Sam says it does everything well, except sip fuel

GWM unveiled its long-awaited new flagship this year, the HAVAL H7. It slots in above the popular H6 and unites two of the brand’s specialities: luxury and off-road capability. The H7 is a clear departure from the softer, more rounded design of the Jolion and H6 range, instead adopting a squared-off shape, round headlights and a deeply sculpted side profile.

We spent time in the 2.0T Super Luxury 9DCT 4WD, and it is clear GWM wanted this one to feel like an event. It is bigger than the H6 in every direction, rides on 19-inch alloys as standard, and comes loaded with tech that provides as much luxury as off-road ability. The only real letdown, and it’s a big one right now, is fuel consumption.

The drive

The H7 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that delivers a solid 170k W of power and 380 Nm of torque. This is paired with a 9-speed dual-clutch transmission. It also has the versatility of paddle shifters, something that is not seen in new entrants as often anymore.

Ride quality is comfortable and has a soft disposition over outright sharpness. There is noticeable turbolag off the line, but once past this it delivers strong, confident acceleration. You can also easily adapt your driving to account for this.

Drivers can toggle between Classic and Off-Road modes via the steering wheel or centre console. The Off-Road Expert mode unlocks a dedicated instrument cluster screen with a low-speed bird’s-eye view and an AI-enhanced image of the surface beneath the vehicle, effectively making the bonnet disappear on screen.

Under the skin, an All-Terrain Mode system adjusts power delivery, steering sensitivity and engine mapping to suit Grass/Gravel, Convex Roads, Sand, Snow and Mud conditions, alongside Sporty, Standard and Economical settings on tar. A jaw-type rear differential lock and an Off-Road Cruise Control function are included giving the H7 the same capability as a traditional low-range setup without being complex.

Fuel consumption, though, was alarming at best. Over our test it read 14.9L/100km, which is probably the worst figure we have encountered yet. Granted, this was fairly early in the test period and another team member continued driving it afterwards, so the figure would likely have improved somewhat but probably not enough to allay all concerns. GWM claims 9.1L/100km for this AWD derivative, so there is a significant gap between the two numbers.

The design

GWM has given the H7 a bold, rugged design language of its own, departing from the smoother, more dynamic look of GWM’s other SUVs. The exterior gets round headlights with deep-wall technology, a pronounced grille, squared-off wheel arches with riveted overfenders, a set of functional roof rails, and 19-inch dual-spoke alloys.

On test, this translated into a bold and rugged exterior with pronounced wheel arches that back up the H7’s adventurous capabilities. It looks noticeably different to the smoother SUVs it competes against.

The boot is good-sized and more than adequate to fit a family comfortably, offering 483 litres or 1 362 litres with the rear seats folded down. One of the best parts of the H7 is just how much space there is in the rear. A six-foot adult can sit comfortably.

A strange design choice in the interior is leaving the screws that hold the door handles, and those in the centre console, fully exposed rather than covered. I assume this was deliberate, but to me it juxtaposes with the rest of the experience, which is otherwise one of luxury and driving enjoyment. It is a detail I saw in the Tank, where it somehow fit the overall feel better.

Another feature I liked, and which was borrowed from the Tank as well, is the grab handle placed in front of the front passenger for use during 4×4 excursions. It adds versatility too, with a rubberised storage mat on the other side of the bar to hold items in place.

The seats and steering wheel are trimmed in leather, and there is soft-touch material on the door panels and dash. My first impression getting into the H7 was that it emulates an airplane cockpit, just with fewer gadgets. It oozes luxury, elegance and comfort.

Design inside is as focused on versatility as it is on luxury. Next to the transmission are easy-to-reach buttons controlling several 4×4 functions, activation of the 360-degree camera, and the parking brake, with a dial beneath it to change the drive mode. The seats themselves are ergonomically designed and extremely comfortable.

Stepping inside

Visually, I could not decide how I felt about the door-mounted drinks holders, which secure items with elastic-type straps. The beauty of the design only became clear with use as there is nothing that does not fit in the holders, from a Stanley cup to a thin plastic bottle.

