GWM H7 vs Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

GWM H7 in South Africa

GWM H7

2.0T LX Petrol Automatic
ZAR 799,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 185 kW 🔧 420 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV

PHEV Apex Plug-In Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 729,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 230 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance H7
⛽ Fuel Economy Tiggo 8 PHEV
🛡 Safety H7
📦 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV
H7 starts ZAR 729900 cheaper H7 from ZAR 649,900 · Tiggo 8 PHEV from ZAR 729,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec H7 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Engine Power 185 kW 150 kW
Torque 420 Nm 230 Nm
Engine Size 1999 cc 1.5 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 19.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 195 mm 170 mm
Boot / Load Bay 620 l 494 l
Airbags 8 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1830 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 7 Year / 200 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both H7 and Tiggo 8 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance H7 +12 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +35 pts
Safety H7 +6 pts
Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +5 pts
Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

H7

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

H7

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Tiggo 8 PHEV

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H7 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Model Introduced Year 2024 2026
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. Current South Africa Tiggo 8 PHEV range
Facelift History 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. Current South Africa version listed by official source
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2026
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV 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 -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Spec H7 Tiggo 8 PHEV
Ground Clearance 195 mm 170 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2710 mm
Length 4772 mm 4725 mm
Width 1910 mm 1860 mm
Height 1750 mm 1705 mm
Kerb Weight 1830 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2200 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 620 l 494 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Front Track Width 1560 mm -
Rear Track Width 1570 mm -
Turning Radius 12.2 m -
Load Bed Length 620 l 494 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom 1050 mm -
Rear Legroom 890 mm -
Front Headroom 990 mm -
Rear Headroom 960 mm -
Front Shoulder Room 1430 mm -
Rear Shoulder Room 1390 mm -
Boot Space Seats Folded 820 l 1930 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 620 l 494 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Front Overhang 880 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 60 l
Rear Overhang 890 mm -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2200 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 195 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Min 195 mm 170 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 195 mm 170 mm
Height Mm 1750 mm 1705 mm
Length Mm 4772 mm 4725 mm
Load Sill Height Low -
Loadbox Length Mm 620 l 494 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 620 l 494 l
Tare Mass Kg 1830 kg -
Tracking System Optional -
Turning Circle 12.2 m -
Turning Circle M 12.2 m -
Width Mm 1910 mm 1860 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 820 l 1930 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tiggo 8 PHEV leads by 3 points

Both H7 and Tiggo 8 PHEV are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 74% confidence
75
#1 Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Performance 56
Performance 56
Efficiency 81
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Leads by 3 points
72
#2

H7

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 68
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance H7 +12 Efficiency Tiggo 8 PHEV +35 Safety H7 +6 Practicality Tiggo 8 PHEV +5 Ownership Tiggo 8 PHEV +4

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tiggo 8 PHEV

Performance 56/100
Efficiency 81/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

H7

Performance 68/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 73/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV wins with 75 pts vs 72 pts for H7

In structured scoring, Tiggo 8 PHEV emerges as the stronger overall package. However, H7 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tiggo 8 PHEV edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: H7 46 vs Tiggo 8 PHEV 81. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: H7 100, Tiggo 8 PHEV 94. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: H7 65, Tiggo 8 PHEV 69. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: H7 73, Tiggo 8 PHEV 78. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H7 68, Tiggo 8 PHEV 56. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Tiggo 8 PHEV edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tiggo 8 PHEV scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between H7 and Tiggo 8 PHEV in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H7 scores 68 vs 56.

Efficiency: H7 scores 46 vs 81.

Safety: H7 scores 100 vs 94.

Practicality: H7 scores 73 vs 78.

Ownership: H7 scores 65 vs 69.

Final structured scoring gives Tiggo 8 PHEV the advantage in this comparison.