What excites me about the H7 is that it’s supposed to be a direct competitor in the highly competitive hybrid SUV/Crossover segment. This segment is dominated by the BYD brand, particularly the Sealion 6 at the P1.6 million price range. No competitor has come close to offering the same value; the H7 is trying to do the same but with a twist.

GWM is like most major automotive brands, able to make and sell a wide variety of models, but its core strength has always been rugged, dependable, and capable off-road vehicles. I’ve already sampled the H9, and I absolutely believe it's a strong choice for anyone who wants a modern PPV without breaking the bank. I walked into my week with the H7 with high hopes, thinking it could be what the industry executives call a “game changer.” I ended up conflicted instead. Let me explain.

First, the looks: the H7 is, for all intents and purposes, a smaller version of the H9, albeit with more modern and refined touches. The headlights and taillights are shaped in a more modern way compared to the bigger H9, but overall, it looks very similar. What I liked about this range-topping Hi4 PHEV 4WD variant is that it came in a nice matte gray color paired with the blacked-out exterior trims; it gave the SUV better road presence. If you’re into modern boxy-looking SUVs, then look no further than the H7.

Inside, the interior is predominantly black with a few contrasting touches, like the cool orange H7 silhouette graphic on the passenger side of the dashboard and the LED mood lights. I don’t normally pay attention to the mood lights, but the H7s were done well; the lights don’t dominate the interior like a gamer's keyboard; it’s subtle but noticeable. The H7 is a tech fest as well; it comes with a heads-up display that shows more than just speed, but also your ADAS system status without you needing to take your eyes off the road. I especially like the screens; both the cluster and infotainment screens are in really high resolution and are quick, with no lag when engaged. I also like how comprehensive the software of the H7 is; if you go to the energy tab of the screen, you’ll see historical data on how you’ve been consuming the fuel and electricity of the car, a neat feature for those eco-minded drivers and something not all brands have in this detail. The coolest interior feature for me is the detachable flashlight, which can be found on the center console on the front passenger side.

You also get a wireless charging pad and a big sunroof to round out the features. In terms of space, there’s plenty; the H7’s dimensions make it much larger than the price range it competes in. In fact, its overall length, width, and wheelbase are considerably bigger than those of a Fortuner and a CR-V. You get that sense in the interior, because the H7 is a 5-seater; the second row passengers get a ton of space, but also the cargo area at the back is expansive and flat, allowing for easier storage. In terms of build quality, I have to say that it doesn’t feel as solid as the H9 did inside; it wasn’t bad by any means, but some of the materials and finishes were a ‘step down’ in overall quality.

The H7 that I was lent came in the top-of-the-line variant; the PHEV 4WD has a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with a PHEV system that makes a combined output of 364 horsepower and a whopping 760 Nm of torque. Since it’s a plug-in, it can do over 100 km in full EV mode, with a total combined range of over 1,000 km. Not all PHEVs have fast-charging capabilities, and it's nice that the H7 can support DC fast charging that can give you 0 to 80 percent in just 25 to 30 minutes. It also supports V2L for those who want to take it camping or need to charge up. Since the H7 is an off-roader, you get a locking differential as well as different terrain modes in case you need to traverse different surfaces.

This is the best thing about the H7; you can immediately tell that GWM takes its engine development seriously. Performance-wise, the H7’s PHEV system paired with the Hi4 4WD moves the H7 really well; power delivery is smooth and linear despite the turbo and EV motor. Overtaking requires very little effort; a gentle increase in throttle pressure will set the H7 off at speed. Couple the performance with efficiency, and you’ve got yourself a mega combo. In the one week I had the H7, I drove it over 300 kilometers and averaged around 13 km/L in both highway and heavy city traffic conditions. Moving to its handling and comfort and I have no complaints; the H7 feels good to drive for its size and height, plus the comfort is as good as any crossover or SUV, not truck-like in any way.

Now comes the tough part: I really wanted to end this review on a high note, but there were a few things about the H7 I couldn’t ignore. First is that GWM insisted on putting most of the features on the infotainment screen, when I first got in the car it was late in the evening and It took me 10 minutes to find the headlight switch, only for me to realize it was located on the lower left side of the infotainment screen. I get to drive all type of cars for a living but I will admit that there are moments where I still get confused, can you imagine a normal person? I don’t understand why it needs to be on the screen. Next is the ADAS system: to engage the adaptive cruise control, you need to press-down on the gear lever twice, and then you can adjust the speed and the distance on the left-hand side of the steering wheel controls. While the system works well, it just isn’t ergonomic and again confusing you wouldn’t know the ADAS system would be placed on the gear stalk.

My last two issues were too glaring to ignore. Despite having just driven over 9,300 kilometers, I noticed that both the front suspension systems had “kalampag” already which sad considering the H9 had double the mileage but felt really solid and new. Lastly, for some reason, Android Auto kept disconnecting every 10 to 15 minutes, even after changing USB cords and restarting my phone it would still glitch. This was very annoying, especially since you’d lose your navigation and the music would cut out. You can say it's my phone, but I tested it on another car during the same period and it was perfectly fine.

In the end, I’d like to think that the H7 still presents itself as a good overall package, because this top trim model is just P 1,698,000, which is great value against its chief rivals, especially since the H7 comes in 4WD. However, I’d say that the better value model is the mid-spec 2WD PHEV at P 1,548,000 because that’s all you really need for daily driving. What about the issues I mentioned? I sincerely hope that they were isolated to the specific car I was lent, but my overall disappointment stems from the fact that I know GWM can do better.