Great Wall’s Haval H6 PHEV is the third plug-in hybrid that we have driven in as
many weeks.
Dating back to 2011, the third generation H6 made its debut at the 2020 Chengdu
Motor Show. And, all jokes aside, it’s the first Haval to sit on the ‘Lemon’ platform –
we kid you not.
H6 is GWM’s all-time, best-selling model, with more than 4 million sales globally.
The plug-in version was added in 2021, with a new-look front and available in petrol,
hybrid, and plug-in hybrid form.
“Every inch of the H6 has been meticulously considered,” we’re told.
STYLING
There’s an H6 for just about everyone, with prices ranging from $35,990 for the entry
level petrol model through to $50,990 for the top-of-the-line plug-in hybrid with all-
wheel drive.
The standard, self-charging hybrid is priced from $40,990, while you can get into the
plug-in version from as little as $44,990. Premium paint adds $495 to the price.
Plug-in hybrids have really taken off in the Australian market with the arrival of
cheaper, more accessible Chinese models.
The attraction is their versatility, with their ability to operate in pure electric or fuel-
saving petrol-electric mode — without any range fears.
H6’s Chinese competitors include the BYD Sealion 6 and Geely Starray EM-i (see
separate reviews).
These wagons are all roughly around the same price and offer the same kind of
performance and range.
Our test vehicle, the front-drive H6 Ultra PHEV is priced from $47,990.
All-wheel drive takes this figure to $50,990 — all prices before on-road costs.
The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) with a turbocharged engine was introduced here with the
facelift in July, 2025.
Up front the cascading grille carries the Haval logo, thankfully no longer in garish
red.
At the rear, the full-width light bar has been replaced by sharply angled, individual tail
lights giving the wagon a more contemporary look.
However, the “Haval” badge at the back has been replaced with “GWM,” reflecting
the brand’s transition to a single, unified identity.
Of greater note, the facelift saw the introduction of GWM’s AT1 program (Australian
Tuning), that draws on the skills of former Holden engineer Rob Trubiani to tune ride
and handling.
It’s the same path taken by both Kia and Hyundai years ago, and could turn out to be
a game changer for the brand.
H6 is the first model to benefit from this tuning and it shows — in spades.
Standard kit includes artificial leather and two-zone climate air, with rear outlets,
power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, with driver-seat memory and a
heated steering wheel.
There are also 19-inch alloys, push-button start, adaptive cruise control, head-up
display, auto high beam, traffic sign recognition, LED lights all-round, auto lights and
wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear privacy glass, electric tailgate and
panoramic sunroof.
The PHEV comes with rear parking sensors, but for some strange reason misses out
on sensors for the front.
H6 is converted by a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty, along with an 8-year
unlimited-kilometre battery pack warranty. There’s also five-year roadside assistance
and five-year capped price servicing.
INFOTAINMENT
Infotainment consists of a 14.6-inch touchscreen powered by the GWM’s Coffee OS.
There’s Bluetooth, voice control, AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, built-in satellite
navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus eight-speaker audio
(PHEVs boost the number of speakers to nine).
Telematics provides remote access and control of various vehicle functions.
Two USB A-ports are provided in the front, a USB-A and USB-C port in the rear, and
a dashcam port located near the mirror, with 12-volt sockets in the front and in the
luggage area, along with wireless phone charging.
SAFETY
H6 carries a full five-star safety rating from ANCAP.
In order to confirm integrity of the battery and safety of high voltage electrical
systems in hybrid and PHEV variants, additional frontal offset and oblique pole tests
were conducted.
As a result, the previous five-star safety rating was extended to all petrol, hybrid, and
PHEV variants of H6.
Seven airbags are standard, including a centre airbag to stop those in the front from
banging heads in a side impact crash.
A 360-degree camera with 180 degree overhead transparent chassis view is fitted.
Autonomous emergency braking applies to car-to-car, vulnerable road user and
junction assist scenarios.
There are also blind spot alert and a lane support system with lane keep assist, lane
departure warning, and emergency lane keeping, plus an advanced speed
assistance system that keeps to current speed limits.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The hybrid powertrain in the H6 PHEV produces 240kW of power and 540Nm of
torque in front-wheel drive form, with a dual-speed dedicated hybrid transmission.
With all-wheel drive, this rises to 268kW and 760kW, giving it a 0-100km/h time of
4.8 seconds.
Either way, they’re impressive figures.
DRIVING
H6 is a mid-sized, five-seat wagon that is 4703mm long, with a 27638mm wheelbase
and between 560 and 1445 litres of luggage capacity – the latter with rear seats
folded.
Apart from real leather trim (Comfort-Tek is a euphemism for artificial), there’s not
much missing from the equipment list.
Oddly, that is, except for rear parking sensors and automatic parking which are
unaccountably missing in this grade.
A column-mounted gear selector frees up space on the centre console for additional
storage and provides space for the wireless phone charger.
Like the Geely, a small 10.25-inch screen sits above the steering column and serves
as the instrument cluster.
