New Chinese rival for Toyota RAV4 revealed: Haval H7 hybrid joins GWM’s triple-pronged strategy to topple top-selling Toyota in Australia
Chinese giant GWM has revealed the latest weapon in its multi-pronged strategy to topple the Toyota RAV4 hybrid from its dominant position in the immensely popular medium SUV segment.
Named the Haval H7 here and known as the Big Dog in China, the five-seat petrol-electric hybrid SUV arrives in August as a single model priced at $46,990 drive-away.
But is set to add some more fangs in the near future with the front-wheel drive launch model expected to be joined by multiple all-wheel drive variants.
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The H7 will form one part of as triple threat for the RAV4 alongside the freshly revamped H6 and H6 GT PHEV in medium SUV.
This is a key part of GWM’s strategy to cement itself as a top five brand locally by the end of the decade.
Medium SUV is Australia’s biggest individual new vehicle sales segment with the hybrid-only RAV4 its dominant sales player.
In the first six months of 2024, 115,164 <$60,000 medium SUVs have been sold in Australia, with the RAV4 accounting for 24,034 of them.
The H6 sits seventh in the segment on 6909 sales after six months of 2025, not only trailling the RAV4 but other popular medium SUVs such as the Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander and Hyundai Tucson.
GWM Australia marketing and communications chief Steve Maciver explained the multi-prong model strategy to EV Central earlier this year.
“We are going to have to grow and we are going to have to conquest from other brands,” he said.
“That is how we have got to where we have got to, we have been doing that. These cars are going to continue doing that for us as well.
“In mid-size SUV people seem to be welded to the more established brands and we have to find a way to cut through and get our share in that segment as well.
“We are going to put our best foot forward with the product. We are going to market it heavily. We find when we put bums on seats our conversion rate are very, very high.”
Initially the bluffly styled 4705mm-long Haval H7, which is based on the same platform as the H6, will come in one Vanta specification.
It is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol hybrid engine producing a combined 179kW/530Nm and a claimed 5.7L/100km fuel consumption average.
Standard exterior equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, smart keyless entry and a panoramic sunroof.
Inside are leather accented seats, powered driver’s and front passenger seats with heating and ventilation, dual-zone climate control, dual digital infotainment= screens with embedded wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto and eight-speaker audio.
Safety equipment included seven airbags, a 360 camera and a suite of driver assist systems led by autonomous emergency braking.
The Haval H7 has a 483/1362 litre luggage area and can tow 1500kg braked.
It is expected the H7 Vanta will be joined by a 2.0-litre turbocharged all-wheel drive model (without electrification). But the more exciting addition will be an all-wheel drive hybrid featuring Haval’s latest Hi4 hybrid powertrain.
This will also launch in the H6 later this year and will aid both models in their attempts to take down the RAV4, which comes with both FWD and AWD hybrid powertrains.
Mind you, the RAV4 will be overhauled and a PHEV powertrain in 2026. The H6 is also adding a PHEV this year.
Maciver outlined the three-pronged strategy for GWM Haval in the medium SUV segment.
“You’ve got your traditional family SUV [H6], which is space, efficiency, value, tech and all that stuff in there.
“H6 GT PHEV sits above that as a performance family SUV – don’t forget it’s 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds on that car.
“Then, sitting off to the side there but still within the segment you’ve got a more rugged option [H7] off this platform, but again something for consumers who want to drive something a bit different.”
