MG Mgs6 Ev vs GWM Haval H7

What's the difference?

It’s probably a bit much to place the future success or failure of MG as a brand solely on the shoulders of the MGS6. A lot more work behind-the-scenes and customer facing will need to happen to ensure the brand doesn’t repeat its 2025 sales performance.

However, the MGS6 is a step forward and something of a return to form for the brand. It’s a good value, well-equipped and spacious electric SUV, so if that’s what you’re looking for, it should be on your short list.

However, the challenge for MG is that there are several other very similar offerings that have emerged in recent times, namely the BYD Sealion 7, while hybrids like the Toyota RAV4 remain family favourites. Not to mention the other options from GAC, Geely, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru etc as the electric SUV segment continues to grow.

It won’t be easy for MG to recover lost ground but the MGS6 is a good start.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

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.

Historically MG has played it safe design-wise, opting for inoffensive but sometimes derivative looks. But with this latest generation the brand is starting to find its own unique style and the MGS6 is another example of that.

The company has hired more European designers, who have brought a more global look and feel to the brand and given it a more clearly defined sense of style. There is a clear visual link to the smaller MGS5, with both models clearly influenced by the brand’s halo model, the Cyberster.

There’s a Cyberster-inspired split grille at the front, plus new signature daytime running lights, while at the rear there are full-width lights, with a 3D light effect with integrated spoiler for better aerodynamics. The exterior look is then finished off with 20-inch aero-designed alloy wheels.

Inside the design is in keeping with previous MG models, which means a simplistic but very modern cabin.

There are two screens, one for the driver’s display and one for the multimedia system, that provide a clean and contemporary look. 

MG is offering two interior options, a standard grey-colour cabin with carbon fibre-style inlays or an optional beige look complete with Scandinavian-inspired light wood-style inlays dubbed Nordic Ashwood.

Notably, there are more soft-touch materials used throughout, which adds to a more premium look and feel for the MGS6 compared to some of the brand’s earlier models.

The aforementioned colours, Golden Black, Moon Grey and especially Dusk Orange don’t contrast as strongly as the white with the extensive black trim on the H7, which includes its badging and sections like the grille surround.

The main selling point of the H7 compared to the H6 is, of course, the way it looks.

GWM claims the H7 is for "a bit more adventure" thanks to its “off-road inspired design”, but the real point is to “stand out”. And that it does. Some fake-bolted wheel arches and a decent 210mm ground clearance make the H7 look more ready to hit the trails than it probably is.

The boxy, squared-off silhouette and trim elements separate it both from the majority of the GWM line-up and from many other new mid-size SUVs.

The front grille and headlights look closely related to the GWM Tank 300, but the grille inserts that flank the Haval badge look a little ‘Mustang RTR’. The rear, too, looks familiar with the rounded shape and tail-light arrangement having a hint of Mazda MX-30 to them.

Step inside, and a visual assault of different materials in a busy cabin belie how useful the space in the H7 actually is. Fake carbon fibre, fake aluminium, fake bolts and a fair bit of plastic could certainly have made way for something more subtle.

While MG has opted for the clean, ‘tech’ look by running all the key functions through the two screens, thankfully the brand has also decided to include more physical buttons. These are for the key controls, specifically the air-conditioning and the audio system, and make it easier to adjust on the move.

MG has placed a big emphasis on user-friendliness, with a reported 38 storage spots scattered around the cabin to help make life easier for occupants. Certainly the cupholders, deep door pockets, large centre console shelf and large lidded console box do make storing your everyday small items convenient.

As for interior space, MG was keen to point out that its battery back is “ultra-thin” and measures just 110mm tall, which has allowed for a more spacious cabin with a flat floor. This translates to a very roomy interior, especially in the second row where there is enough space for two adults to sit comfortably with ample headroom and kneeroom.

In terms of storage, the MGS6 is the brand’s first model to feature under bonnet storage, or a 'frunk' as some people call it, which adds up to 86L of storage space (although that number is reduced to 67L in the AWD).

This is obviously in addition to the boot, which measures 581L with the seats up and 1607L with the second row folded.

While the space inside the H7 looks rather busy, there’s actually a very usable space on offer, with plenty of storage and decent ergonomics.

Perhaps most importantly, the tech is smooth to use and doesn’t distract from the main point of the car - driving. GWM’s current software (despite still using a huge screen) doesn’t suffer from unclear sub-menus and has easy shortcuts.

It’s not perfect - it’s still essentially an iPad you need to use while on the move - but it’s better than some systems from rivals, including manufacturers that have been around for decades.

Physical climate controls that bring up the corresponding menu when pressed are a welcome addition, and wireless phone mirroring works flawlessly if our test was anything to go by.

The driver display is clear, and the seating position is nicely malleable thanks to the seat’s electric adjustment and manual steering wheel adjustment.

Controls are all within reach, and after a quick familiarisation the placements and functions all make sense.

The space also provides more storage than is probably necessary for most. There’s a space under the centre console, the central storage bin is huge and has a cooling fan, there are two cupholders and one can deepen for a tall bottle, there are strapped bottle holders on the doors to stop them shaking around and there’s more door storage space next to that.

There’s of course also the glovebox and phone charging pad, then in the rear there’s more door storage space and an armrest with two cupholders again.

Second-row space is generous, even a tall adult will find plenty of legroom (and foot room under the front seats) and headroom isn’t an issue.

Behind that, the boot space is compromised by the hybrid battery so it’s not huge, and the load height is tall. Its 483L of boot space expands to 1362L with the rear seats folded, and there’s unfortunately no spare wheel under the floor.

Available in a single Vanta Hybrid grade at launch, the Haval H7 costs $46,990 drive-away, with no option for other drivetrains, but a long list of standard features.

