GWM HAVAL F7

Model Overview

The HAVAL F7 is a C-segment SUV launched by Great Wall Motor's (GWM) HAVAL brand on 6 November 2018, serving as the flagship model of the youth-oriented HAVAL F series. The F series nameplate is derived from the words "Future, Fashion, and Fun", created to differentiate itself from the mature, family-oriented H series by appealing to younger buyers with youthfulness and smart tech as its core selling propositions. At launch, the official price range of the HAVAL F7 stood between RM109,000 and RM149,000, before later being revised to between RM111,800 and RM151,800. As the HAVAL brand's first true "global car", it was not only assembled locally at the Tula plant in Russia, but also exported to 51 countries and regions, including Australia and South Africa. As of 2026, the HAVAL F7 has been officially discontinued, concluding a production lifecycle of approximately four years.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the HAVAL F7 draws inspiration from the HB-02 concept car, adopting a "Space Technology Aesthetics" design philosophy. Up front, it features an aggressive, dynamic fascia paired with a starry hexagonal radiator grille and polygonal Polaris fog lamps, delivering a sharp and futuristic look. The lighting setup incorporates a "Stellar Matrix" LED headlamp system, with top-spec variants gaining automatic headlamps and adaptive high-beam assist. Along the flanks, three distinct character lines run from the front fenders to the rear, which, together with a forward-raked stance, a floating roof spoiler, and 19-inch petal-style alloy wheels, project a muscular and athletic silhouette. At the rear, a full-width chrome trim connects the LED tail lamp clusters, echoing the rugged, tank track-inspired rear diffuser and skid plate below. The SUV measures 4,620 mm in length, 1,846 mm in width, and 1,690 mm in height, with a 2,725 mm wheelbase, featuring an almost completely flat rear floor and reclining rear backrests. Inside, the cabin adopts a driver-centric wraparound cockpit layout with an angled centre console, soft-touch materials accented by silver trim, a "Nebula" electronic gear shifter, and a 0.83 m² panoramic sunroof, delivering an ambiance that balances high-tech appeal with premium refinement.

Powertrain and Performance

The HAVAL F7 is offered with two turbocharged petrol engine choices: a 1.5-litre and a 2.0-litre unit. The 1.5GDIT engine (GW4B15) produces a maximum output of 124 kW (169 PS / 166 hp) and a peak torque of 285 Nm from 1,400 to 3,000 rpm, featuring Continuously Variable Valve Lift (CVVL) technology and direct fuel injection, and was previously named among the "China Heart Top Ten Engines". The higher-spec 2.0GDIT engine delivers between 145 kW (197 PS) and 165 kW (224 PS), with peak torque ranging from 345 Nm to 385 Nm. The entire range is mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (7DCT) boasting a 95% transmission efficiency, recognised as one of the "World's Top Ten Transmissions". The official 0–100 km/h sprint is completed in 9.6 seconds (1.5T) and 8.8 seconds (2.0T), with a 100–0 km/h braking distance of approximately 39 metres. Under the NEDC cycle, official combined fuel consumption is rated at 6.8 L/100 km for the 1.5T and 7.3 L/100 km for the 2.0T; however, real-world user data records a heavier consumption of 9.6 L to 11.2 L/100 km, representing modest fuel economy.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the chassis employs a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent double-wishbone rear setup, fine-tuned across 125 calibration combinations under more than 30 driving conditions. The suspension is biased towards comfort, effectively absorbing road irregularities and small bumps, although lateral body support feels slightly soft during spirited, high-speed cornering. Braking duties are handled by front ventilated discs and rear solid discs with an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), while the Electric Power Steering (EPS) delivers smooth, well-weighted feedback with a refined steering feel. In terms of drivetrain, it comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), while range-topping variants are equipped with a BorgWarner on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system offering six selectable terrain modes: Standard, Sport, Eco, Mud, Sand, and Snow.

Cockpit and Equipment

The HAVAL F7 cabin is built around an "AI Smart Connected" concept. From the 2021 model year onward, a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch floating touchscreen infotainment display were made standard across all variants, powered by the Fun-Life intelligent connectivity system supporting IoV (Internet of Vehicles), over-the-air (OTA) updates, and native in-car WeChat functionality. The intelligent voice control system achieves a 97% recognition rate with custom wake-up commands, covering six key operational domains including communications, multimedia, navigation, and vehicle controls. Smartphone connectivity supports over 1,000 smartphone models from 48 brands across both Android and iOS platforms, along with third-party app integration. On the comfort front, automatic climate control with rear air vents is standard across the lineup, while higher-spec trims add heated front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, and an ambient cabin fragrance system.

Safety and Driver Assistance

In terms of passive safety, the HAVAL F7 utilises a high-strength steel body shell and comes standard with six airbags across all variants, including dual front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. Active safety equipment standard across the range includes Bosch ESP 9.3 Electronic Stability Program, ABS, Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Hill Descent Control (HDC). Higher variants are equipped with Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), comprising full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC, 0–150 km/h), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR). A 360-degree surround-view camera and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) further enhance driver confidence and safety when parking and navigating tight urban spaces.

Market Performance and Verdict

The HAVAL F7 enjoyed an impressive initial run, exceeding 6,000 units in its debut month before consistently clocking over 10,000 monthly sales thereafter, racking up cumulative sales of 124,000 units between January and November 2019. In 2020, full-year sales reached 114,296 units, placing it solidly in the upper tier of the SUV market. However, sales experienced a sharp downturn from 2021 onwards—registering just seven units in October of that year, only two units throughout the first half of 2022, and dropping 87.3% year-on-year in March 2022 to 981 units, before eventually being phased out of showrooms. This rapid decline can be attributed to several factors: platform sharing with the HAVAL H6 led to overlapping positioning and higher price tags, resulting in internal sales cannibalisation; infotainment glitches, system lag, and black-screen issues prompted consumer complaints and dented user confidence; the rapid rise of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) shifted market dynamics; and GWM's subsequent rollout of aggressively styled new models with novel nameplates like Chitu, Dagou, and Shenshou quickly eclipsed the F series, leaving it sidelined without a generational redesign. Overall, with its distinctive space-age styling, well-appointed connected cockpit, and strategic importance as GWM's pioneer global model, the HAVAL F7 has etched a notable mark in the compact SUV segment. Despite its relatively brief lifecycle, it stands as a significant milestone in the global expansion playbook of Chinese automotive brands.