2027 GWM Haval H7: Boxy five-seat RAV4 rival nears Australian launch, seven-seater to follow

Farewell, current GWM Haval H7, we hardly knew ye.

After a little over a year, GWM is set to replace its niche mid-size SUV with something that looks radically different, and which will offer different powertrain options and even a third row of seating.

The new-generation GWM Haval H7, which has been offered in China as the Haval Menglong/Raptor since 2023, is due here before the end of 2026.

Government certification documents have revealed the first members of the new Haval H7 range, which feature the shorter of the two bodies offered on the Chinese market and therefore only five seats.

“Australia will initially introduce the five-seater, with the seven-seater to follow later. The seven-seat option remains firmly on Australia’s roadmap,” said a GWM Australia spokesperson, adding the extended-length variant is due in 2027.

“In addition, H10 is also under consideration, which would further strengthen the seven-seat SUV offering within the Haval sub-brand.”

Unlike the current Haval H7, sold as the Second-Generation Big Dog in China, the new Haval H7 will be offered exclusively with all-wheel drive.

The outgoing model is offered in a single front-wheel drive hybrid configuration.

The new model will offer a choice of hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, both using a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 110kW of power.

The hybrid mates this with 80kW front and 130kW rear electric motors and has a total system output of 240kW, while the PHEV features 80kW and 150kW electric motors and a total system output of 320kW.

The documents note the use of a six-speed Direct Hybrid Transmission with both powertrains, though Chinese specification sheets list a two-speed DHT for the PHEV, as with Australian-market Haval H6 hybrid and PHEV variants.

Battery specifications aren't listed, but in China the Menglong/Raptor offers battery capacities as large as 44.7kWh in PHEV guise.

Braked towing capacity is listed in the Australian documents at 1500kg for both powertrain options.

The Menglong/Raptor is currently offered not only in two different lengths in China, but also with a choice of petrol or PHEV powertrains, which suggests the hybrid is an export-only powertrain.

The standard-length Haval H7 measures 4680mm long, 1950mm wide and 1843mm tall on a 2738mm wheelbase.

Chinese specifications confirm total length grows to 4800mm if the external spare tyre carrier is counted, while the extended-length H7 uses a longer 2850mm wheelbase, which brings total length to 4912mm and makes it longer than a Kia Sorento (4815mm).

This extended-length H7 will finally give GWM a seven-seat option under the large Tank 500, which starts at $65,990 drive-away.

While not intended to be as rugged as Tank-badged vehicles, the Haval H7 is offered in China with off-road gear like a crawl mode, a tank turn function, and what GWM calls an electronically locking mechanical dog-clutch rear differential.

It uses the same car-like unibody architecture, however, as GWM vehicles like the Haval H6 and features MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension.

The new Haval H7 is one of nine models GWM is launching in Australia before the end of 2026, which include the slightly smaller Haval Jolion Max hybrid and PHEV SUV.

GWM's range of Haval-branded crossover SUVs will therefore grow to comprise the small Haval Jolion, slightly larger Haval Jolion Max, and the mid-size Haval H6 and Haval H7.

The range could, as GWM has indicated, grow later to include the large Haval H10 crossover. This flagship Haval model, like the Haval H7, is available in two different lengths but is offered exclusively with PHEV power.

GWM's local showrooms offer a mix of crossover SUVs under the Haval sub-brand; body-on-frame off-roader SUVs under the Tank brand; and GWM-branded utes, with the portfolio to grow this year to include premium vehicles under the Wey sub-brand.

The more conventional, Tank-like styling of the new-generation Haval H7, combined with the availability of a seven-seat configuration, will likely make it a stronger seller than the outgoing model. To the end of July, GWM has delivered 636 Haval H7s against 8759 Haval H6s.

MORE: GWM details new model offensive as it targets top-five sales spot
MORE: Explore the GWM Haval H7 showroom