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.
Recorded price context
H1:
last listed from
ZAR 229,900
·
T1 i-DM:
current from
ZAR 689,900
Key Specs Side by Side
The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
Maximum Power
78 kW @ 6000 rpm
100 kW @ 5200 rpm
Maximum Torque
135 Nm @ 4000 rpm
220 Nm @ 2500 rpm
Engine Size
1497 cc
1499 cc
Claimed Mileage
7.0 km/l
90.9 km/l
Ground Clearance
160 mm
190 mm
Boot / Load Bay
Not confirmed
574 l
Airbags
4
Front, front side, and front/rear curtain airbags
Kerb Weight
Not confirmed
2000 kg
Seating Capacity
Not confirmed
-
Warranty
3 Years / 100,000 km
7-year/200,000 km vehicle warranty
= 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
T1 i-DM dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.
Where They Actually Differ
Performance
T1 i-DM
+11 pts
Efficiency
T1 i-DM
+63 pts
Safety
T1 i-DM
+38 pts
Practicality
T1 i-DM
+8 pts
Ownership
T1 i-DM
+18 pts
What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)
H1
Strengths
Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
Less powerful engine setup
Lower fuel efficiency
Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to:General Use
🏆 Overall Winner
T1 i-DM
Strengths
More powerful engine output
Better fuel efficiency
Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to:Highway DrivingFuel EfficiencyFamily Usage
Which One's Right for You?
H1
Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle
T1 i-DM
Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Large families needing more practicality and usability
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind
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
T1 i-DM
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 local listing
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.
Not listed by current South African source page.
Facelift Launched Since
2017
2026
Facelift Version Ending
Not confirmed
Current
Body Style
Not confirmed
SUV
Model Year
Not confirmed
Current
Production Status
Not confirmed
Active
Segment
Not confirmed
SUV
Vehicle Type
Not confirmed
SUV
Gross Combined Mass Kg
Not confirmed
3948 kg
Tare Mass Kg
Not confirmed
2000 kg
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
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
Automatic
Final Drive Ratio
3.94:1
Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock
3.2
-
Number of Gears
6
Not Applicable
Transmission Type
Automatic CVT
Automatic
Clutch Type
Torque Converter
Not Applicable
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive
2WD
Gearbox Type
Automatic
Automatic
Transmission Speeds
6
Not Applicable
Drivetrain Layout
Not confirmed
2WD
Gear Shift Indicator
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
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
2WD
Rear Differential Lock
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
Claimed Mileage
7.0 km/l
90.9 km/l
City Mileage
6.8 km/l
74.5 km/l
Highway Mileage
8.2 km/l
105.5 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity
42 l
70 l
Emission Standard
Euro 5
VI B
AdBlue Tank Capacity
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Fuel Tank Litres
42
70
Average Fuel Consumption
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Real-world Mileage
7.0 km/l
90.9 km/l
Charging Port Type
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Charging Type
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Combined Consumption
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined
Not confirmed
1.1 l/100km
Combined Driving Range
Not confirmed
1200
Electric Consumption
Not confirmed
21
Range Real World Highway
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Range Real World Mixed
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
Airbags
4
Front, front side, and front/rear curtain airbags
ABS
Yes
Yes
Electronic Stability Control
Yes
Yes
Traction Control
Standard
Yes
Hill Descent Control
Not Available
Not Available
Hill Start Assist
Not Available
Not Available
Child Safety Lock
Standard
Not Available
ISOFIX Mounts
2 Rear ISOFIX Points
Yes
Brake Assist
Standard
Not Available
Tyre Pressure Monitor
Not Available
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
Standard
Not Available
Alarm System
Not Available
-
Central Locking
Remote Central Locking
-
Side Impact Beams
Standard
-
Seatbelt Warning All Seats
Front Seats
Not Available
Speed Alert System
Standard
-
