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?
Suzuki really needs you to buy this car.
Not only are cut-price Chinese rivals dicing up the entry-level part of the market where this Japanese brand used to thrive, but Suzuki is also facing pressure to adapt to Australia’s tough new emissions laws.
That’s where this e Vitara comes in.
Built in India on a new platform shared with Toyota, the e Vitara is unlike any Suzuki that's come before it in Australia. Does it have what it takes to crack the super competitive end of the new-car market?
Read on to find out.
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 Suzuki e Vitara is a fun, if unusual little electric car, but it does come at a price premium over many of its rivals, which includes the likes of the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona.
It’s great to drive, has a versatile cabin, and has a familiar feel for anyone new to electric cars. However, with low driving range, slow charging, no vehicle-to-load or single-pedal driving and comparatively high service costs, it may be a tall order.
Some will prefer that it wears a Japanese badge on its nose compared to budget alternatives, but I’m not sure Suzuki will be selling these in the kinds of volumes it needs to at this price.