China's GWM is experimenting with a second, larger rival to the Toyota RAV4 and its peers with the boxy Haval H7 that comes standard with hybrid power.
The boxier, tougher-looking sibling to the Haval H6 mid-size family SUV – the 2026 GWM Haval H7 – is due in Australian showrooms next month, priced from $46,990 drive-away.
The Haval H7 will be sold by GWM in a single, top-of-the-range Vanta model grade, with black-accented styling, a long list of equipment, and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid power.
It costs $4000 more than an equivalent Haval H6 Ultra Hybrid, which shares the hybrid system and equipment list, but wears more conservative styling and lacks blacked-out trim.
GWM has pitched the Haval H7 as an experiment for the brand in Australia, offering the vehicle in a single model grade to test the waters for more boxy, family-sized SUVs to come under the H7 badge.
"There's a longer-term story on H7 that we can't really go into today, but that H7 nameplate will evolve and become a mainstay of the Haval SUV line-up," GWM Australia head of marketing and communications Steve Maciever told local media.
"There's more development to come in terms of updates, new powertrains, et cetera. So [for] H7, we've taken this one model.
"There's a lot going on in that SUV segment for us, so we're bringing one in, and let's see how we go."
Despite its off-road looks, the Haval H7 initially available in Australia is a front-wheel-drive, 1.5-litre turbo petrol-electric hybrid.
Overseas, all-wheel drive is available with a conventional 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, as well as a plug-in hybrid, but neither will be offered locally for the time being.
It matches a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (110kW/230Nm) with a 130kW/300Nm front electric motor to produce a quoted 179kW and 530Nm combined.
Claimed fuel consumption is rated at 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres, compared to 5.2L/100km in the Haval H6 with the same hybrid system.
Measuring 4705mm long, 1908mm wide and 1780mm tall, the Haval H7 is similar in size to a Hyundai Tucson or Nissan X-Trail, and is slightly larger than a Haval H6, on a longer floorpan (2810mm between the front and rear wheels, vs 2738mm).
Five seats are fitted, rather than seven, though it promises a larger boot than the Haval H6's quoted 560 litres.
Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, black exterior trim, LED headlights, a 14.6-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a panoramic sunroof.
The 2026 GWM Haval H7 is on sale now ahead of showroom arrivals due next month.
2026 GWM Haval H7 price in Australia
2026 GWM Haval H7 Vanta standard features:
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
