What's the difference?
There’s a new name in the luxury upper-large SUV segment and it’s one many buyers will be unfamiliar with. Enter the Denza B8, a brand positioned to BYD much like Genesis is to Hyundai, or Lexus to Toyota.
The flagship B8 6S leans heavily into luxury, space and rugged, squared-off styling, but the big question is whether it does enough to stand out against established heavy hitters like the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, Land Rover Defender and Audi Q7.
And then there’s the bigger question - do we actually need an XL SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain? More to the point, who exactly is this pitched at?
Another new mid-size SUV from China has landed in Australia, but this time from a brand you might already be familiar with.
The GWM Haval H7 is the third Haval-badged SUV to land in Australia built on the unfortunately-named LEMON platform, following the Jolion small SUV and the H6 mid-size SUV.
Speaking of unfortunate names, 'H7' seems a little dull when you consider its native name in China is ‘Big Dog’.
GWM says the H7 lands between the family-friendly H6 and the more rugged Tank 300, but with only a single front-wheel-drive variant available, is this dog more bark than bite?
The Denza B8 6S is a luxurious and well-equipped entry into the upper-large SUV segment, with space, comfort and technology that make it a serious contender. Even in six-seat form, it delivers strong family practicality and a level of kit that will appeal to buyers looking for something different in this space.
While the driving experience isn’t always fully convincing, particularly in terms of refinement and handling, its pricing and overall package do a lot of the heavy lifting.
On that basis, it’s a newcomer the established rivals will be wise to keep an eye on.
The H7 might struggle to secure a big chunk of the mid-size SUV market, which is probably why GWM is only offering one variant, but if you like the way this Big Dog looks, there’s a decent SUV underneath the boxy surface.
While it’s no dynamic masterpiece, there are no big issues in day-to-day driving, and even though the boot space is small it’s an otherwise decent interior to live with, if you don’t mind the busy design.
Being just a little more expensive than the more traditional looking H6 means the H7 feels well-placed to find itself in the driveway of those few buyers who want their family car to look a little more rugged, even if the car doesn’t have the off-road chops to back it up.