2025 GWM Haval H7 Vanta Hybrid Review

With GWM expanding its product lineup across seemingly every inch of the market, the H7 - codenamed the Big Dog back in its home market - joins its H6 sibling in an ever-crowded segment.

It hits the ground running with a bold styling package and solid ground clearance figures that seem to suggest the H7 has quite an adventurous personality and, of course, a truck load of features, a long warranty and sharp pricing.

Underneath that bold styling, however, the H7 offers a more conservative, city-slicking front-wheel drive layout and a fairly modest hybrid powertrain.

Just how well does Haval H7’s intrepid design language translate to the real world, then, where does it fit best and how does it stack up against its ever-plentiful rivals in arguably the most competitive segment of the market? Let's take a closer look to find out.

GWM Haval H7 Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

GWM offers the MY25 H7 range in a single variant lineup.

Prices stand at $46,990 for the H7 Vanta Hybrid, inclusive of on-road costs.

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GWM Haval H7 Vanta Hybrid Specifications

What Features Does the GWM Haval H7 Vanta Have?

The GWM Haval H7 Vanta comes riding on a set of 19-inch alloys and picks up LED headlights, fog lights and cornering lights, leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view monitor with a transparent chassis mode and front & rear parking sensors, keyless entry & start and a head-up display.

Buyers also pick up a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless charging pad, power adjustment, lumbar support and a massage function for the front row seats, a panoramic sunroof, a microfibre and leather upholstered steering wheel, semi-autonomous parking assistance, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting and a removable boot floor design.

GWM Haval H7 Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The GWM Haval H7 ticks some big boxes when it comes to in-car technology.

With a massive 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system dominating the dashboard, the H7 offers a very contemporary cabin and a tablet display jam-packed with features.

GWM's infotainment system offers a reasonably snappy response when swiping through menus and is extremely bright, even in the harsh midday sun, while the pixel-dense display looks pretty great from all angles.

The menu layout is simple to navigate and allows you to configure shortcuts on the home page.

There is, however, no physical volume dial, meaning the passenger needs to swipe down from the top of the H7's display for a quick shortcut, or ask the driver to take control via the steering wheel.

GWM throws in DAB+ radio and an eight-speaker sound system to sweeten the deal for buyers.

Does the GWM Haval H7 Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Potential buyers will be stoked to hear that GWM's infotainment tech offers wireless smartphone mirroring for both major ecosystems.

It’s a particularly simple process connecting your Android or iOS smartphone with the H7's 14.6-inch infotainment system which, thanks to wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, means you can climb aboard and play your favourite tunes with your phone still in your pocket.

It's also an easy task to switch the primary connection between two smartphones, allowing your co-pilot to queue up the next track, podcast or take control of your preferred navigation app.

Is the GWM Haval H7 Comfortable to Drive?

While it might look like an adventurous, off-road package, the Haval H7 is actually far more comfortable in and around the urban jungle, instead.

That said, it’s a confident and surprisingly comfortable midsize SUV in that context, though it's not without a few drawbacks, namely surrounding the hybrid powertrain.

Under the bonnet, the H7 comes packing a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit paired with a strong electric motor, with power sent to the front wheels only via GWM's hybrid transmission.

Combined outputs stand at a considerable 179kW of power, with peak torque figures totalling 530Nm.

This means the H7 doesn’t waste any time pulling off from the line, though in fact, quite often there’s far too much power for the front wheels to handle and you might find yourself skidding off the mark while turning, if you're overzealous with the throttle.

There’s also some inconsistencies with the power delivery, which can lack responsiveness when you're already up to speed and a distinct lack of progressiveness in the braking, which takes some time getting used to.

Those grievances aside, though, the H7 is reasonably well-mannered and easy enough to park thanks to a light-weighted steering rack and a decent turning circle.

Pick up the pace and you’ll be impressed with GWM's suspension package, which irons out a lot of the small, sharper bumps around town while minimising body roll in the corners.

Things get a bit bouncy on a run up a country road, though, an area where an all-wheel drive flagship version would truly shine and give the H7 more appeal with Aussie buyers.

On the highway, the H7 proves itself a pretty solid contender for a long-distance road trip, though GWM's ADAS systems are more than happy to provide a chorus of beeps and bongs.

All up, there’s still some rough edges for GWM to sort out when it comes to the Haval H7's driving experience if it wants to best some of the biggest names in the ever-competitive segment.

Is the GWM Haval H7 a Good Off-Roader?

While it boasts a loud and proud adventurous styling package, the Haval H7 should not be mistaken for a hardcore off-road option in the midsize SUV segment.

It performs well amongst competitors in the soft-roader midsize SUV segment, though it’s worth noting that on factory tyres and without any off-road driving modes, it's more of a casual weekend warrior than the design language might have you believe.

That said, there’s a very healthy 200mm worth of ground clearance on offer which allows for some major wheel articulation, though you're ultimately kneecapped by the front-wheel-drive-only layout.

The front axle is once again overwhelmed by the 530Nm of torque on offer, too, a problem only magnified on loose surfaces in the absence of some bespoke off-road driving or traction control modes.

