GWM H7 vs Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

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 Pro Max in South Africa

Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Executive 7DCT 2.0TGDI Petrol Automatic
ZAR 609,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 187 kW 🔧 390 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Fuel Economy Tiggo 8 Pro Max
🛡 Safety H7
📦 Practicality H7
🔑 Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Tiggo 8 Pro Max starts ZAR 649900 cheaper H7 from ZAR 649,900 · Tiggo 8 Pro Max from ZAR 609,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec H7 Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Engine Power 185 kW 187 kW
Torque 420 Nm 390 Nm
Engine Size 1999 cc 2.0 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance 195 mm 203 mm
Boot / Load Bay 620 l 117 l
Airbags 8 Multiple airbags
Kerb Weight 1830 kg 1658 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 Pro Max are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tiggo 8 Pro Max +7 pts
Efficiency Tiggo 8 Pro Max +6 pts
Safety H7 +6 pts
Practicality H7 +12 pts
Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

H7

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Family Usage

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

H7

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec H7 Tiggo 8 Pro Max
Model Introduced Year 2024 2023
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 Pro Max 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 2023
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 Pro Max
Ground Clearance 195 mm 203 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2710 mm
Length 4772 mm 4720 mm
Width 1910 mm 1860 mm
Height 1750 mm 1705 mm
Kerb Weight 1830 kg 1658 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2200 kg 2211 kg
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 620 l 117 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Front Track Width 1560 mm 1582 mm
Rear Track Width 1570 mm 1604 mm
Turning Radius 12.2 m -
Load Bed Length 620 l 117 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 739 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 620 l 117 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Front Overhang 880 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 63 l 51 l
Rear Overhang 890 mm -
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2200 kg 2211 kg
Ground Clearance Max 195 mm 203 mm
Ground Clearance Min 195 mm 203 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 195 mm 203 mm
Height Mm 1750 mm 1705 mm
Length Mm 4772 mm 4720 mm
Load Sill Height Low -
Loadbox Length Mm 620 l 117 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 620 l 117 l
Tare Mass Kg 1830 kg 1658 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 739 l

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

H7 leads by 0 points

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

Winner 72 /100
Lead 0 points
Data 97% confidence
72
#1 Winner

H7

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 68
Efficiency 46
Safety 100
Practicality 73
Ownership 65
Leads by 0 points
72
#2

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 52
Performance 75
Efficiency 52
Safety 94
Practicality 61
Ownership 77
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tiggo 8 Pro Max +7 Efficiency Tiggo 8 Pro Max +6 Safety H7 +6 Practicality H7 +12 Ownership Tiggo 8 Pro Max +12

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

H7

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

Tiggo 8 Pro Max

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 77/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM H7 wins with 72 pts vs 72 pts for Tiggo 8 Pro Max

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

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the H7 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 Pro Max 52. 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 Pro Max 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 Pro Max 77. 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 Pro Max 61. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: H7 68, Tiggo 8 Pro Max 75. 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 H7 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The H7 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 Pro Max in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: H7 scores 68 vs 75.

Efficiency: H7 scores 46 vs 52.

Safety: H7 scores 100 vs 94.

Practicality: H7 scores 73 vs 61.

Ownership: H7 scores 65 vs 77.

Final structured scoring gives H7 the advantage in this comparison.