GWM H1 vs Tata Punch

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
Tata Punch in South Africa

Tata Punch

Creative+ AMT Petrol 5-Speed AMT Current
ZAR 339,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 65 kW 🔧 115 Nm ⛽ 17.86 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM H1 vs Tata Punch: the short answer

H1 and Punch are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900 · Punch: current from ZAR 244,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification H1 Punch
Maximum Power H178 kW @ 6000 rpm Punch65 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque H1135 Nm @ 4000 rpm Punch115 Nm @ 3250 rpm
Engine Size H11497 cc Punch1199 cc
Combined Fuel Economy H17.0 km/l Punch17.86 km/l
Ground Clearance H1160 mm Punch187 mm

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

Evidence for GWM H1 1.5 LS

Source type: Hagalu catalogue record

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H1

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality
Specification evidence leader

Punch

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

Which One's Right for You?

H1

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

Punch

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • 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 H1 Punch
Model Introduced Year 2015 2025
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 South African-market Tata Punch compact five-door SUV
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. Introduced with Tata Passenger Vehicles' South African return in 2025; no South African facelift has been announced
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2025
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Passenger Car
Spec H1 Punch
Length 4002 mm 3827 mm
Width 1740 mm 1742 mm
Height 1567 mm 1615 mm
Wheelbase 2450 mm 2445 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 160 mm 187 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 42 l 35 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1770 kg 1483 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.2 m 5.0 m
Front Headroom 975 mm 1000 mm
Rear Headroom 950 mm 940 mm
Front Legroom 1020 mm 870 mm
Rear Legroom 840 mm 890 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not confirmed 159 mm
Boot/Cargo Space Not confirmed 366 l
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1059 kg
Payload Capacity Not confirmed 424 kg
Towing Capacity Not confirmed 0 kg
Number of Rows Not confirmed 2 rows

In depth: how these cars differ

This H1 and Punch 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: H1 30 vs Punch 31.

Efficiency index: H1 35 vs Punch 68.

Safety-equipment index: H1 68 vs Punch 44.

Practicality index: H1 63 vs Punch 61.

Ownership-cover index: H1 44 vs Punch 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.

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

Punch leads by 1 points

H1 and Punch are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 50 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 67% source coverage
50
#1 Evidence leader

Punch

67% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Efficiency 68 Check Performance 31
Performance 31
Efficiency 68
Safety 44
Practicality 61
Leads by 1 points
49
#2

H1

80% source coverage 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 68 Check Performance 30
Performance 30
Efficiency 35
Safety 68
Practicality 63
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Punch +1 Efficiency Punch +33 Safety H1 +24 Practicality H1 +2

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Punch

Performance 31/100
Efficiency 68/100
Safety 44/100
Practicality 61/100

H1

Performance 30/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 68/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 44/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Tata Punch leads the specification evidence index with 50 pts vs 49 pts for H1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Punch leads. However, H1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

H1 vs Punch questions

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.