Seventh Heaven. GWM’s boxy new Haval H7 brings an upmarket cabin, clever hybrid tech and some light off-road ability to the family SUV segment, and the top-spec Vanta HEV/PHEVs make a strong first impression.
“Seventh heaven” is an idiom for a state of perfect happiness. It’s an old saying with roots in ancient religious texts, but these days it’s more likely to describe a good long lunch or a Sunday with nothing on the calendar. Which brings me, rather neatly (I thought so anyway), to a new medium SUV with a big fat seven in its name that’s set on making Kiwi families very happy indeed.
The NZ launch of the Haval H7 was based around the rural roads of Clevedon and GWM had us take a look at their new SUV in range-topping Vanta trim. The interesting bit is that the Vanta pairs the top trim with the smaller hybrid powertrain (the HEV), and comes with GWM’s Hi4 all-wheel-drive system. I also got some seat time in the PHEV, but more on that later. There is also a Lux 2WD option but we didn’t get to play with that at the launch.
Let’s get the looks out of the way first, because you can’t really miss them. The H7 is officially a midsize SUV, but it’s a boxy one, all squared-off shoulders, upright stance and flat surfaces, and as a result it looks big and feels big. It has the presence of something from a class above, and just quietly, you’re not going to lose it in a supermarket car park. In a segment where many SUVs have melted into the same rounded jellybean shape, the H7’s chunky, slightly rugged silhouette is a refreshing change and it gives off a sense of solidity before you’ve even opened the door.
That solidity isn’t just for show either. The body is made up of 80% high-strength steel and 20% ultra-high-strength steel, and safety has clearly been high on GWM’s priority list. There are 17 intelligent sensors on board feeding a full Level 2 driver-assist suite, and the brand is chasing a 5-star ANCAP rating (expected but not awarded yet, so watch this space).
Under the bonnet of the Vanta HEV sits a hybrid set-up that, smaller powertrain or not, delivers a substantial amount of torque. The PHEV variant ups the ante with 320kW. Both AWD models are running the Hi4 AWD system means there’s no prop shaft linking the front and rear axles, so all-wheel drive is handled electrically rather than mechanically. GWM quotes an economy of 7.0L/100km, and that’s roughly what I saw too. There’s a full menu of drive modes to play with: Snow, Mud, Sand, AWD, Eco, Normal and Sport (no need to confess which mode I lived in).
Step inside and the H7 is noticeably a step up for the brand. The cabin feels genuinely upmarket, with soft-touch materials in all the right places and some really elegant trim design. There’s also a lovely little Easter egg: clever ‘H7’ branding and a picture of the vehicle hidden in the speaker grilles, the sort of detail that makes you smile the first time you spot it (and every time after that, if you’re anything like me).
Information-wise, you’re not short of it. There’s a massive 15.6-inch infotainment screen running GWM’s Coffee OS (no, it won’t make you a flat white), and at 850 nits it’s bright, crisp and responsive. It’s joined by a big digital instrument cluster and a nice head-up display. The gear selector has been moved to a stalk on the right of the steering column, which leaves the centre console clear and open and gives the whole cabin a roomier, airier feel, and the sunroof fills the place with light.
Now, for my favourite bit. GWM has gone back to physical piano-key buttons for the air conditioning instead of burying everything on and in the screen. That’s despite the screen being able to do a huge amount, and it’s the right call in my opinion. Elsewhere, the heated seats are very comfortable, there’s a wireless phone charger, and a power-delivery display shows you what’s going on underneath, which is the geeky stuff I can’t help watching (ok, some of it is useful).
During my time with the H7 Vanta, the first thing that struck me was that the whole drive feels substantial, much like the looks. I spent most of my week in Sport mode (told you I’d confess) and the pick-up is nice. It’s rapid enough for most people, although it isn’t ferocious the way the more powerful 320kW PHEV is. You do get some vibration and feedback coming back through when crossing over white lines or turning into corners, but it still has a nice feel to it overall.
What I really appreciated was how the safety tech behaves. The ADAS clearly takes its job seriously but it isn’t intrusive. It didn’t complain much and it didn’t yank the car back into the lane, so it let me play as much as I wanted. It only nagged when I wasn’t paying attention, and to be fair, I wasn’t. Point to the H7 Dammit.
The 360-degree camera with its ‘transparent chassis’ view, which lets you effectively see through the car to the ground below, is a godsend in tight spots and on tricky off-road terrain. That brings me to the Hi4 system. Without a prop shaft it’s more of an electric solution, and that isn’t a bad thing for what is a mild off-roader. Approach and departure angles are good and ground clearance is reasonable, but it won’t tackle what its more hardcore Hi4T sibling can. Still, for the odd gravel road or grassy paddock carpark, it has its place in the lineup.
Hopping into the PHEV, things feel far sportier. The throttle is more responsive, it holds the corners well, and there’s both more power and more of an EV feel to the way it goes about its business. It’s a different character, and boy does it make itself known.
It’s worth stressing that neither H7 I drove had yet received localised (AT-1) tuning and calibration for our roads, so this is only the starting point, and boy what a place to start. Pricing kicks off at $49,990 (MSRP) for the Lux HEV, with the Vanta HEV I tested at $55,990 and the PHEV a further $6,000 on top. That’s a lot of metal and tech for the money.
Medium SUVs are the do-it-all segment for Kiwi families, and the H7 makes a compelling case. It has the style to turn heads, hybrid tech to keep running costs down and enough off-road hardware for a bit of adventure, and I reckon families will really enjoy it. Whatever the trim, it’s one hell of a segment contender. Seventh heaven? It’s close, and if this is the new era for GWM, the competition should be paying close attention.
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