Pedestrian Detection AEB
Not Available
-
Front Parking Sensors
Not Available
Front and rear
Safety Rating
4
-
Whiplash Protection
Active Head Restraints
-
Lane Change Warning
Not Available
-
TCS
Standard
Yes
Stability Control
Yes
Yes
AEB
Not Available
Yes
BA
Not confirmed
Not Available
Brake Override System
Not confirmed
Not Available
Curtain Airbags
Not confirmed
Front, front side, and front/rear curtain airbags
Driver Airbag
Not confirmed
Not Available
EBD
Not confirmed
Yes
Engine Immobiliser
Not confirmed
Not Available
Hill Hold
Not Available
Not Available
Passenger Airbag
Not confirmed
Not Available
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Not Available
Yes
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Not confirmed
Not Available
Side Airbags
Not confirmed
Front, front side, and front/rear curtain airbags
Knee Airbag
Not confirmed
Not Available
ABS EBD
Yes
Yes
Seatbelt Reminder
Not confirmed
Not Available
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
Cruise Control
Not Available
Not Available
Adaptive Cruise Control
Not Available
Yes
Lane Keep Assist
Not Available
Yes
Lane Departure Warning
Not Available
Yes
Blind Spot Monitoring
Not Available
Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Not Available
Yes
Parking Sensors
Not Available
Front and rear
Rear View Camera
Yes
Not Available
360 Degree Camera
Not Available
Yes
Autonomous Emergency Braking
Not Available
Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert
Not Available
Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition
Not Available
Not Available
Auto Highbeam
Not confirmed
Not Available
Auto Wipers
Not confirmed
Not Available
Rear Parking Sensors
Not confirmed
Front and rear
Reverse Camera
Yes
Not Available
Adaptive Cruise Control
Not Available
Yes
Park Assist
Not confirmed
Not Available
Around View Monitor
Not Available
Yes
Blind Spot Warning
Not Available
Yes
Forward Collision Warning
Not confirmed
Yes
Spec
H1
T1 i-DM
Seat Material
Fabric
Black synthetic leather with orange stitching
Seat Adjustment
Manual 4-Way Driver Adjustment
Driver 6-way electric with ventilation, lumbar support and memory; passenger 4-way electric with ventilation and leg rest
Heated Seats
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Ventilated Seats
Not Applicable
Front seats
Steering Type
Electric Power Assisted (EPAS)
-
Steering Adjustment
Tilt Adjustable
-
Ambient Lighting
Not Applicable
Multi
Folding Rear Seats
60:40 Split Fold
-
Front Armrest
Front Centre Armrest
-
Rear Armrest
Not Available
-
Cup Holders
4
-
Rear AC Vents
Not Available
Yes
Rear USB Ports
0
-
Steering Wheel Material
Polyurethane
Not Applicable
Instrument Cluster Type
Analogue Speedometer
-
Interior Colour Options
2
-
Driver Lumbar Support
Not Available
-
Door Map Pockets
All Four Door Pockets
-
Front Shoulder Room
1190 mm
Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room
1150 mm
Not Applicable
60 40 Split Seat
Not confirmed
Not Applicable
Driver Seat Adjustment
Not confirmed
Driver 6-way electric with ventilation, lumbar support and memory; passenger 4-way electric with ventilation and leg rest
Passenger Seat Adjustment
Not confirmed
Driver 6-way electric with ventilation, lumbar support and memory; passenger 4-way electric with ventilation and leg rest
In structured scoring, T1 i-DM 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.
Other Comparisons Worth Checking
See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.
On our scoring the T1 i-DM 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 T1 i-DM 98. 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, T1 i-DM 94. 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, T1 i-DM 62. 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, T1 i-DM 71. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.
Performance scores: H1 30, T1 i-DM 41. 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 T1 i-DM edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.
The T1 i-DM 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 T1 i-DM in South Africa
evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.
Performance: H1 scores 30 vs 41.
Efficiency: H1 scores 35 vs 98.
Safety: H1 scores 56 vs 94.
Practicality: H1 scores 63 vs 71.
Ownership: H1 scores 44 vs 62.
Final structured scoring gives T1 i-DM
the advantage in this comparison.
Compare
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