2025 GWM Haval H7 review

News.com.au

02-05-2025

Big Dog. What a great name for a car, right?
Shame it won't be called that in Australia.
Nope, this new GWM Haval SUV will be sold as the H7, and – predictably – it'll sit just above the H6, which is a subtler, more conventional crossover.
The H7 is, by contrast, a rough-and-ready looking character, with bold design elements that might appeal to those who want something a bit more off-road-looking, and it's a similar size to a Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.
Or, perhaps an alternative to the Tank 300, for those who know they won't actually go off-roading.
It will arrive in Australia in the next few months, and you can expect pricing to be close to the existing H6 hybrid SUV, which starts at $42,490 drive-away.
A new version of that model is also on its way, if the macho machine vibe of this one doesn't do it for you.
You mightn't be hot on the bolt-on fender flare look, which is overselling the idea of its capability somewhat, but with a distinct look to it including Mustang-inspired nostrils in the grille, a Pajero-like rear window line, and tail-lights that are reminiscent of a mix of Mazda and Infiniti SUVs, it cuts a different shape to the other, some might say, cookie-cutter options in the mix.
That boldness and differentiation continues inside the cabin, with big chunky grab handles on the doors, a mix of durable feeling materials, and – of course – a couple of big screens thrown in.
The driver gets a 12.3-inch display with a level of configurability, while the infotainment unit is a huge 14.6-inch touch system with new software and the expected smartphone apps, and an array of buttons below the screen for quick aircon adjustments.
Back seat space is impressive for a midsize SUV, with easily enough head, leg, foot and shoulder room for larger adults to fit in the second row.
There are some Jeep-like practicality touches, including a removable torch that sits near the passenger's knee, and the interior storage is great too, with a huge open trench below the gear selector, a shelf in front of the front passenger, and neat elasticated bottle holders for all four doors – great for those active lifestyle families, presumably.
And if you're a camper, there's a decent size boot as well – 483 litres of capacity with the seats up, and 1362L with them folded down.
Nice.
Spare wheel?
Not likely, sadly.
That's partly because of the powertrain.
The H7 we're expected to get is the petrol-electric hybrid, which employs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that combines with an electric motor and two-speed hybrid transmission, with oomphy maximum outputs of 179kW and 530Nm.
It has the battery under the rear of the vehicle, and it's front-wheel drive only … so, it might have Big Dog aspirations until it gets stuck in the mud at the dog park.
There's another model with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and all-wheel drive, but strict new vehicle emissions regulations have essentially nixed the chance of that one heading Down Under.
The 'drive' program I partook in outside Shanghai, China, was more like a car park full of witch's hats.
In fact, that's exactly what it was.
So it's hard to say what the actual drive experience is like, however my initial limited impressions included that it felt easy enough to steer and soft in its suspension tune, but strong in its acceleration and dependable in braking – a hard balance for modern hybrids with regenerative braking.
You can expect the H7 to continue on with Haval's seven-year/unlimited kilometre warranty plan, and seven years of capped-price servicing with roadside assistance.
Pricing and spec details for the new H7 are due in by the middle of 2025.
GWM Haval H7
P OWERTRAIN: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid, 2-speed hybrid transmission, FWD
OUTPUTS: 179kW/530Nm