GWM P300 vs Ford Transit Custom

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

GWM P300 in South Africa

GWM P300

2.4T LT 2WD 9AT Diesel Current
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
VS
Ford Transit Custom in South Africa

Ford Transit Custom

2.0L LWB Van Base 6MT Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 770,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 100 kW 🔧 360 Nm ⛽ 12.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM P300 vs Ford Transit Custom: the short answer

P300 and Transit Custom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

P300 starts ZAR 355,050 cheaper P300 from ZAR 414,950 · Transit Custom from ZAR 770,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification P300 Transit Custom
Maximum Power P300135 kW Transit Custom100 kW
Maximum Torque P300480 Nm Transit Custom360 Nm
Engine Size P3002400 cc Transit Custom1996 cc
Combined Fuel Economy P30013.5 km/l Transit Custom12.2 km/l
Ground Clearance P300224 mm Transit Custom130 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

GWM P300

2.4T LT 2WD 9AT

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Ford Transit Custom

2.0L LWB Van Base 6MT

Hagalu editorial rating
4.2/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

P300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Transit Custom

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

P300

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Transit Custom

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec P300 Transit Custom
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African P300 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African Transit Custom listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. 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 Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup Van
Body Type Cab Pickup -
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Base grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.4T LT 2WD 9AT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Commercial van
Tare Mass Kg 2070 kg 1756 kg
Vehicle Type Pickup Van
Wheelbase Type - Long wheelbase
Spec P300 Transit Custom
Length 5416 mm 5450 mm
Width 1934 mm 2032 mm
Height 1886 mm 1979 mm
Wheelbase 3230 mm 3500 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 224 mm 130 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 150 mm 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 78 l 50 l
Boot/Cargo Space 450 l 484 l
Kerb Weight 2070 kg 1756 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3120 kg 3025 kg
Payload Capacity 1050 kg 1269 kg
Towing Capacity 3000 kg 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 3 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.0 m 5.6 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 984 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 947 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1047 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 881 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This P300 and Transit Custom comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: P300 71 vs Transit Custom 60.

Efficiency index: P300 57 vs Transit Custom 53.

Safety-equipment index: P300 not separately scored vs Transit Custom 90.

Practicality index: P300 80 vs Transit Custom 61.

Ownership-cover index: P300 65 vs Transit Custom not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

P300 leads by 2 points

P300 and Transit Custom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 69% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

P300

69% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 80 Check Efficiency 57
Performance 71
Efficiency 57
Practicality 80
Ownership 65
Leads by 2 points
67
#2

Transit Custom

65% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Efficiency 53
Performance 60
Efficiency 53
Safety 90
Practicality 61
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P300 +11 Efficiency P300 +4 Practicality P300 +19

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

P300

Performance 71/100
Efficiency 57/100
Practicality 80/100
Ownership 65/100

Transit Custom

Performance 60/100
Efficiency 53/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 61/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM P300 leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 67 pts for Transit Custom

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, P300 leads. However, Transit Custom may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

P300
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P300 vs Amarok →
P300
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Ranger XL
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P300
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VS
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P300 vs D-Max Double Cab →
Transit Custom
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VS
Amarok
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Transit Custom vs Amarok →
Transit Custom
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VS
Ranger XL
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Transit Custom vs Ranger XL →

P300 vs Transit Custom questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.