No price yet. GWM confirmed at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring that the current Haval H7 will be replaced by a larger plug-in hybrid model in the fourth quarter of 2026, ending the Big Dog-based H7's run after under two years on sale. Seating, nameplate and pricing are still unconfirmed — only the outgoing H7's R604 950-R734 950 range is real today.
Last updated 20 September 2026
- Status
- Confirmed by GWM at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring on 29-31 August 2026. Final pricing not yet announced.
- Expected South African launch
- Fourth quarter of 2026 (October-December), replacing the current H7.
- Based on
- The Raptor Menglong Plus, a model that debuted in China in April 2026.
- Size
- 4 912mm long — 207mm longer than the outgoing H7 — and 125mm taller.
- Powertrain
- GWM's Hi4 plug-in hybrid all-wheel-drive system, with electric-only range reported between roughly 140km and 255km depending on battery.
- Seating
- Not confirmed — GWM has not said whether South Africa gets five or seven seats.
- Current H7 pricing (still on sale)
- R604 950 for the Luxury trim up to R734 950 for Super Luxury.
If you searched for this because you're weighing up an H7 right now, here's the situation in one line: the car you'd be buying today is being replaced, GWM won't say what the replacement costs, and the only firm number in this whole story is the price of the model that's about to go out of production.
That's not a reason to panic. It is a reason to know exactly what's confirmed, what's still a guess, and what you can actually buy in Johannesburg this week if you don't want to wait three months for an announcement.
What did GWM actually confirm about the new Haval H7?
At the Kyalami Festival of Motoring in late August 2026, GWM confirmed — in what local motoring press described as a surprise announcement — that the current H7 will be replaced by an entirely different model wearing the same nameplate, arriving in Q4 2026. The new car is based on the Raptor Menglong Plus, significantly larger than today's H7, and built around GWM's Hi4 plug-in hybrid four-wheel-drive system.
GWM did not release full South African specifications, confirm the final nameplate (local press expects it may be badged "H7 Plus"), or say whether five- or seven-seat layouts will be offered. Most importantly for anyone budgeting right now: no price was given.
Is the current Haval H7 being discontinued?
Yes. This isn't a mid-life facelift — GWM is replacing the Big Dog-derived H7 outright, less than two years after it went on sale in South Africa in January 2025. The outgoing model remains available through GWM dealers in the meantime, priced from R604 950 to R734 950.
It's common for outgoing models to get cleared out cheaper once a replacement is confirmed, but GWM has not announced any run-out pricing on the current H7. If that matters to your decision, confirm the actual price with a GWM dealer before you budget around an assumption.
What's actually different about the new H7?
The numbers GWM and its China launch have put out so far point to a noticeably bigger, more powerful car than today's H7 — built around a hybrid system rather than the current petrol-first lineup.
| Spec | Current H7 (on sale now) | New H7 (Q4 2026, unconfirmed for SA) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4 705mm | 4 912mm |
| Height | 1 780mm | 1 905mm |
| Powertrain | Petrol, with a PHEV variant | Hi4 plug-in hybrid AWD |
| Electric-only range | Not applicable to petrol trims | ~140-255km, depending on battery (23.7/33.7/44.7 kWh) |
| Seating | 5 or 7, depending on trim | Not yet confirmed |
| SA price | R604 950-R734 950 | Not yet announced |
Every figure in the "new H7" column above comes from the China launch of the Raptor Menglong Plus and GWM's Kyalami announcement — treat it as a preview of the platform, not a confirmed South African spec sheet.
When will GWM announce South African H7 pricing?
GWM has said only that pricing will be revealed shortly before or at the Q4 2026 launch — no exact month, no press date. If you need a car in the next few months, waiting on an unscheduled announcement is a real cost, not a minor inconvenience.
What if you don't want to wait until Q4 2026?
Picture this: you've narrowed your shortlist to a mid-size hybrid SUV, and the model you liked best just announced its replacement is "coming eventually, price unknown." That's the position anyone eyeing the current H7 as a hybrid is in right now.
The Chery Tiggo 7 Hybrid is a real plug-in hybrid already on sale, priced from R619 900 to R679 900, with 265kW combined output and roughly 93km of electric-only range on a 1 200km total range. It's not a direct spec-for-spec match to either H7 — it's smaller than the new H7 and has less claimed electric range — but it answers the same question a hybrid H7 shopper is actually asking: a plug-in hybrid SUV you can buy and drive this month, not one you're pricing off a motor-show announcement.
If seven seats and more outright power matter more than hybrid running costs, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max is closer to the outgoing H7's size class — 187kW 2.0T turbo-petrol, from R669 900 for the 2WD and R731 900 for the AWD, with real stock through Tembani.
We sell Chery, not new Haval — so read the comparison above knowing that. But every figure quoted for both Chery models is a real, current, published price, not a placeholder. For a fuller brand-level comparison, see our Chery vs Haval breakdown.
The short version
- Confirmed: a new Haval H7 replaces the current model in Q4 2026, based on the larger Raptor Menglong Plus with Hi4 plug-in hybrid AWD.
- Not confirmed: South African pricing, seating configuration, and the final nameplate.
- Still real today: the outgoing H7 at R604 950-R734 950, with no announced run-out discount.
- Available now instead: the Chery Tiggo 7 Hybrid (from R619 900, PHEV) or Tiggo 8 Pro Max (from R669 900, 7-seat), both in real stock through Tembani.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Haval H7 being discontinued in South Africa?
The current H7 (based on the Haval Big Dog) is being replaced, not simply facelifted. GWM confirmed at the Kyalami Festival of Motoring that a new-generation H7 arrives in the fourth quarter of 2026, ending the outgoing model's run after less than two years on sale.
How much will the new Haval H7 cost in South Africa?
Not announced yet. GWM has said pricing will come shortly before or at the Q4 2026 launch. The only real, current H7 pricing is the outgoing model's R604 950 to R734 950 range, which GWM has not said will carry over.
What is the new Haval H7 based on?
The Raptor Menglong Plus, a larger model that debuted in China in April 2026. The South African version is expected to carry an "H7" name, possibly H7 Plus, though GWM did not confirm the final nameplate at the Kyalami announcement.
Will the new Haval H7 be a plug-in hybrid?
Yes. It uses GWM's Hi4 plug-in hybrid four-wheel-drive system, with three battery options reported in China (23.7, 33.7 or 44.7 kWh) giving electric-only ranges from roughly 140 to 255 km. Which battery options come to South Africa has not been confirmed.
Will the new Haval H7 have five or seven seats?
Not confirmed. GWM has not said whether the South African H7 will be offered in a five-seat or seven-seat configuration, or both.
Is there a plug-in hybrid SUV in this segment on sale in South Africa right now?
Yes — the Chery Tiggo 7 Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid priced from R619 900 to R679 900 with 265 kW combined output and roughly 93 km of electric-only range, is on sale today with real stock, not a Q4 2026 promise.
Can I still buy the current Haval H7 while the replacement isn't out yet?
Yes, the outgoing Big Dog-based H7 remains on sale through GWM dealers at R604 950 to R734 950 until the new model lands. GWM has not announced any run-out pricing on it, so don't assume a discount — confirm current pricing directly with a GWM dealer.
Want a hybrid or 7-seat SUV you can actually drive this month?
The Tiggo 7 Hybrid and Tiggo 8 Pro Max are real, priced, and in stock through Tembani — no Q4 2026 waiting list.