GWM Haval H7 vs Subaru Forester

The GWM Haval H7 starts from $46,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $45,990. That makes the Subaru Forester the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $51,689 and $50,589 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the GWM Haval H7 by roughly $3,135 in fuel alone.

Both the GWM Haval H7 and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the GWM Haval H7 and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the GWM Haval H7, against 4 on the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the GWM Haval H7 and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The GWM Haval H7 features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The GWM Haval H7 stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the GWM Haval H7 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Subaru Forester offers cloth.

The GWM Haval H7 uses a Petrol producing 179kW and 530Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.9 seconds.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.

The GWM Haval H7 has the clear power advantage at 179kW vs 136kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GWM Haval H7 measures 4,705mm long on a 2,810mm wheelbase, 50mm longer than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GWM Haval H7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 483L in the GWM Haval H7 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 13L advantage.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,625/year for the GWM Haval H7 and $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $627 annual difference in favour of the GWM Haval H7.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (GWM Haval H7) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester). The GWM Haval H7 has longer coverage.