Haval F7x coupe review and video
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On the long road
In the first minutes of “acquaintance” HAVAL F7x was imprinted in the mind with a bright, solid picture, so we decided not to destroy the wow effect and do a detailed analysis of the appearance at the first “halt”. And now it’s time to hit the road! Or rather, not to go, but to pack, because this time you can’t limit yourself to just a pair of spare sneakers in your bag. And here we have to admit that at first the modest volume of the trunk under the curtain raised doubts – “but we will definitely fit everything”?
Upon closer examination, it turned out that the layout is quite successful – the arches do not stick out inward, and the depth is confidently enough for a whole ton of things.
And since representatives of the beautiful half of humanity were also participants in the trip, bales with a huge number of dubious and heavy things went into the trunk, for example, bags with felt boots, food, spare jackets and shoes, and, of course, the endless equipment of our photographer and operator.
We immediately noticed that on the right and left there are convenient niches for small things like washer fluid and umbrellas that are needed in quick access. Loading height is acceptable – it is certainly not at knee height, but does not force heavy bags to be lifted too high. The threshold is also within reason, so you can “play Tetris” without much effort. The realization that you can add a couple of hundred liters simply by removing the curtain helped to finally believe in success. Theoretically, there is an option to use all the provided 1443 liters by folding the rear backrests, but this time it will not be possible to turn such a trick – our satellites still claim 2/3 of the back row.
By the way, the long wheelbase of 2725 mm allowed us to leave enough legroom for our rear row passengers (our photographer and cameraman are very tall), and the rather specific stamping of the roof deprives the characteristic feeling of a pressing (in the literal sense of the word) dome, typical for such bodies. The already comfortable rear sofa can be slightly transformed by adjusting the seat backrest.
The range turned out to be surprisingly wide, and it is not actuated by a typical button somewhere in the area of \u200b\u200bthe headrests, but by a loop. She hid behind a seat belt, at first glance the decision seemed a little ambiguous, but in fact it turned out to be very convenient. Looking ahead, let’s say that the guys drove behind all the way from Moscow to Murmansk, which is almost 24 hours, and their attempts to get into the front seats were not recorded.
Getting comfortable in the driver’s seat is also quite easy. The chairs have a decent anatomy, and the adjustment range is enough, perhaps, for people of any build. The steering wheel moves in both planes and does not “cut” the dashboard. Finally, all the preparations are behind, you can translate the selector into “drive” and go to surf the endless roads.
Video
What are you frowning at?
In front, the F7x practically duplicates the F7, although most of the body parts of the coupe version of the crossover are their own. “X” is 35 mm lower and 5 mm shorter than the standard model. Chopped forms and a “frown” to face this crossover. Excessive angularity of the design may not be entirely appropriate on the F7, but on a model with beveled C-pillars it does not hurt the eyes.
The car has full LED optics with a complex geometry of headlights and lanterns. Sweepingly drawn wheel arches, together with short overhangs, create the effect of a raised body. Wheelbase F7x – 2725 mm. This is more than many D-class crossovers, to which the model is formally assigned.
There is only one angle from which the novelty looks unsuccessful – strictly behind. From any other angle, the SUV will please the eye of those who love coupe-like SUVs. Although many car enthusiasts do not like this body type, and they consider the BMW X6 the ugliest model from Munich. They, of course, will not go in and the appearance of this “Haveil”.
In Belarus, practicality is still more valuable than style, and here the regular F7 sells better than the F7x. Let’s see what happens after parish versions with a 1.5-liter engine. Until recently, the model was only available with a 2-liter turbo engine. The test car is in the maximum configuration, with all-wheel drive and 19-inch wheels. At the base, the wheels have a diameter of 17 inches, and the drive is only on the front axle.
Why so expensive?
There are no prices yet. But it is known for sure that the coupe will not be cheaper than the usual F7 – it would not be more expensive! This means that the Haval F7x in the top-end Premium version, with a 190-horsepower engine and all-wheel drive, will cost almost two million rubles. The degree of localization of the coupe is like that of the usual F7, about 30%, so it will not be possible to significantly reduce prices in the near future.
The Haval F7x is one of the best Chinese cars I’ve come across, but for the money, competitors offer cars with more refined driving habits. Let it be a little smaller in size and simpler in configuration, but at the same time more advanced and with a finished design.