GWM Haval H7 vs Subaru Forester

The GWM Haval H7 starts from $46,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $43,490. That makes the Subaru Forester the more affordable entry point by $3,500.

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 $47,839 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the GWM Haval H7 by roughly $2,850 in fuel alone.

Both the GWM Haval H7 and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 90% for the GWM Haval H7 and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The GWM Haval H7 packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the GWM Haval H7 and 9 in the Subaru Forester. The GWM Haval H7 adds a 360-degree camera that the Subaru Forester misses.

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 that you will not find on 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 226Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.

The GWM Haval H7 has the clear power advantage at 179kW vs 136kW. In the real-world sprint, the GWM Haval H7 is 3.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GWM Haval H7 measures 4,760mm long on a 2,800mm wheelbase, 105mm 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 520L in the GWM Haval H7 and 520L in the Subaru Forester.

For towing, the GWM Haval H7 leads with a 2,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,682/year for the GWM Haval H7 and $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $570 annual difference in favour of the GWM Haval H7.

Estimated annual total: $1,682 (GWM Haval H7) vs $2,252 (Subaru Forester). The GWM Haval H7 saves you roughly $570 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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