At $3000 more than the similar grade of H6, the H7 comes with a lot of the same kit like a leather-accented interior with heated and ventilated electrically adjustable seats, a big 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen and a head-up display.

A combination of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charger and an eight-speaker sound system make for a solid media setup, while a panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting help create a fun vibe.

The H7 also boasts 19-inch machined alloys, LED auto headlights, daytime running lights, tail-lights and fog lights. There’s also keyless entry and an automatic tailgate with handsfree opening via a ‘kick sensor’ for convenience.

Premium colours that aren’t ‘Hamilton White’ (pictured) are all $495.

The MGS6 is based on MG’s ‘E2’ EV architecture, which is the same as the S5 and compact MG4 hatch - not to be mistaken with the front-wheel drive MG4 Urban, which is on a newer platform.

This particular platform is designed for rear- and all-wheel drive applications, while the 'E3' architecture will be used for front-wheel drive models.

The S6 RWD has a single electric motor which, as the name implies, is mounted on the rear axle and makes 180kW of power.

The AWD option unsurprisingly adds a front-mounted electric motor for all-wheel drive performance and 266kW of power.

The H7 has just the one drivetrain, as mentioned, consisting of a turbocharged 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine assisted by an electric motor and mated to a nine-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It drives the front wheels only, providing 179kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

The motors are fed by a 77kWh NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) battery, which is enough to provide the MGS6 RWD with 530km of range, while the AWD drops to a still reasonable 485km of claimed range.

According to the company, on a combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle the RWD uses 145Wh/km, while the AWD consumes 160Wh/km, but unfortunately our test drive was too short to verify the real-world use over an extended period of time.

MG claims with a 150kW DC charger, the battery can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in just 38 minutes - roughly the same time as its key rivals. 

Using an 11kW AC charging it will take approximately seven hours to charge the battery from empty to 100 per cent capacity.

GWM claims the Haval H7 consumes 5.7L/100km under the combined cycle, though during testing we saw a figure of 7.1L/100km after a spirited drive.

The H7 has a 61-litre fuel tank and requires 91 RON fuel at a minimum. With careful driving and in the right conditions, you could theoretically get around 800km from a single tank.

It’s easy with EVs to fall into the trap of thinking just because it isn’t ludicrously fast it’s a letdown. And certainly, despite having 266kW available, I wouldn’t call the MGS6 particularly fast.

But measure it against its SUV peers, electric, hybrid and petrol powered, and it performs admirably. The natural smoothness of the electric motors only adds to the relaxed driving nature.

The ride and handling is also improved over previous MG models we’ve reviewed. It’s still not class-leading, but in terms of what the brand has produced before it feels like a positive step forward.

Overall the driving experience is very quiet and relaxed, with good insulation from the outside world and the quiet efficiency of the electric powertrain.

One of the first things I noticed is that the hybrid system’s initial burst of torque has the potential to overpower the front wheels from a stand-still, especially if it’s wet or you’ve got some lock on to turn out of a driveway.

But once rolling, the power delivery is smooth and doesn’t lack in pull even once up to highway speed. The H7 is also stable when it comes to day-to-day driving, with its suspension striking a good balance between communication and comfort.

Big bumps and rough roads neither unsettle nor rattle the H7 too much, though given it’s a front-drive hybrid we wouldn’t be testing just how rough a road it can handle - the H7 is not an off-roader despite its looks.

If you start trying to push the SUV along a twisty road it’ll lean more than some rivals through cornering. Not to an unsafe degree, given if it’s happening you’re probably pushing it more than you should. The steering feel itself isn’t anything to write home about, but for a family car it’s accurate enough and predictability is key when you’ve got a car full of humans.

Road noise and wind noise are present, the latter more so than you’d like given we tested the car on a relatively still day, but it’s not unacceptable. 

Ergonomically, the driving position and visibility provide comfort and safety, though the rising shoulder line towards the rear slightly limits visibility on shoulder checks.

The H7 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP, but there’s a decent list of features on paper that show GWM hasn’t half-baked the H7 when it comes to safety.

Seven airbags cover the front and side in the first row, there are curtains down the sides too and the all-important central airbag.

The H7 has a strong list of active safety features like collision avoidance thanks to lane-keeping and departure warning, front collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction assist for its auto emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, plus there are features like traffic sign recognition and driver monitoring.

The H7 also has parking sensors front and rear as well as a surround-view parking camera.

Its safety features all work well without being too distracting or intervening unnecessarily, although its lane-keep can be a little stubborn and the default speed limit warning is ‘0km/h’ over the limit, however, thankfully that can be adjusted.

In a bid to convince buyers of the brand’s reliability and longevity MG is still offering a standard seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with the option to extend to 10-years/250,000km if you get all your servicing done at an MG dealer, which makes it the longest warranty available for a new car in Australia.

Servicing intervals are every 12-months or 25,000km, whichever comes first, and differ slightly depending on the model. For the RWD the five-year service plan totals $1321 and $1877 for the seven year plan, while for the AWD the costs are $1376 and $1987, respectively.

It was noticeable during the brand’s presentation of the new MGS6 to local media that customer experience, both in the new car showroom and service centres, is a top priority. That suggests the anecdotal evidence that MG has been behind key rivals in this department is an accurate reflection. But clearly the new management structure wants to change that.

There are currently around 100 MG dealers across the county.

The H7 is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, as is standard for GWM.

Additionally, the high-voltage battery pack is covered by an eight-year, unlimited-kilometre warrant. GWM also has a five-year roadside assist program, and capped-price servicing for five years.

Servicing costs a total of $2145 over five years, with intervals each 12 months or 10,000km, averaging $429 per service, which isn’t incredibly cheap.

GWM started 2025 with 113 dealerships across Australia, and aims to have 125 by the end of the year.