An automatically activated parking brake adds to ease of use.
With a 55-litre tank, H6 takes standard 91 RON unleaded.
Claimed fuel consumption with a fully charged battery is 1.0L/100km (1.1L for AWD).
If you’re slack and let the battery run down, consumption rises to 5.0L/100km (5.3L
for AWD).
Sadly, we confess to being apathetic and were getting 5.9L/100km after more than
250km of driving.
With energy consumption at 18.4 kWh/100km, the PHEV has a pure electric driving
range of 106km or 100km for the AWD version.
Unfortunately, these figures are under the older, more lenient NEDC test regime, that
car companies continue to quote because they look better in print.
A WLTP figure of 80km is closer to the mark.
The 19.09 kWh battery can be charged from 30-80 per cent in 28 mins using a DC
charger (at a rate of 34kW), or from 15-100 per cent using an AC charger in under
three hours (at 6.6kW).
Who we wonder wants to half-charge their battery when that presumably means half
the range too?
The hybrid system operates in both series or parallel mode, powering the wheels or
battery, with EV, EV Priority and Intelligent Hybrid modes.
There’s also the usual drive mode options: Normal, Eco, Sport or Snow.
Steering weight can be adjusted, with comfortable, sport or light settings.
There are also adjustable regenerative braking with the option of one-pedal driving –
although the latter does not bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
Driving the H6 PHEV feels much like its competitors around town, but with a bit more
get up and go.
Find some twisty roads, however, turn up the wick and the wagon comes to life, with
braking and handling that is superior to its Chinese compatriots.
Handling is safe, predictable and planted, with strong mid-range throttle response
and impressive braking.
The wagon has a substantial, dare we say Commodore feel, absorbing bumps rather
than crashing over them, with very little rebound.
Whatever Great Wall is paying Mr Trubiani, it’s money in the bank.
But it’s not all peaches and cream. The interior feels drab and dated in comparison
to competitors, with too many features controlled from the touchscreen, taking
attention away from the road.
Then there’s the annoying driver seatbelt which must be locked in before the brakes
will release and the wagon can move off.
It’s a great idea, safety-wise that is, but not a very practical one.
The throttle exhibits some overrun, evident as the car continues to accelerate after
lifting off the accelerator, forcing the driver to brake – sometimes hurriedly.
This can be unnerving in stop-start traffic and parking behind another vehicle on a
steepish driveway, where the car tends to leap forward on liftoff, threatening to ram
the car in front.
The column-mounted transmission lever has another trap waiting where it is possible
to put the car into reverse if you mistake the gear lever for the indicator stalk with
your foot on the brake e.g. queuing for a left-hand turn.
With little in the way of labelling it took some time to work out how to engage cruise
control which as it turns out is via — you guessed it — the gear selector.
Head-up display as usual is almost invisible with polarised sunglasses and the
power-operated tailgate often refused to respond to the key fob. Other than this the
PHEV is a keeper.
Braked towing capacity is 1500kg. A tyre repair kit is provided in the event of a flat
tyre.
SUMMING UP
Of the three so-called “super hybrids” that we’ve driven in recent weeks, H6 is the
more expensive but dynamically better.
It’s let down by a drab, rather uninspiring cabin fitout and in this regard, some
contrasting trim would help to break the monotony.
Beauty is however in the eye of the beholder.
RATINGS:
Looks: 7.5
Performance: 7.5
Safety: 8
Thirst: 7.5
Practicality: 7.5
Comfort: 7
Tech: 7.5
Value: 7.5
Overall: 7.5
AT A GLANCE
MODEL LINE-UP
Lux PHEV, from $40,990
Ultra PHEV, from $43,990
Ultra PHEV AWD, from $46,990
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact
your local GWM dealer for drive-away prices.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Haval H6 Ultra PHEV, 1.5-litre turbocharged four/single electric motor, FWD, five-
seat wagon
HYBRID POWERTRAIN
Petrol engine: 1.5-litre, four cylinders inline, turbocharged
Maximum power: 110 kW @ 5500-6000 rpm
Maximum torque: 240 kW @ 1800-4000 rpm
Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Maximum power: 130 kW
Maximum torque: 300 Nm
Combined power: 240 kW
Combined torque: 540 Nm
Fuel type: Petrol 91 RON
Combined fuel cycle: (ADR 81/02) 1.0 L/100km (with fully charged battery)
Battery: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) 19.09 kWh
CO2 emissions 22 g/km
DRIVELINE:
Dual-speed dedicated hybrid transmission, front-wheel drive
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITIES
Length: 4703 mm
Width: 1886 mm
Height: 1730 mm
Wheelbase: 2738 mm
Kerb weight: 1895 kg
Turning circle: 11.9 m
Fuel tank: 55 l
BRAKES
Front: Ventilated disc
Rear: Solid disc
STANDARD WARRANTY
Seven-year unlimited kilometres (8-year unlimited kilometres on battery)
