BYD DOLPHIN vs GWM H7

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

BYD DOLPHIN in South Africa

BYD DOLPHIN

Premium Extended Range EV Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 602,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 310 Nm
VS
GWM H7 in South Africa

GWM H7

2.0T LX Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 185 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BYD DOLPHIN vs GWM H7: the short answer

DOLPHIN and H7 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

DOLPHIN starts ZAR 110,000 cheaper DOLPHIN from ZAR 539,900 · H7 from ZAR 649,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification DOLPHIN H7
Maximum Power DOLPHIN150 kW H7185 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque DOLPHIN310 Nm H7420 Nm
Engine Size DOLPHINNot Applicable H71999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy DOLPHINNot Applicable H711.8 km/l
Ground Clearance DOLPHIN155 mm H7195 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

BYD DOLPHIN

Premium Extended Range EV

Hagalu editorial rating
4.3/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

GWM H7

2.0T LX

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

DOLPHIN

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

H7

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

DOLPHIN

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

H7

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec DOLPHIN H7
Model Introduced Year 2024 2024
Generation First South African DOLPHIN generation First generation, derived from Haval's larger SUV platform launched in 2023. Local specification differs from the Chinese-domestic model in suspension calibration and equipment loading.
Facelift History No separately marketed South African facelift announced as at August 2026 First-generation H7 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the all-wheel-drive system calibration and the driver-assistance behaviour.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Hatchback SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status Active published
Segment Compact Hatchback SUV
Vehicle Type Passenger vehicle SUV
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Cosmos Grey, Pittsburgh Silver, Mars Red and Atlantic Blue. Two-tone roof options available on LT and LX trims.
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg - 1830 kg
Spec DOLPHIN H7
Length 4290 mm 4772 mm
Width 1770 mm 1910 mm
Height 1570 mm 1750 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2800 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 155 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 130 mm 150 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 63 l
Boot/Cargo Space 345 l 620 l
Kerb Weight 1658 kg 1830 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2068 kg 2200 kg
Payload Capacity 410 kg 550 kg
Towing Capacity 0 kg 1500 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.25 m 12.2 m
Front Headroom 1000 mm 990 mm
Rear Headroom 900 mm 960 mm
Front Legroom 1130 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 740 mm 890 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This DOLPHIN and H7 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: DOLPHIN 66 vs H7 80.

Efficiency index: DOLPHIN 90 vs H7 46.

Safety-equipment index: DOLPHIN 98 vs H7 100.

Practicality index: DOLPHIN 56 vs H7 71.

Ownership-cover index: DOLPHIN not separately scored vs H7 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

DOLPHIN leads by 2 points

DOLPHIN and H7 are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 76 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 64% source coverage
76
#1 Evidence leader

DOLPHIN

64% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 98 Check Practicality 56
Performance 66
Efficiency 90
Safety 98
Practicality 56
Leads by 2 points
74
#2

H7

99% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 80
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 71
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H7 +14 Efficiency DOLPHIN +44 Safety H7 +2 Practicality H7 +15

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

DOLPHIN

Performance 66/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 98/100
Practicality 56/100

H7

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 71/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BYD DOLPHIN leads the specification evidence index with 76 pts vs 74 pts for H7

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, DOLPHIN leads. However, H7 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

DOLPHIN vs H7 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.