GWM H1 vs Renault Kiger

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.

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.

GWM H1 Discontinued model
GWM H1 in South Africa

GWM H1

1.5 LS Petrol CVT Discontinued model
ZAR 229,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 78 kW 🔧 135 Nm ⛽ 7.0 km/l
VS
Renault Kiger in South Africa

Renault Kiger

Naturally Aspirated MT Evolution Petrol Current
ZAR 219,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 52 kW 🔧 96 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance H1
Fuel Economy Kiger
🛡 Safety Kiger
📦 Practicality Kiger
🔑 Ownership H1
Recorded price context H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900 · Kiger: current from ZAR 219,999

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H1 Kiger
Maximum Power 78 kW @ 6000 rpm 52 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm 96 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 999 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.0 km/l Not Available
Ground Clearance 160 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 405 l
Airbags 4 Front airbags
Kerb Weight Not confirmed -
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 5 Year / 150 000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Kiger has a slight advantage, but H1 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H1 +3 pts
Efficiency Kiger +21 pts
Safety Kiger +19 pts
Practicality Kiger +5 pts
Ownership H1 +2 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H1

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

Kiger

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

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Kiger

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 H1 Kiger
Model Introduced Year 2015 2026
Generation Single generation in South Africa from 2015-2019. The H1 was based on an older Great Wall platform and was discontinued without a direct successor. Current South Africa Kiger range
Facelift History H1 received a single mid-cycle update in 2017 that brought minor exterior styling refinements and an updated infotainment system. No significant mechanical changes through the model life. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2026
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed active
Segment Not confirmed SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed Not Available
Spec H1 Kiger
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed CVT Manual
Final Drive Ratio 3.94:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.2 -
Number of Gears 6 Not Available
Transmission Type Automatic CVT Manual
Clutch Type Torque Converter Manual clutch
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive FWD
Gearbox Type Automatic Manual
Transmission Speeds 6 Not Available
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed FWD
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Standard
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed FWD
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Manual

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Kiger leads by 8 points

Kiger has a slight advantage, but H1 remains highly competitive.

Winner 54 /100
Lead 8 points
Data 60% confidence
54
#1 Winner

Kiger

60% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 75 Check Performance 27
Performance 27
Efficiency 56
Safety 75
Practicality 68
Ownership 42
Leads by 8 points
46
#2

H1

87% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 63 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 56
Practicality 63
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H1 +3 Efficiency Kiger +21 Safety Kiger +19 Practicality Kiger +5 Ownership H1 +2

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Kiger

Performance 27/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 75/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 42/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 56/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Renault Kiger wins with 54 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Kiger emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H1 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 Kiger 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: H1 35 vs Kiger 56. 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: H1 56, Kiger 75. 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: H1 44, Kiger 42. 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: H1 63, Kiger 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 30, Kiger 27. 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 Kiger edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Kiger 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 H1 and Kiger in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H1 scores 30 vs 27.

Efficiency: H1 scores 35 vs 56.

Safety: H1 scores 56 vs 75.

Practicality: H1 scores 63 vs 68.

Ownership: H1 scores 44 vs 42.

Final structured scoring gives Kiger the advantage in this comparison.