What a R600,000 Chinese off-roader looks like in South Africa in 2025

Haval has finally launched the new H7, adding another tool to the carmaker’s growing arsenal in South Africa.

The H7 is the flagship of the brand’s SUV series but departs from the design of the Jolion and H6 in favour of a style more reminiscent of a serious off-roader.

It’s no coincidence, of course, as the H7 takes a lot of inspiration from Tank – the 4×4 sub-division of Haval’s parent company GWM.

In effect, the H7 is meant to split the difference between the H6 and the GWM Tank 300, offering the performance of the latter at a price closer to the former.

The end result is that the H7 retails from R601,950, making it one of the more affordable off-road-focused SUVs in the country.

4×4 credentials

The H7 is built on the same platform as the H6 but features a larger, blockier body that measures 4,705mm in length, 1,908mm in width, and 1,780mm in height.

Ground clearance is set at 210mm, and it has an approach angle of 24 degrees, a departure angle of 30 degrees, and a break-over angle of 19 degrees.

According to its makers, these figures give the H7 off-road capabilities that come close to the performance of the brand’s dedicated 4x4s.

Power is sourced from a  2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which produces a total of 170kW and 380Nm and connects to a nine-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

On the base model, force is sent down to the front wheels, leading to an average fuel consumption of 9.1l/100km.

You will need to pay an additional R70,000 to upgrade to the Super Luxury variant if you want a four-wheel-drive (4WD) setup, but this comes with a host of additional benefits if you are set on exploring the great outdoors.

Notably, the 4WD option have access to terrain and driving settings for Grass/Gravel, Convex Roads, Sand, Snow, Mud, Sport, Standard, and Eco.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster can also show an exclusive off-road display with an overhead view of the car, as well an AI-enhanced image of the road underneath the body.

Other trekking essentials include a rear differential lock and off-road cruise control, which serves a similar function to a low-range transfer box.

Aside from a decent powerplant, the H7 is shipped with circular LED headlights, roof rails, and 19-inch alloy wheels housed in large riveted wheel arches.

Inside, there’s an aviator-style gearstick in the centre console, and the 14.6-inch touchscreen, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, can reach a brightness level twice as high as most laptops – making it easier to view in midday lighting conditions.

The driving experience is not bare bones, either, as Haval has fitted the SUV with electronically adjustable front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and an assistance suite comprising adaptive cruise control, traction control, cornering brake control, ABS, emergency brake assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, hill-descent control, parking sensors, and a 560-degree camera with the aforementioned undercarriage view.

The top-spec Super Luxury model also throws in a few extras on top of the 4WD system, such as ventilated front seats with memory settings, genuine leather seat wrappings, a heads-up display, and a hands-free tailgate.

Every Haval H7 is sold with a 7-year/200,000km warranty, a 7-year/75,000km service plan, and 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance.