Carspeak

Prizefighter

GWM Haval H7 gets in the compact SUV ring

CHINESE AUTO BRANDS are the biggest beneficiaries of the sudden increase in fuel prices, owing to their readiness when it comes to so-called new energy vehicles (or NEVs) — a catchall term that includes all manner of electrified vehicles (also known as xEVs) — which more people are looking for these days.

Keen to stay in tune with the times and capitalize on new market trends, GWM is introducing its newest SUV offering, the H7. After making a brief appearance during the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) back in April, the H7 is now ready to be sold here.

First things first, the H7 will be available only as an electrified model. Instead of the usual diesel-sipping power plant of an SUV, this GWM will get two powertrain options in the form of a standard hybrid (HEV) system and a flexible plug-in hybrid (PHEV). There will be three variants for the H7: the entry-level 2WD HEV, a 2WD PHEV, and the top variant 4WD PHEV. All will come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline motor paired with a hybrid system. The HEV’s power is rated at a combined 247ps and 540Nm of torque, the 2WD PHEV produces 326ps and 540Nm of torque, and the dual-motor 4WD PHEV puts out 364ps and 760Nm of torque.

Since the PHEV models will have the advantage of a bigger battery, they also have the capability to drive under full EV power for quite some distance. The 2WD PHEV can do 105km, while the 4WD has a slightly reduced range of 91km. The PHEV models will also benefit from a DC fast-charging feature. All three cars will be using GWM’s Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), made and optimized for better performance and efficiency.

When it comes to design, the H7 takes the form of GWM’s already recognizable design language. In fact, unless you look really closely, the H7 is almost the spitting image of the bigger H9 — albeit with a few tweaks here and there. The H7 blends the boxy and modern motifs very well. The interior is very functionally designed, with well-made materials and a predominantly black color scheme.

In terms of features, each variant comes with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster and a bigger 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, both with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless charging pad, rated at 50W, is also available for all models. The biggest difference across the board is the ADAS features; the 2WD models will only have standard cruise control, while the top-spec 4WD will get a full suite of features like intelligent cruise control, lane keeping assist, and many more.

GWM is taking the segment and the market seriously as indicated by the following Haval H7 pricing: H7 HEV 2WD (P1,298,888), H7 PHEV 2WD (P1,548,888), H7 Hi4 PHEV 4WD (P1,698,888). All variants are significantly more affordable than some of the model’s key competitors. For the month of June, there is also a special discount of P50,000 on any variant.

Lastly, the H7 can be had with a choice of three colors: Iceberg White, Midnight Black, and Stealth Grey.