by 11 points
63
#2

Kona

90% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 40
Performance 40
Efficiency 62
Safety 84
Practicality 67
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H7 +40 Efficiency Kona +16 Safety H7 +16 Practicality H7 +4 Ownership Level

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

H7

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 65/100

Kona

Performance 40/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 67/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM H7 leads the specification evidence index with 74 pts vs 63 pts for Kona

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, H7 leads. However, Kona may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

H7 vs Kona questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa 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.