• Ground Clearance: 200mm

• Approach Angle: 24 degrees

• Departure Angle: 30 degrees

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The H7’s petrol-electric hybrid engine means that it's a relatively easy feat to achieve some very healthy efficiency figures.

On a combined cycle, GWM says the H7 Vanta Hybrid consumes 5.7L per 100km while emitting a claimed 131 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The H7 Vanta is fitted with a 61-litre fuel tank and is happy to drink 91 RON fuel.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

The Haval H7 performs extremely well when you step inside the cabin.

It presents a spacious, uniquely-appointed and practical interior layout that comes jam-packed with equipment and holds its own on the practicality front against some of the biggest names in the segment.

Climb aboard and you're greeted with excellent headroom thanks to the lofty, boxy roofline design that is welcoming for tall drivers while providing strong forward and side visibility marks.

The fundamentals mirror those of its more conventional Haval H6 sibling, though GWM has given the H7 no shortage of unique finishes and switchgear that add some personality to the cabin.

There’s faux carbon fibre covering the centre console, toggle switches below the 14.6-inch touchscreen display and exposed screws that hint at the H7's more rugged nature.

There's a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster sitting in front of the driver, flanked by that large tablet-oriented display and very little in the way of physical switches, which gives the dashboard a clean, uncluttered design.

Storage options in the front of the H7's cabin are plentiful.

The top of the centre console houses a rubber-lined tray that doubles as a charging pad, as well as a pair of cupholders and an air-cooled storage compartment inside the folding armrest.

Underneath there's a hidden layer of storage that proves a perfect place to hide handbags out of sight or keep perishables out of the UV.

Along with the passenger picking up a tier of storage above the glovebox and the usual suspects like bottle holders in the door sills, the H7 provides no shortage of storage options up front.

Move to the rear of the cabin and the H7 proves itself a very family-friendly package.

There's more than enough legroom on offer for adults to sit behind a tall driver or front passenger, with the seat base itself offering a nice amount of thigh support for long trips.

Headroom isn't an issue, even with that massive panoramic sunroof in place, which certainly helps to add some light and space into the rear of the cabin.

Amenities in the second row of the H7's cabin come in the form of a sole USB-A port, air vents, sun shades, a folding armrest with two cup holders and a large elastic bottle holder built into the doors.

For the parents out there, the Haval H7 comes packaged with a pair of ISOFIX anchors on each of the outboard seats with three top tether mounts hiding behind the seat.

How Big is the Haval H7's Boot?

The H7’s boot stacks up pretty well, though it's not the biggest in the segment.

With all five seats deployed, the Haval H7’s boot measures in at 483L, meaning there’s more than enough real estate for a typical run to the shops or a school run, though it's not the most capacious in the world of midsize SUVs.

Fold down the rear seats and you’ll unlock a total of 1,363L when it's time to task the H7 with sports gear, bulky cargo, suitcases and camping equipment.

There's some small cut-outs behind the wheel arches though, unfortunately, no spare tyre hiding beneath the boot floor. Instead, this area is taken up by the 12-volt battery pack and the tyre repair kit.

Is it Safe?

GWM bundles in a heap of safety equipment into the H7 Vanta.

As standard, buyers pick up AEB with junction assist, smart dodge and intelligent turn functions along with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assistance, tyre pressure monitoring, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors and seven airbags inside the cabin.

While the list is long, the calibration of GWM’s ADAS systems leaves a lot to be desired if you're a fan of driving without a cacophony of alerts driving you up the wall.

We appreciate just how much tech is thrown in, though the software needs a bit of a polish before the H7's safety suite is the finished product.

At the time of writing, the Haval H7 Vanta remains untested by ANCAP.

What Warranty does the GWM Haval H7 Come With?

GWM backs the Haval H7 range with a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

Buyers also pick up an eight-year/unlimited kilometre warranty for the battery and high-voltage components as well as a five year roadside assistance subscription.

Capped price servicing for the H7 range spans out to five years, priced at a total of $2,145 over five visits to the service centre.

Service intervals stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, though the first service is due at the 10,000 kilometre mark.

Our Verdict: Is the GWM Haval H7 Worth it?

The GWM Haval H7 is a unique offering within the midsize SUV segment that offers serious equipment levels, decent fuel economy figures and a practical layout that handles the family test well.

That said, there's still some polishing to be done when it comes to the driving experience, namely the powertrain inconsistencies, dubious brake feel and the overzealous safety tech.

It’s a strong first-generation product that demands attention within the wider medium SUV segment, though doesn't stand quite as strong when compared with some of the best in the segment.

On the value front, however, there is no denying just how much equipment GWM bundles into the H7 Vanta, with its appeal bolstered by a long warranty that means it is indeed deserving of a spot on your shortlist.

Don't forget that our team of car-buying experts is ready to help find you the best possible price on your next car, so reach out today.

Five GWM Haval H7 Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty

2. Eight-year/unlimited kilometre battery warranty

3. 5.7L per 100km fuel economy figures

4. 483 - 1,362L boot space

5. 1,500kg braked towing capacity