What's the difference?
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 new GWM Haval Jolion Lux sits second from the bottom in the Jolion line-up but offers a longer features list than most of its competitors. A boast that stands it in good stead from the outset.
But the question is how do those features perform in the real world? In this review we unpack how the new Jolion handles urban life.
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.
The GWM Haval Jolion Lux offers affordability in a modern, attractive package. However, the execution of some of its features isn’t always convincing. So yes, it’s sharply priced but it also feels underdone in some respects which doesn’t necessarily equate to value. But if affordability is at the top of your priority list and one or two shortcomings doesn't mean the end of the world, this could be the urban SUV you're looking for.