GWM H1 vs GWM Jolion GT

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.

Historical comparison

Every selected record is historical. Verified South African specifications and last-listed prices remain available for owners and used-car shoppers.

GWM H1 Discontinued model GWM Jolion GT 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
GWM Jolion GT in South Africa

GWM Jolion GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Discontinued model
ZAR 629,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 6.5 km/l
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At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Jolion GT
Fuel Economy Jolion GT
🛡 Safety Jolion GT
📦 Practicality H1
🔑 Ownership Jolion GT
Recorded price context H1: last listed from ZAR 229,900 · Jolion GT: last listed from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H1 Jolion GT
Maximum Power 78 kW @ 6000 rpm 150 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 135 Nm @ 4000 rpm 380 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 7.0 km/l 6.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 160 mm 185 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 298 l
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight Not confirmed 1600 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed Not confirmed
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 5 Years / 100,000 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

Jolion GT holds a noticeable edge over H1, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Jolion GT +38 pts
Efficiency Jolion GT +4 pts
Safety Jolion GT +38 pts
Practicality H1 +6 pts
Ownership Jolion GT +21 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H1

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Jolion GT

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H1

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Jolion GT

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • 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 Jolion GT
Model Introduced Year 2015 2024
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, sharing platform fundamentals with the regular Jolion but with bodywork, suspension calibration, powertrain and cabin treatment differentiated to position as a halo product within the Haval lineup.
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. First-generation Jolion GT launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have improved driver-assistance calibration and refined hybrid system behaviour during cold starts on the Highveld.
Facelift Launched Since 2017 2024
Tare Mass Kg Not confirmed 1600 kg
Spec H1 Jolion GT
LSD Available Not Applicable No
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Differential Lock Not Applicable No
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Not confirmed
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted Front Transverse
Gearbox 6-Speed CVT DHT Hybrid Transmission
Final Drive Ratio 3.94:1 3.73
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.2 14.7:1
Number of Gears 6 2
Transmission Type Automatic CVT Automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter Wet Multi-Disc
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Transmission Speeds 6 2
Drivetrain Layout Not confirmed Front Engine Front Wheel Drive
Gear Shift Indicator Not confirmed Yes
Drive Mode Selector Not confirmed Yes
Reverse Gear Warning Not confirmed Yes
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Automatic

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Jolion GT leads by 20 points

Jolion GT holds a noticeable edge over H1, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 66 /100
Lead 20 points
Data 97% confidence
66
#1 Winner

Jolion GT

97% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 39
Performance 68
Efficiency 39
Safety 94
Practicality 57
Ownership 65
Leads by 20 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 Jolion GT +38 Efficiency Jolion GT +4 Safety Jolion GT +38 Practicality H1 +6 Ownership Jolion GT +21

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Jolion GT

Performance 68/100
Efficiency 39/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 57/100
Ownership 65/100

H1

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Jolion GT wins with 66 pts vs 46 pts for H1

In structured scoring, Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 39. 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, Jolion GT 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, Jolion GT 65. 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, Jolion GT 57. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H1 30, Jolion GT 68. 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 Jolion GT edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: H1 scores 30 vs 68.

Efficiency: H1 scores 35 vs 39.

Safety: H1 scores 56 vs 94.

Practicality: H1 scores 63 vs 57.

Ownership: H1 scores 44 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Jolion GT the advantage in this comparison.