The GWM Haval H7a rougher looking brother H6 CarIt has been approved for sale in Australia but we won’t see its unique Chinese market name continue.
This mid-size SUV is sold in China as the second-generation Big Dog. It was launched in China last year as a larger version of the first-generation Big Dog, which is still sold as a smaller version.
GWM has now received approval from the Australian government to sell the boxy SUV locally as the Haval H7, although the company has yet to officially announce a launch date for the model.
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Under the H7 badge for Australia, the SUV has been approved for sale with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder.
According to the documents, the hybrid car’s petrol engine is capable of producing up to 110kW of power while the electric motor – integrated in the automatic transmission – can produce 130kW of power, bringing the total system power to 179kW.
The same powertrain also appears in the Haval H6 hybrid, with the same power output and 530Nm of torque, sending drive to the front wheels via a two-speed ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission’.
The documents don’t give details about the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, although it produces 150kW and 230Nm of torque in the H6, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Instead, Australian versions of the H7 will get a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, as well as front- and all-wheel drive options.
Earlier this year the South African publication Citizen The H7 will be sold there with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine option producing 170kW and 380Nm of torque.
While Chinese models are also available with GWM’s Hi4 plug-in hybrid system – comprising a 1.5-litre Miller cycle four-cylinder engine, two-speed Direct Hybrid transmission and 19.09kWh lithium iron phosphate battery – it has not yet been approved for sale in Australia.
Powered by the same LEMON architecture as the Haval H6, the H7 features MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension.
At 4705mm long, 1908mm wide and 1780mm high on a 2810mm wheelbase, the SUV is 52mm longer, 22mm wider and 56mm lower than the Haval H6 which has a 72mm longer wheelbase.
Standard features in China include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, while a panoramic sunroof, head-up display and heated steering wheel are some of the optional equipment.
H7 is Spy testing on Australian streets earlier this year.
“The local team here regularly imports models available in overseas markets to evaluate and see if they are suitable for the Australian and New Zealand markets,” a company spokesperson said at the time.
GWM had previously planned to introduce the Haval H7 here, which would have been used as a larger three-row model, slotting above the previous-generation Haval H6 but below the discontinued Haval H9.
The company proceeded to get government approval and invited the media to see the old H7, although the SUV never appeared in showrooms.
The original Big Dog was also brought here for review in 2021, and local media even got a chance to see it, but it ultimately never made it to market despite a local trademark application.
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