GWM P Series vs GWM P500

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 P Series Discontinued model
GWM P Series in South Africa

GWM P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 599,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
VS
GWM P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid Current
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 10.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P500
Fuel Economy P500
🛡 Safety P Series
📦 Practicality P Series
🔑 Ownership Tie
Recorded price context P Series: last listed from ZAR 444,900 · P500: current from ZAR 799,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec P Series P500
Maximum Power 110 kW 255 kW
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 648 Nm
Engine Size 1996 cc 2000 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l 10.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 224 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed -
Airbags 6 Front dual, front side, curtain and front centre airbags
Kerb Weight 1985 kg 2810 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 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

P Series has a slight advantage, but P500 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P500 +37 pts
Efficiency P500 +9 pts
Safety P Series +85 pts
Practicality P Series +2 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

P Series

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

P500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

P Series

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

P500

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

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 P Series P500
Model Introduced Year 2020 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation The P Series sold in South Africa is the first generation marketed under the GWM banner locally, derived from Great Wall's POER platform launched in China in 2019. Local specification differs from the Chinese-market POER in suspension calibration (firmer for higher payload), 4x4 system tuning (greater bias to load-carrying durability over technical off-road performance) and trim levels (the South African range is more equipment-loaded than the domestic Chinese equivalent at the same price point). Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Since its 2020 South African launch, the P Series has received two notable updates. A 2022 mid-cycle refresh introduced the larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen on LS and above, updated driver-assistance calibration to reduce false lane-departure alerts on SA rural roads, and added wireless Apple CarPlay on the LT and LX. A 2024 specification update added the 360-degree camera as standard on LT trim, upgraded the rear-camera resolution across the range and revised the suspension damping after South African dealer feedback noted the original tune was firmer than ideal on Eastern Cape gravel. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Body Type Cab Double Cab Pickup
Tare Mass Kg 1985 kg 2761 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed Double-cab pickup
Color Note Not confirmed Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Pickup
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Pickup
Spec P Series P500
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive 4WD / AWD
LSD Available No Not Applicable
Transfer Case Yes Not Applicable
Differential Lock Yes Rear differential lock
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Number of Gears 8 9
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Available
4WD Hi Range Yes Available
4WD Lo Range Yes Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 8 9
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Applicable
Drive Mode Selector Not confirmed 4WD/off-road drive mode support
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Standard
Axle Layout Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

P Series leads by 9 points

P Series has a slight advantage, but P500 remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 9 points
Data 94% confidence
70
#1 Winner

P Series

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Leads by 9 points
61
#2

P500

77% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 9
Performance 98
Efficiency 50
Safety 9
Practicality 79
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P500 +37 Efficiency P500 +9 Safety P Series +85 Practicality P Series +2 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

P Series

Performance 61/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 65/100

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 79/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM P Series wins with 70 pts vs 61 pts for P500

In structured scoring, P Series emerges as the stronger overall package. However, P500 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 P Series 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: P Series 41 vs P500 50. 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: P Series 94, P500 9. 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: P Series 65, P500 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: P Series 81, P500 79. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: P Series 61, P500 98. 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 P Series edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P Series 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 P Series and P500 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: P Series scores 61 vs 98.

Efficiency: P Series scores 41 vs 50.

Safety: P Series scores 94 vs 9.

Practicality: P Series scores 81 vs 79.

Ownership: P Series scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives P Series the advantage in this comparison.