The GWM Haval H7, a more rugged-looking sibling to the Haval H6, has been approved for sale in Australia but we won’t see its unique Chinese market name carried over.
The mid-sized 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 remains on sale as a smaller offering.
GWM has now received approval from the Australian government to sell its boxy SUV as the Haval H7 locally, though the company has yet to officially announce the vehicle’s launch.
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Under the H7 nameplate for Australia, the SUV has been approved to be sold as a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder.
According to the documents, the hybrid’s petrol engine is capable of producing up to 110kW while the electric motor – integrated in its automatic transmission – can develop 130kW, bringing total system outputs up to 179kW.
An identical drivetrain is found in the Haval H6 hybrid, which shares the same power output and has 530Nm of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels through a two-speed ‘Dedicated Hybrid Transmission’.
The documents don’t detail the turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, though in the H6 it produces 150kW and 230Nm, and is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Australian examples of the H7 will instead feature a nine-speed dual-clutch auto, as well as both front- and all-wheel drive layouts available.
Earlier this year South African publication The Citizen reported the H7 would go on sale there with the option of a 2.0-litre turbo four producing 170kW and 380Nm.
While Chinese examples are also available with GWM’s Hi4 plug-in hybrid system – which features a 1.5-litre Miller cycle four-cylinder engine, a two-speed Direct Hybrid Transmission, and a 19.09kWh lithium iron phosphate battery – this hasn’t been approved for sale in Australia.
Underpinned by the same LEMON architecture as the Haval H6, the H7 features MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension.
Measuring 4705mm long, 1908mm wide and 1780mm tall on a 2810mm wheelbase, the SUV is 52mm longer, 22mm wider and 56mm lower than a Haval H6 on 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 among optional equipment.
The H7 was spied testing on Australian roads earlier this year.
“It’s quite common for the local team here to import models available in overseas markets for evaluation purposes and to consider whether they might be a good fit for the Australian and New Zealand markets,” said a company spokesperson at the time.
GWM has previously eyed introducing the Haval H7 nameplate here, which would have been used on a larger, three-row model to slot in above the previous-generation Haval H6 but below the since-axed Haval H9.
The company went as far as receiving government approval and inviting media to view the old H7, though the SUV never ended up reaching showrooms.
The original Big Dog was also brought here for evaluation in 2021, with local media even given the chance to see it, but it never ended up being launched despite local trademark filings.
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