THE battle for bakkies keeps growing, so does the SUV market.
Yes, you must love this country despite its flaws, just like any family…
This brings to my attention the all new GWM Haval H7, that I had a moment with recently.
This would be ideal for owners who enjoy off-road and rugged environment, thanks to its 4 705 mm in length, 1 908 mm in width and 1 780 mm in height, with a ground clearance of 210 mm, making it impressively spacious and versatile.
The H7 (exterior) has a boxy, retro-inspired profile primed for rugged adventure. Standard 19-inch alloy wheels in flared wheel arches and functional roof rails add a sense of presence.
It features a distinctive 3-tier grille and round headlights framed with dark trim. The FWD Luxury and 4WD Super Luxury variants share a near-identical exterior design.
Upon inspection, it comes with a slightly different design including a blacked-out grille and prominent “HAVAL” lettering.
As I made my way inside for further inspection (owing to the ground clearance), you’re confronted with a large 14.6-inch central touchscreen that supports wireless CarPlay and Android Auto is complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The manufacturer also incorporated its signature Aviation gear lever, along with a panoramic sunroof and heated and ventilated leather seats and offers a 5-seater, boot capacity of 483 litres, which expands to 1 362 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
Being a front-wheel-drive version, was immediately impressed by the interior configuration. The synthetic leather seats in the base model are surprisingly comfortable, offering a premium feel for an entry-level trim.
The H7 is offered with a 170 kW/380 Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in either front- or all-wheel drive configuration and is fitted with a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission that enhances overall comfort with smooth, responsive gear shifts.
Rugged as it may look, it made my ‘cruising nicely’ from Joburg to Maropeng, to Dinokeng, Soweto, and finally to Sandton last week as part of Tourism Month launch, though was unhappy following Boks loss to ‘bloody agents’ Aussies at Emirates Stadium last Saturday.
But it came in handy boasting the AWD variant that includes nine terrain driving modes with off-road cruise control, such as Auto, Eco, Sport, Grass/Gravel, Uneven Road, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Standard.
Sport mode, I had to use it to test the sharper throttle response, it stood the test of time!
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine
- Transmission: 9-speed DCT
- Power: 170 kW
- Torque: 380 N.m
It retails from R601 950 – R730 950
Verdict
Performance 1-10 (7)
Fuel 1-10 (6)
Images SLM (The H7 is offered with a 170 kW/380 Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine).
Meanwhile, the GWM is proud to mark a major milestone this year as it celebrates 18 years of growth and innovation in South Africa with a powerful presence at the 2025 Festival of Motoring.
It will exhibit some of its top brands namely the P-Series and TANK models.
“Celebrating 18 years in South Africa is not just about looking back on our journey but also looking ahead to the exciting future of GWM in the country.
The Festival of Motoring gives us the perfect platform the showcase how we are evolving with our customers’ needs, delivering vehicles that are smarter, greener, tougher and more exciting to drive,” said Floyd Ramabulana, Head of Marketing at GWM South Africa.
The 2025 Festival of Motoring will be held at Kyalami race course, from August 29 to 31.
