GWM P500 vs Renault Trafic Passenger

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 P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 10.2 km/l
VS
Renault Trafic Passenger in South Africa

Renault Trafic Passenger

Techno+ Diesel 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,049,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM P500 vs Renault Trafic Passenger: the short answer

P500 and Trafic Passenger are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

P500 starts ZAR 180,099 cheaper P500 from ZAR 799,900 · Trafic Passenger from ZAR 979,999

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification P500 Trafic Passenger
Maximum Power P500255 kW Trafic Passenger125 kW @ 3500 rpm
Maximum Torque P500648 Nm Trafic Passenger380 Nm @ 1500 rpm
Engine Size P5002000 cc Trafic Passenger1997 cc
Combined Fuel Economy P50010.2 km/l Trafic Passenger13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance P500224 mm Trafic Passenger199 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 P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT

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

Renault Trafic Passenger

Techno+

Hagalu editorial rating
4.4/5

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

P500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance

Trafic Passenger

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

P500

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures

Trafic Passenger

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec P500 Trafic Passenger
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed 2026
Generation Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current long-wheelbase nine-seat Trafic Passenger introduced to the South African retail range in 2026 with 125 kW Blue dCi power and EAG9 automatic transmission
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. Current Trafic face and smart-cockpit specification with three South African grades: Evolution, Evolution+ and Techno+
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup MPV
Body Type Cab Pickup -
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment Pickup Large MPV
Tare Mass Kg 2761 kg -
Vehicle Type Pickup MPV
Spec P500 Trafic Passenger
Length 5445 mm 5480 mm
Width 1991 mm 1956 mm
Height 1924 mm 1973 mm
Wheelbase 3350 mm 3498 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 224 mm 199 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 150 mm 160 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 l 80 l
Boot/Cargo Space 450 l 1890 l
Kerb Weight 2810 kg 2160 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3495 kg 3070 kg
Payload Capacity 685 kg 910 kg
Towing Capacity 3500 kg 2500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 9 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 3 rows
Doors 4 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 6.0 m 6.9 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 1019 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 1060 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1028 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 930 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This P500 and Trafic Passenger 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: P500 98 vs Trafic Passenger 55.

Efficiency index: P500 50 vs Trafic Passenger 55.

Safety-equipment index: P500 88 vs Trafic Passenger 90.

Practicality index: P500 78 vs Trafic Passenger 88.

Ownership-cover index: P500 65 vs Trafic Passenger 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

P500 leads by 5 points

P500 and Trafic Passenger are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 78 /100
Lead 5 points
Data 73% source coverage
78
#1 Evidence leader

P500

73% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Efficiency 50
Performance 98
Efficiency 50
Safety 88
Practicality 78
Ownership 65
Leads by 5 points
73
#2

Trafic Passenger

81% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 90 Check Performance 55
Performance 55
Efficiency 55
Safety 90
Practicality 88
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P500 +43 Efficiency Trafic Passenger +5 Safety Trafic Passenger +2 Practicality Trafic Passenger +10

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 88/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 65/100

Trafic Passenger

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 90/100
Practicality 88/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM P500 leads the specification evidence index with 78 pts vs 73 pts for Trafic Passenger

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, P500 leads. However, Trafic Passenger 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.

P500
P500
VS
Ranger Wildtrak
Ranger Wildtrak
P500 vs Ranger Wildtrak →
P500
P500
VS
Staria
Staria
P500 vs Staria →
P500
P500
VS
Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab
Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab
P500 vs Land Cruiser 79 Double Cab →
P500
P500
VS
Hunter K50 REEV
Hunter K50 REEV
P500 vs Hunter K50 REEV →
P500
P500
VS
SHARK 6 DMO
SHARK 6 DMO
P500 vs SHARK 6 DMO →
P500
P500
VS
Terron 9
Terron 9
P500 vs Terron 9 →
Trafic Passenger
Trafic Passenger
VS
Ranger Wildtrak
Ranger Wildtrak
Trafic Passenger vs Ranger Wildtrak →
Trafic Passenger
Trafic Passenger
VS
Staria
Staria
Trafic Passenger vs Staria →

P500 vs Trafic Passenger 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.