Rear passengers get their own AC vents with adjustable airflow and direction, a USB-A port, and a cubby underneath for a phone.

One thing I have noticed increasingly across new vehicles is floor mats that do not clip down. It slides around quite easily, especially when getting in, which makes it a hazard if you do not notice and fix it before starting. It is a strange choice in one of GWM’s flagship models, and a lesson other legacy brands have learnt the hard way.

I liked the placement of the aircon vents at the top of the door panels, just in front of the window. Whether this is purely an aesthetic choice or a deliberate one for airflow. Personally, the result is an AC system that cools quickly and effectively.

Unlike some other Haval models that use a rotary dial, the H7 makes use of a joystick-style transmission selector. It suits an off-roader far better and adds to the overall aesthetic of the cabin and is another nod to the aviation-style gearshift GWM designed specifically for this model.

A shallow tray at the top of the centre cubby holds smaller, valuable items out of view, and presumably stops them from rolling around which is useful in a cubby of that size, especially off-road.

Under the drinks holder in the centre console is a button marked ‘push’, which had both myself and a colleague briefly flummoxed. Nothing appeared to happen when you press it, however, actually operates a pop-up floor mechanism inside the cup holder, adjusting its depth to fit taller drinks. Essentially you can push a drink down, then use the button to pop the floor back up again.

Tech in the H7 delivers 4×4 functionality rather than just being there for the sake of it. The driver information screen shows the position of all four tyres as well as the vehicle’s pitch and roll angle, which is useful when off-road.

It also has the well-loved physical AC controls beneath the infotainment screen. It is a small thing, but one that removes unnecessary distraction from the road.

The new tablet-style infotainment screen is positioned in landscape orientation, unlike most current rivals, and as far as I could tell it does not rotate the way some newer systems do. It measures 14.6 inches, with a brightness of over 1 000 nits which is more than double that of most modern laptop screens. It is also the densest pixel count in its class.

It also runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 12.3-inch instrument cluster is fully customisable, with a dedicated off-road screen mode, and our test unit’s head-up display was easy to adjust for both height and brightness which I appreciated especially to ease to do so.

The panoramic sunroof is one of the biggest I have come across. It opens fully across roughly half the roof, and even where it stops, rear passengers can still benefit from natural light without it fully opening.

The reverse camera is impressive with a 360-degree range that gives an aerial view of obstacles, with the ability to zoom or change view on the touchscreen. It also activates automatically at intersections, giving drivers a clearer view of approaching traffic and hazards while waiting to cross intersections.

Storage is well thought out too, with a removable rear luggage floor that doubles as a camping table, complete with retractable legs, and doors that open wider than a metre on both rows. This is among the widest in its segment.

Other features include an electronically opening, hands-free tailgate (with an inductive open function on this Super Luxury derivative) a wireless charger, a USB-C port, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, keyless entry and exit, a start button, and welcome-home lighting.

Safety

A fatigued-driving reminder monitors the driver’s eyes to detect signs of fatigue, sounding an alert on the driver information screen when it’s time to stop for a break.

Standard safety across the range include:

• Six airbags
• Seatbelt warnings on both rows
• Electronic Stability Control
• Traction Control
• Cornering Brake Control
• ABS with Emergency Brake Assist
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring
• Hill Descent and Hill Hold Control
• A USB port for a dashcam
• Reverse radar
• 360-degree camera system with an additional under-vehicle view for what GWM calls a full 560-degree view.
• A full suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Adaptive Intelligent Cruise Control is standard across the range.

When I was testing the H7, someone asked if there was anything this car could not do. The honest answer is: it does everything except drive itself. Between the luxury, the comfort, the off-road ability, enjoyable drive and a design that stands apart from the rest of the segment, it is an easy vehicle to like, provided you can stomach what it drinks at the pumps.

Good to know

The specs

Read more MasterTests