GWM H1 vs Chery Tiggo 9

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
Chery Tiggo 9 in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 9

Vanguard AWD 2.0T Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 779,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 187 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 12.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tiggo 9
Fuel Economy Tiggo 9
🛡 Safety Tiggo 9
📦 Practicality Tiggo 9
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 9
Recorded price context H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900 · Tiggo 9: current from ZAR 689,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H1 Tiggo 9
Maximum Power 78 kW @ 6000 rpm 187 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm 390 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.0 km/l 12.0 km/l
Ground Clearance 160 mm 147 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 448 l
Airbags 4 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight Not confirmed -
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 7 Year / 200 000 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

Tiggo 9 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 9 +50 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 9 +12 pts
Safety Tiggo 9 +38 pts
Practicality Tiggo 9 +10 pts
Ownership Tiggo 9 +25 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

Tiggo 9

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 Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tiggo 9

  • 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 Tiggo 9
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 Tiggo 9 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 Tiggo 9
LSD Available Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Standard
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed CVT 7 DCT
Final Drive Ratio 3.94:1 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.2 -
Number of Gears 6 7
Transmission Type Automatic CVT Automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter Automatic clutch
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive AWD
Gearbox Type Automatic 7 DCT
Transmission Speeds 6 7
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed AWD
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Standard
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Available
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 Standard
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed AWD
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Electric

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 9 leads by 28 points

Tiggo 9 dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 28 points
Data 74% confidence
74
#1 Winner

Tiggo 9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 80
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 73
Ownership 69
Leads by 28 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 Tiggo 9 +50 Efficiency Tiggo 9 +12 Safety Tiggo 9 +38 Practicality Tiggo 9 +10 Ownership Tiggo 9 +25

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 9

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 69/100

H1

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 9 wins with 74 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Tiggo 9 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 Tiggo 9 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 Tiggo 9 47. 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, Tiggo 9 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, Tiggo 9 69. 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, Tiggo 9 73. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 30, Tiggo 9 80. 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 Tiggo 9 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 9 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 Tiggo 9 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H1 scores 30 vs 80.

Efficiency: H1 scores 35 vs 47.

Safety: H1 scores 56 vs 94.

Practicality: H1 scores 63 vs 73.

Ownership: H1 scores 44 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 9 the advantage in this comparison.