GWM H7 vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

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 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
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport in South Africa

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

2.4L DI-DC 8-speed A/T 4X4 Exceed Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 904,990 ex-showroom
⚡ 133 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H7
Fuel Economy Pajero Sport
🛡 Safety H7
📦 Practicality H7
🔑 Ownership Not enough comparable data
H7 starts ZAR 140,090 cheaper H7 from ZAR 649,900 · Pajero Sport from ZAR 789,990

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H7 Pajero Sport
Maximum Power 185 kW @ 5500 rpm 133 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque 420 Nm 430 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size 1999 cc 2442 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 11.8 km/l 12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance 195 mm 218 mm
Boot / Load Bay 620 l 193 l
Airbags 8 7
Kerb Weight 1830 kg 2080 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 3 years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H7 +8 pts
Efficiency Pajero Sport +3 pts
Safety H7 +28 pts
Practicality H7 +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Catalogue-index 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

Pajero Sport

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

Pajero Sport

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H7 Pajero Sport
Model Introduced Year 2024 2017
Generation First generation, derived from Haval's larger SUV platform launched in 2023. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic model in suspension calibration and equipment loading. Third-generation Pajero Sport, 2025 facelift
Facelift History First-generation H7 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the all-wheel-drive system calibration and the driver-assistance behaviour. South African facelift launched in May 2025.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Current specification
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof options available on LT and LX trims. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Seven-seat ladder-frame SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1830 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger vehicle
Spec H7 Pajero Sport
Length 4772 mm 4825 mm
Width 1910 mm 1815 mm
Height 1750 mm 1805 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 195 mm 218 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 68 l
Boot/Cargo Space 620 l 193 l
Kerb Weight 1830 kg 2080 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2200 kg 2775 kg
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 2850 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 7 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 12.2 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 1022 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 957 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1067 mm
Rear Legroom 890 mm 880 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - Not Officially Disclosed
Payload Capacity - 695 kg
Number of Rows - 3 rows

Source-backed Catalogue Index

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

Weighted / 100
Catalogue-index readout

H7 leads by 8 points

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

Index leader 75 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 96% source coverage
75
#1 Index leader

H7

96% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 80
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 8 points
67
#2

Pajero Sport

78% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 72 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 72
Efficiency 49
Safety 72
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H7 +8 Efficiency Pajero Sport +3 Safety H7 +28 Practicality H7 +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Catalogue-index leader

H7

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

Pajero Sport

Performance 72/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 72/100
Practicality 71/100

How to Read This Comparison

🏆 GWM H7 leads the catalogue index with 75 pts vs 67 pts for Pajero Sport

In Hagalu's source-backed catalogue index, H7 leads. However, Pajero Sport 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 H7 and Pajero Sport 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: H7 80 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Efficiency index: H7 46 vs Pajero Sport 49.

Safety-equipment index: H7 100 vs Pajero Sport 72.

Practicality index: H7 73 vs Pajero Sport 71.

Ownership-cover index: H7 65 vs Pajero Sport 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.