he Haval H7 has never exactly been a wallflower. Its boxy proportions and imposing design already give it plenty of presence on the road, but GWM has now given the SUV an even darker personality with the introduction of the H7 HEV Black Edition.
As the name suggests, this version takes the standard H7 and gives several of its exterior elements the blackout treatment. The result is a more distinctive-looking SUV that builds on the H7’s already bold design without changing its underlying character.
Dressed in black
The differences are immediately noticeable. The Black Edition features a blacked-out grille, unique wheels, black exterior mirrors and roof rails, along with dark exterior badging and redesigned alloy wheels.
These changes may sound relatively simple on paper, but they give the H7 a more purposeful appearance. The standard model already has enough road presence to make smaller SUVs check their rear-view mirrors, and the darker treatment adds another layer of attitude.
Still spacious and well equipped inside
Inside, the H7 continues to offer the spacious and technology-packed cabin that has become one of its stronger attributes.
The dashboard is dominated by a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, complete with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display, giving the driver plenty of information without having to take their eyes too far off the road.
Comfort is also well catered for. The front seats are both heated and ventilated, while a 50W wireless charging pad, panoramic sunroof and eight-speaker DTS sound system are included.
The cabin feels roomy and well suited to family duties, with enough technology and convenience features to make daily driving a relatively pleasant experience. Thankfully, the Black Edition treatment remains on the outside, so you are not sitting in a cabin that looks like Batman designed it.
Hybrid power makes a noticeable difference
The biggest difference, however, is not the black exterior trim but what sits beneath the bonnet.
The H7 HEV Black Edition uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged hybrid powertrain producing a combined 179kW and 530Nm. Power is sent through a dedicated hybrid transmission, giving the H7 a useful balance between performance and efficiency.
There is plenty of torque available, which makes the H7 feel responsive when pulling away or overtaking. The hybrid system also suits the relaxed nature of the SUV, delivering its power smoothly rather than dramatically.
Where the hybrid really starts to make its case is at the fuel pumps.
Haval claims a combined consumption figure of 5.7 L/100 km. During our time with the vehicle, we managed around 6.8 L/100 km. While that is higher than the official figure, it is still a considerable improvement over the non-hybrid H7, in which we recorded 10 L/100 km.
For a sizeable SUV, the difference is significant and makes the hybrid a far more convincing option for buyers concerned about running costs.
Final thoughts
The Haval H7 HEV Black Edition takes an already distinctive SUV and gives buyers something with a little more visual attitude. The darkened exterior elements help separate it from the standard model, while the spacious cabin remains packed with comfort and technology.
More importantly, the hybrid powertrain brings meaningful improvements to efficiency without sacrificing performance. Our real-world consumption figure of 6.8 L/100 km compares favourably with the 10 L/100 km we achieved in the non-hybrid model, making a strong argument for the electrified version.
At R734,950, the Haval H7 1.5T HEV Super Luxury Black Edition is not simply an H7 wearing darker clothes. The combination of its styling changes, generous equipment levels and more efficient hybrid powertrain makes it a compelling addition to the range.
