It hides its size well on the outside, but not on the inside. This is a win both ways as cabin room is excellent.
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It hides its size well on the outside, but not on the inside. This is a win both ways as cabin room is excellent.
Haval’s H7 has entered the fray, mounting a head-on charge for what is the third most popular segment in the new car market. In the face of formidable competitors including the new Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and the more niched Subaru Forester, the H7 has adopted an intriguing strike plan. That is to offer a car that is different right from the onset, shunning the conventional ‘as pretty as possible’ and instead presenting a design character that is bold, rugged and at the very least, interesting. The rugged, boxy design style has some unique elements including pronounced plastic wheel arch covers that showcase the car’s adventurous positioning.
There are design traits that will give off a hint of Jeep but with its pronounced grille and 19-inch alloys, the H7 sufficiently differentiates itself from the entire crowd. That isn’t easy to do but that’s also not to say it’s universally handsome. Some of the office found the H7’s proportions slightly strange, never quite happy about the design from any particular angle. The opinion is ultimately yours but it remains a set apart for what that may be worth. In pure sales terms, the H7 adds to GWM’s strong sales form, firmly entrenched in the top 7 OEM’s in the country for quite a while now.
This H7 is offered with a spritely 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine that delivers a solid 170kW and 380Nm. The punch is powerful enough and torquey enough off-road but do take note of the turbo-lag which will take some getting used to. The ride quality is good too, favouring comfort and a soft disposition even in its most sporty setting. If you wait a few months, the H7 will also be available with a 1.5-litre, turbocharged hybrid with 179kW of power and 530Nm. Choice…always a good thing.
While the entry-level H7 Luxury is offered as a 4×2, the model of this particular review, the H7 Super Luxury features an all-wheel-drive setup with nine different drive modes. Haval’s Intelligent AWD system features an electronic diff-lock on the rear axle that allows for off-road venturing. With 200mm of ground clearance, the H7 isn’t going to conquer the most intimidating obstacles but it will work well enough in moderate mud and ruts. Our test featured a few attempts of our 4×4 test route’s gravel climbs. With approach angles of 24 degrees, the H7 does well given its competition, but it does take a while for the system to distribute power to the requisite wheels. Generous wheelspin is slowly followed by a recalibration by the system as it works out what is needed in terms of power distribution. On the other hand, the hill-descent control worked really well much like the TANK 300, a car we tested on the same track.
That said, whilst the Haval H7 isn’t going to spend most of its life on a 4×4 track, it was important to test the car’s mettle. In its company, perhaps only the offering from Jeep and Subaru will outgun the H7 on a soft-roader 4×4 trail and that’s a fair point. If anything, the H7’s Off-Road Expert mode and its use of a 360-degree camera system to augment where the wheel tracks are, is a welcome addition to the feature list and something that not all competitors have thought to offer.
The H7 cuts a large frame. It hides its size well on the outside, but not on the inside. This is a win both ways as cabin room is excellent. The boot has 480 litres, which is adequate, but the rear seat legroom is what really stands out.
Where Haval has really made in-roads in the last few years, is in the ergonomics of its new cars. This one is no different with a good mix of buttons and switches within easy reach. The entire centre console is uncluttered and clearly marked, with a massive 14.6-inch infotainment screen taking centre stage. The temperature selection in button-format would have made the climate control experience a little better though but it remains usable once you get the rhythm of it.
That said, the cabin design is just as interesting as the exterior vehicle design. Everything from the air vents to the gear shifter, the interior space is well put together. The leather seats in the Super Luxury variant are supple and comfortable, and I’m very impressed with the overall feel of the H7, which gives the impression of being hard-wearing but of decent quality. It poses as a family car just as it does something a little more niche, for those that perhaps are more adventurous or outdoorsy and want something different.
All of the important bits have been ticked and improved. The Haval H7 drives with some solid competence largely better than GWM products of old that had certain drivetrain teething problems that became something of a cliché with most of their cars. If you were concerned about these – poor fuel consumption; noisy engines, poor throttle calibration and a jerky, unsure ride – don’t be. Not only has GWM managed to improve all of these issues, but the OEM is also very serious about introducing model lines with a variety of drivetrains that suit you. From turbocharged petrol and diesel mills to new energy plug-in hybrids, GWM is on a mission.
The H7 is offered with a 7-year/200 000km warranty and a 75 000km service plan. This is less than some claimed lifetime or 1-million km warranties but we’d assert that ultimately, this is still an excellent offering irrespective of whether you’re the first or fourth owner.
The Haval H7 is a good offering from Haval. It offers a feature-rich experience with some added off-road ability and generous room. I’m personally not sold on the design, with a bit too much faux chrome bits especially on the front but, that’s simply my own taste. If anything, the H7 is turning heads, getting people talking and taking a healthy shot at the plethora of established competitors and it’s not just skin-deep. After 18 years in South Africa, the Haval name brings more than just Chinese value for money. It brings real value and real backing.
And if the 2.0-turbocharged mill isn’t for you, you also have a few other options in the H7 line-up.
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