GWM H2 vs GWM ORA 5

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 H2 Discontinued model
GWM H2 in South Africa

GWM H2

1.5T LT Petrol 6-Speed DCT Discontinued model
ZAR 339,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 210 Nm ⛽ 7.5 km/l
VS
GWM ORA 5 in South Africa

GWM ORA 5

BEV Ultra Luxury Electric Current
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 260 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance ORA 5
Fuel Economy ORA 5
🛡 Safety ORA 5
📦 Practicality H2
🔑 Ownership ORA 5
Recorded price context H2: last listed from ZAR 299,900 · ORA 5: current from ZAR 364,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H2 ORA 5
Maximum Power 110 kW @ 5500 rpm 150 kW
Maximum Torque 210 Nm 260 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc Not Applicable
Claimed Mileage 7.5 km/l -
Ground Clearance 175 mm 175 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed -
Airbags 4 6
Kerb Weight Not confirmed -
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 3 Years / 100,000 km 7 years / 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

ORA 5 holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance ORA 5 +11 pts
Efficiency ORA 5 +55 pts
Safety ORA 5 +26 pts
Practicality H2 +3 pts
Ownership ORA 5 +33 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H2

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

ORA 5

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?

H2

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

ORA 5

  • 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 H2 ORA 5
Model Introduced Year 2017 2026
Generation First generation Haval H2 in SA, on sale 2017-2022. Discontinued in favour of the Jolion, which used a more modern platform and powertrain. First-generation ORA 5; South African launch specification
Facelift History H2 received a mid-cycle update in 2019 that brought minor exterior styling changes, improved infotainment software and refinements to the DCT calibration. Updates continued through the model life to address recurring DCT issues, with the final 2022 specification being notably improved over the original 2017 launch model. No facelift; first South African model year
Facelift Launched Since 2022 Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Not Applicable
Body Style Not confirmed Compact SUV
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed On sale
Segment Not confirmed Compact SUV
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Passenger vehicle
Spec H2 ORA 5
LSD Available Not Applicable -
Transfer Case Not Applicable -
Differential Lock Not Applicable -
Paddle Shifters Yes -
Engine Position Transverse Front-Mounted -
Gearbox 6-Speed DCT Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 4.12:1 -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 3.4 -
Number of Gears 6 -
Transmission Type Automatic DCT Automatic
Clutch Type Torque Converter DCT -
Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive -
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Transmission Speeds 6 -
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed Electronic column shifter

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

ORA 5 leads by 22 points

ORA 5 holds a noticeable edge over H2, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 74 /100
Lead 22 points
Data 56% confidence
74
#1 Winner

ORA 5

56% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 63
Ownership 77
Leads by 22 points
52
#2

H2

87% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Safety 66 Check Efficiency 35
Performance 45
Efficiency 35
Safety 66
Practicality 66
Ownership 44
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance ORA 5 +11 Efficiency ORA 5 +55 Safety ORA 5 +26 Practicality H2 +3 Ownership ORA 5 +33

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

ORA 5

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 63/100
Ownership 77/100

H2

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 35/100
Safety 66/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 44/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM ORA 5 wins with 74 pts vs 52 pts for H2

In structured scoring, ORA 5 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H2 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 ORA 5 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: H2 35 vs ORA 5 90. 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: H2 66, ORA 5 92. 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: H2 44, ORA 5 77. 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: H2 66, ORA 5 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H2 45, ORA 5 56. 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 ORA 5 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The ORA 5 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 H2 and ORA 5 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H2 scores 45 vs 56.

Efficiency: H2 scores 35 vs 90.

Safety: H2 scores 66 vs 92.

Practicality: H2 scores 66 vs 63.

Ownership: H2 scores 44 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives ORA 5 the advantage in this comparison.