GWM H1 vs Nissan Magnite

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
Nissan Magnite in South Africa

Nissan Magnite

1.0 Acenta Plus EZ-Shift Petrol Current
ZAR 323,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 53 kW 🔧 96 Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

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

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H1 Magnite
Maximum Power 78 kW @ 6000 rpm 53 kW @ 6250 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm 96 Nm @ 3500 rpm
Engine Size 1497 cc 999 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.0 km/l 16.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 160 mm 205 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 336 l
Airbags 4 6 airbags
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1007 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 6 years / 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

Both H1 and Magnite are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H1 +14 pts
Efficiency Magnite +30 pts
Safety Magnite +15 pts
Practicality Magnite +1 pts
Ownership H1 +1 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

Magnite

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

Magnite

  • 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 Magnite
Model Introduced Year 2015 2021
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. First generation Magnite arrived in SA in 2021 — Nissan's entry into the growing budget compact SUV segment
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. 2023 facelift refreshed the grille, interior trims, and added safety upgrades
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2023
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed SUV
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1007 kg
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Front-wheel drive confirmed by Nissan South Africa derivative/specification data
Color Note Not confirmed Brick Red, Storm White, Pearl White, Onyx Black, Gun Grey, Blade Silver
Spec H1 Magnite
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Available
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Available
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Available
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not Applicable
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed CVT AMT
Final Drive Ratio 3.94:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.2 -
Number of Gears 6 5
Transmission Type Automatic CVT AMT
Clutch Type Torque Converter Not Applicable
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive 2WD
Gearbox Type Automatic AMT
Transmission Speeds 6 5
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Available
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Available
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Available
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Available
Differential Type Front Not confirmed Not Available
Differential Type Rear Not confirmed Not Available
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Available
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed AMT
Low Range Not confirmed Not Available
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Available
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Available
Transfer Case Guard Not confirmed Not Available
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed 2WD
Axle Layout Not confirmed 2WD
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Magnite leads by 5 points

Both H1 and Magnite are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 51 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 88% confidence
51
#1 Winner

Magnite

88% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 71 Check Performance 16
Performance 16
Efficiency 65
Safety 71
Practicality 64
Ownership 43
Leads by 5 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 +14 Efficiency Magnite +30 Safety Magnite +15 Practicality Magnite +1 Ownership H1 +1

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Magnite

Performance 16/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 71/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 43/100

H1

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Magnite wins with 51 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Magnite 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 Magnite 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 Magnite 65. 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, Magnite 71. 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, Magnite 43. 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, Magnite 64. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 30, Magnite 16. 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 Magnite edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H1 scores 30 vs 16.

Efficiency: H1 scores 35 vs 65.

Safety: H1 scores 56 vs 71.

Practicality: H1 scores 63 vs 64.

Ownership: H1 scores 44 vs 43.

Final structured scoring gives Magnite the advantage in this comparison.